The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:   (1) Academic administrator--a person employed in an educational department of an institution of higher education in a supervisory position that is not classified under the state position classification plan.   (2) Board--the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.   (3) Board-approved program--For purposes of this Minority Doctoral Incentive Program of Texas only, a Board-approved graduate or professional degree program shall include appropriately-accredited programs offered through both public and independent institutions of higher education, as defined in §61.003 of the Texas Education Code.   (4) Commissioner--the commissioner of higher education, the chief executive officer of the Board.   (5) Faculty member--as defined in §51.101 of the Education Code.   (6) Full-time enrollment--as defined by the eligible institution of higher education.   (7) Fund--the Minority Doctoral Incentive Program of Texas fund   (8) Institution of higher education--any public institution of higher education as defined by §61.003 of the Texas Education Code, or an independent institution of higher education that is located in Texas and is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency as defined by §61.003 of the Texas Education Code.   (9) Mentor--a designated faculty member at the institution of higher education in which an eligible doctoral student is enrolled.   (10) Minority--a member of an ethnic group which is significantly underrepresented in an academic discipline, as determined by the Commissioner.   (11) Program--the Minority Doctoral Incentive Program of Texas.   (12) Resident of Texas--a bona fide Texas resident as defined in Chapter 54, Subchapter B, §§54.052, 54.054, and 54.055 of the Texas Education Code. In general, independent individuals 18 years of age or over who move into the state and who are gainfully employed within the state for a period of 12 months prior to enrolling in an institution of higher education are entitled to classification as residents. If such 12 months residence, however, can be shown not to have been for the purpose of establishing residence in the state but to have been for some other purpose, the individuals are not entitled to be classified as residents. Students enrolling in an institution of higher education prior to having resided in the state for 12 months immediately preceding time of enrollment shall be classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes. Persons who resided in Texas for at least five years prior to moving from the state, and who have returned to the state for residence purposes before having resided out of the state for a year, shall be classified as residents.

Source Note: The provisions of this §21.971 adopted to be effective November 28, 2004, 29 TexReg 10777