The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(1) Board--The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.(2) Commissioner--Commissioner of Higher Education.(3) Initial RN licensure program--A sequence of nursing courses and learning experiences that prepares students for initial licensure as registered nurses.(4) Nursing school--An educational entity of an institution of higher education or hospital that offers the courses and learning experiences of the initial licensure program.(5) Institution of Higher Education--A public or independent university, community college or health-related institution that offers an initial RN licensure program that is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.(6) Hospital--A public or private hospital that offers an initial RN licensure program that is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing.(7) Graduation rate--A calculation by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board that represents the percentage of first-time full-time students enrolled in an initial licensure program in a predefined academic cohort who are reported as graduates of the initial RN licensure program within:(A) 36 months of initial enrollment for two-year programs.(B) 18 months of initial enrollment for one year programs.(8) Best practices--Strategies, activities or approaches that have been shown through research and evaluation to be effective and/or efficient.