Distance Education

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) provides information and guidance to public institutions of higher education regarding Distance Education, Higher Education Regional Councils, and Programs of Study. THECB rules define distance education as the “formal educational process that occurs when students and instructors are in separate physical locations for the majority (more than 50 percent) of instruction.”

The THECB rules recognize two categories of distance education courses:

1. 100-percent online course: a distance education course in which 100 percent of instructional activity takes place when the student(s) and instructor(s) are in separate physical locations. Requirements for on-campus or in-person orientation, testing, academic support services, internships/fieldwork, or other non-instructional activities do not exclude a course from this category.
2. Hybrid course: a distance education course in which more than 50 percent but less than 100 percent of instructional activity takes place when the student(s) and instructor(s) are in separate physical locations.

Modifications & Requests

Modality Changes or Additions

Institutions should submit requests related to modality changes or additions for distance education, off-campus programs, and self-supporting programs using our Laserfiche Forms process.  Effective May 18, 2023, all requests for modality changes or additions are notification only, regardless of degree level.

To access Laserfiche Forms, click here or the button below.  If you need assistance, click here to visit our Laserfiche Help webpage.

New Distance Education Programs

For new distance education programs, if the institution has an approved Institutional Plan for Distance Education on file, the Certification Form for Electronically Delivered and Off-Campus Education Programs should be submitted for the new program.

Additional Resources

THECB Distance Education Webpages

• Distance Education Resources
• Distance Education Program Search

Forms & Resources

• Certification Form for Electronically Delivered and Off-Campus Education Programs
• Principles of Good Practice for Distance Education (approved October 2023)
• PGP Mapping Table (revised November 10, 2023)
• Institutional Plan for Distance Education Submission Form
• Institutional Plan for Distance Education Worksheet
• Institutional Plan for Distance Education Process Workflow

THECB Rules

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules governing the offering of distance, off-campus, and self-sustaining education:

• Chapter 2, Subchapter J (rules governing approval of distance education for public institutions)
• Chapter 4, Subchapter Q (rules governing off-campus face-to-face, out-of-country, out-of-state)
• Chapter 7 (rules governing degree-granting colleges and universities other than Texas public institutions)