University Policies

Aggie Honor Code

Integrity is a fundamental core value of Texas A&M University. Academic integrity requires a commitment by all faculty, students and administrators to:

remain constantly focused on the quality of the academic programs
achieve and maintain academic excellence in all courses and programs to assure the value of Texas A&M University degrees
demand high academic standards from all members of the Aggie community
actively promote academic integrity
confront instances of academic misconduct through engagement in the Aggie Honor System Office rules and procedures

All Texas A&M University students, graduate and undergraduate, part-time or full-time, in residence or in distance education, are expected to follow the guiding rule of the Aggie Honor Code:

“An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University or one of its branch campuses, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. A student will be required to state his/her commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the Texas A&M community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System.

The Honor System Office is charged with promotion of the honor code and administration of academic misconduct cases. The Honor Council, comprised of students and faculty from colleges and offices across the University, will investigate all such infractions of the honor code and recommend appropriate sanctions. The Aggie Honor System Office website defines the types of infractions and the possible consequences. Students are urged to review this information.

In addition to adherence to the Honor Code, a student (graduate students in particular) who is completing a thesis, record of study, dissertation, and publication may fall under the additional federal requirements promulgated by the Office of Research Integrity (Scientific Misconduct Regulations — 42 CFR part 50), as well as Texas A&M System Regulations and Texas A&M University Rules (Texas A&M System Regulations — Ethics in Research, Scholarship and Creative Work — 15.99.03, and Texas A&M University rules and standard administrative procedures — Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship — 15.99.03.M1, 15.99.03. M1.01-06).

Contact information for each campus can be found at the following:

Aggie Honor System Office

https://aggiehonor.tamu.edu

All Texas A&M students, graduate and undergraduate, part-time or full-time, in residence or in distance education, are expected to follow the guiding rule of the Aggie Honor Code: “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Aggie Honor System Office. Students may be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the Texas A&M community from the requirements or the processes of the Aggie Honor System Office.

Texas A&M University students are responsible for authenticating all work submitted to an instructor. If asked, students must be able to produce proof that the item submitted is indeed the work of that student. Students must keep appropriate records at all times. The inability to authenticate one's work, should the instructor request it, is sufficient grounds to initiate an academic dishonesty case.

Professional Practice Appeals Panel and Process

The Professional Practice Appeals Panel (PPAP) may hear appeals regarding allegations of due process violations only after pursuit of all administrative processes related to suspensions, dismissals or blocks for scholastic deficiency in a student’s academic program, and appeals of disputes over final course grades have been exhausted in professional practice programs (DDS, DNP, JD, MD, PharmD, DVM).

Texas A&M University Student Rules Part III, Section 62 describe the Professional Practice Appeals Panel Process in detail. Please carefully review Section 62 before pursuing a grievance. Professional practice students are also strongly encouraged to seek clarification and advice regarding appropriate grievance procedures.

A valuable resource for questions regarding grievances and appeals, the Graduate Ombuds Officer advocates for the processes of graduate and professional education and provides equal, open access to all parties: students, faculty, staff, and administrators. To set up an appointment with the Graduate Ombuds Officer, email ombuds@tamu.edu.

Instructions for Securing a Hearing Before the Professional Practice Appeals Panel

Before requesting a hearing before the Professional Practice Appeals Panel, students are expected to complete all required steps in the Professional School in which they are enrolled. Only after the student has not received a satisfactory outcome from the dean (or designee) as a result of a material defect in due process may a student seek appeal to the Professional Practice Appeals Panel..

To request a hearing before the Professional Practice Appeals Panel, students must indicate an intention to submit an appeal by completing the Form to Request a Hearing. The completed form must be emailed to the Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate and Professional School at apgs@tamu.edu within 10 university business days of the student’s receipt of the dean’s (or designee’s) written notification of a final decision, and in accordance with Texas A&M University Student Rules. Failure to comply with required timelines or procedures may result in dismissal of the appeal.

For additional information, see the Professional Practice Appeals page on the Graduate and Professional School website.

Graduate Academic Appeals Panel and Process

The Graduate Academic Appeals Panel (GAAP) is governed by the most current version of Texas A&M University Student Rule 59 (Graduate Academic Appeals Panel).

Graduate students who believe that decisions regarding unauthorized absences, final grades, the outcome of evaluation of performance on examinations or separation (e.g., probation, suspension, dismissal or termination) from a department, interdisciplinary degree program, and/or college/school for scholastic deficiency were made on an arbitrary, capricious or prejudicial basis may appeal such decisions through the appeals process specified in Student Rule 59. In such appeals, the burden of proof rests with the student to demonstrate that the decisions in question were arbitrary, capricious or prejudiced.

Instructions for Securing a Hearing Before the Graduate Academic Appeals Panel

Before requesting review by the Graduate Academic Appeals Panel, students are required to pursue preliminary resolution (specified in Student Rule 59) within the academic unit associated with the decision in question. Only after the student has not received a satisfactory outcome from the dean (or designee) may a student seek review by the Graduate Academic Appeals Panel.

To request a hearing before the Graduate Academic Appeals Panel, students must indicate an intention to appeal by completing the Form to Request a Hearing. The completed form must be emailed to the Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate and Professional School at apgs@tamu.edu within 10 university business days of the student’s receipt of the dean’s (or designee’s) written notification of the final decision, and in accordance with Texas A&M University Student Rules. Failure to comply with required timelines or procedures may result in dismissal of the appeal.

For additional information, see the Student Grievances and Appeals Procedures page on the Graduate and Professional School website.

Student Grievances and Appeals Procedures

Specific procedures at Texas A&M University allow graduate students to pursue a grievance for any of the problems, issues or concerns listed in the table below. Professional Practice students can pursue disputes over due process. Before initiating a grievance, students are strongly encouraged to seek clarification and advice from the Graduate and Professional Student Ombuds Office regarding appropriate procedures. The Ombuds Officer represents a valuable resource for questions regarding grievances and appeals. The Ombuds Officer advocates for the processes of graduate and professional education and provides equal, open access to all parties: students, faculty, staff and administrators. To set up an appointment with the Graduate Ombuds Officer, contact ombuds@tamu.edu.

Policy
Type of Grievance/Issue	A&M Student Rule	University Panel Handling Appeals	Appeals Panel Preliminary and Formal Resolution Procedures
Discrimination and Discrimination Appeals	45	Discrimination Appeals Panel
Disability Accommodations in Academic Programs	46	Discrimination Appeals Panel
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and/or Stalking	47	University Disciplinary Appeals Panel	58
Grade Disputes	48	Graduate Academic Appeals Panel	59
Unexcused Absences	49	Graduate Academic Appeals Panel	59
Academic Suspension and Blocks	50	Graduate Academic Appeals Panel	59
Student Conduct Separation and Appeal	51	University Disciplinary Panel	58
Academic Misconduct	52	Aggie Honor System Office	Aggie Honor System Appeals Process
Graduate Student Examination Evaluation Disputes	53	Graduate Academic Appeals Panel	59
Financial Assessments by the University	54	Head of Department or Unit Involved	Student Fiscal Appeal Process
Parking Citations	55	Student Parking Appeals Board	Citation Appeals Process
Disputes over Due Process (Professional Practice Students Only)	62	Professional Practice Academic Appeals Panel	62

University Student Rules

Each student enrolled at Texas A&M University is responsible for being fully acquainted and complying with the Texas A&M University Student Rules. Specific rules, information and procedures may be found in publications pertaining to each particular service or academic unit. Graduate and professional students are encouraged to reference the Student Rules website for current published rules and regulations.

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