The Texas Supreme Court has recently ruled that public universities can revoke degrees given out to former students if it is discovered they had engaged in academic dishonesty. Two cases wrapped up before the Texas Supreme Court tackle the issue of a university’s board being able to revoke a degree from a former student, although it is not explicitly stated in state law. The additional question regarded a former student’s due process rights to appeal and defend themselves against a university board.

The Texas Court concluded that university officials do have the power to revoke a degree from a former student if they were discovered to engage in academic dishonesty. According to the Texas Supreme Court, “a University’s board does have the power to “determine . . . the conditions for the award of certificates and diplomas.” TEX. EDUC. CODE §§ 95.21,.24.” Universities have broad power to make such discretionary decisions.

Although it is not explicitly stated in state law, it is implied that a university’s board of regents can revoke degrees from former students just as much as they can award degrees to current students. The only difference is time, and that should not matter if a student engages in academic dishonesty now or if they engaged in it and did not get caught until later after they graduated. “The only difference between expelling a current student for academic misconduct and revoking the degree of a former student for the exact same academic misconduct is one of timing,” wrote the Texas Supreme Court.

The majority of judges also stated that universities have to give due process before revoking the degree. The judges clarified that universities cannot just revoke degrees and then allow the students to defend themselves. Former students must be allowed due process to defend themselves and make their case before the university revokes their degree.