(a) Within its authority to contract with the Department of Defense for military training under Section 51.304 of this code, the board may lease armory land and buildings from and to the United States, and may acquire equipment and material necessary to accomplish the purposes of the courses in military training. The board may enter into insurance contracts for the protection of the federal government's rights in and to any property involved.
(b) No student of the university shall ever be required to take a military training course as a condition for entrance into the university or for graduation from the university.