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:

Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property includes patentable or unpatentable inventions, discoveries, works of authorship, software, plant varieties, trademarks, mask works and trade secrets. Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) rules regarding the ownership, management and commercialization of such Intellectual Property can be found in the Intellectual Property section of the Policy and Regulation Library. For more information, please contact the Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PRTC) at Texas A&M University.

Responsible Conduct of Research

Texas A&M University is committed to supporting responsible and ethical conduct of research and scholarship among its faculty, staff and students. As such, the university follows federal, state and university guidelines regarding Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). A campus-wide environment pertaining to responsible conduct of research requires researchers to have the knowledge, skills and tools that enable them to be responsible for their research conduct.

The requirements outlined in University SAP 15.99.99.M0.04 Responsible Conduct of Research apply to any graduate student, postdoctoral researcher or undergraduate student participating in research. The specific requirements will depend on the type of student and the type of funding supporting the research.

Requirements for Graduate Students

Education and training in the ethical and responsible conduct of research are integral elements of research for all graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and undergraduate students who engage in research in any field or who pursue advanced degrees at university facilities. The requirements for graduate students depend on whether the graduate student is participating in research funded internally, by research gift(s) or externally sponsored research. Internally funded research is not funded via an agreement with a sponsor, but is instead funded through internal sources that may or may not be restricted to research. Graduate students enrolled in a course, such as 685 (Directed Studies), 691 (Research), etc., that includes research as an integral element are also subject to these RCR requirements (e.g., any student conducting research as part of a course, honors thesis, master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation).

Graduate students participating in research through a course or funded internally or by research gift(s) must complete the CITI RCR training within sixty (60) days from their commencement of the research activity.

Graduate students participating in externally funded research must complete the CITI RCR training and an additional four hours of face-to-face Core training. The CITI training must be completed within sixty (60) days following initiation of such support and the Core training must be completed within the first six months of the student’s involvement in externally funded research.

Additional Information

Additional information, including the specifics on how to complete the training, may be found on the Division of Research's Responsible Conduct of Research webpage. Questions specifically related to graduate students, please contact rcr.grad@tamu.edu.

Student Grievances and Appeals Procedures

Specific procedures at Texas A&M University allow students to pursue a grievance for any of the problems, issues or concerns listed in the table below. BEFORE initiating a grievance, students are strongly encouraged to seek clarification and advice regarding appropriate procedures. The Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs provides Undergraduate Ombuds services to assist students, faculty, staff and administrators with resolving academic conflicts on an informal and confidential basis. These are valuable resources for questions regarding grievances and appeals.

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	See University Rule 08.01.01.M1	See SAP 08.01.01.M1.01
Disability Accommodations in Academic Programs	46	See University Rule 08.01.01.M1	See SAP 08.01.01.M1.01
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and/or Stalking	47	See University Rule 08.01.01.M1	58
Grade Disputes	48	Undergraduate Academic Appeals Panel	57
Unexcused Absences	49	Undergraduate Academic Appeals Panel	57
Academic Suspension and Blocks	50	Undergraduate Academic Appeals Panel	57
Student Conduct Separation and Appeal	51	University Disciplinary Panel	58
Academic Misconduct	52	Aggie Honor System Office	http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu
Financial Assessments by the University	54	Head of Department or Unit Involved	Student Fiscal Appeal Process
Parking Citations	55	Student Parking Appeals Board	http://transport.tamu.edu/Parking/appeal.aspx

Undergraduate Studies’ units have modified services available to students enrolled via distance education, at branch campuses or at other instructional locations.

University Statement for Individuals with Disabilities

Texas A&M University (TAMU) is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified students, faculty, staff and visitors and to maintaining an accessible campus community, including making its websites accessible and usable. Texas A&M University does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s disability and complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as amended. 

Students are protected from discrimination regarding access to and participation in Texas A&M’s programs and activities. Texas A&M provides academic adjustments and auxiliary aides to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities, as defined under the law, who are otherwise qualified to meet the institution’s academic requirements. 

Students with disabilities who would like to request accommodations may contact the following resources based on their campus location:

Texas A&M University, College of Nursing, College of Dentistry, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy-College Station, Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, School of Public Health, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, EnMed Program, Bush School in Washington DC, Mays Business School – CityCentre, TAMU Engineering Academies, TAMU Higher Education Center at McAllen and Texas A&M University at Galveston should contact Disability Resources at 979-845-1637 or disability@tamu.edu.
Texas A&M University School of Law should contact the Office of Student Affairs at 817-212-4111 or law-disability@law.tamu.edu to request accommodations.
Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy in Kingsville should contact the Disability Resource Center at Texas A&M University - Kingsville at 361-593-3024 or drc.center@tamuk.edu to request accommodations.
Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Canyon should contact the Office of Student Accessibility at West Texas A&M University – Canyon at 806-651-2335 or osa@wtamu.edu.
Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) should contact the campus psychologist, Dr. Steve Wilson +974-4423-0047 or stephen.wilson@qatar.tamu.edu.

Students with a disability who believe they have experienced discrimination may contact Jennifer Smith or Paul Coxe, Title IX Coordinators in the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, at Coke Building Ste 202, 415 Houston St. #202, College Station, TX 77843, civilrights@tamu.edu, or at 979-458-8407. Students can also contact Julie Kuder, the Texas A&M ADA Coordinator, at 979-845-8116 or ADA.Coordinator@tamu.edu. The office address is YMCA Building Ste 101A, 365 Houston St. #101A, College Station, TX 77843. Allegations of discrimination will be immediately forwarded to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX for review, investigation or resolution.

For more information about disability accommodations, see TAMU Student Rule 46, Disability Accommodations in Academic Programs or TAMUG Student Rule 46, Disability Accommodations in Academic Programs.

University Statement on Harassment and Discrimination

Texas A&M University is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living and working environment for all members of the University community. The university provides equal opportunity to all employees, students, applicants for employment or admission, and the public, regardless of race, color, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions), religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information and veteran status. Texas A&M University will promptly and equitably investigate and resolve all complaints of discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment and sex-based misconduct), and related retaliation in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, university rules and standard administrative procedures.

The university’s response to allegations of discrimination, harassment and related retaliation will be 1) prompt and equitable, 2) intended to stop and prevent the recurrence of any harassment, and 3) intended to remedy discriminatory effects, as appropriate. A substantiated allegation of such conduct will result in disciplinary action, up to and including separation from the university. The university's student sanctioning guidance for substantiated allegations of discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, sexual violence and related retaliation, can be found at the Title IX Cumulative Sanctioning Matrix.

Students who have questions or believe they have experienced discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment/sex-based misconduct and/or related retaliation are encouraged to contact Jennifer Smith or Paul Coxe, Title IX Coordinators, at Coke Building Ste 202, 415 Houston St. #108, College Station, TX 77843, civilrights@tamu.edu, or at 979-458-8407. Visit the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX website for more information.

To report incidents, request accommodations or inquire about discrimination based on disability, you may contact Julie Kuder, ADA Coordinator, at 979-845-8116 or ADA.Coordinator@tamu.edu. The office address is YMCA Building Ste 101A, 365 Houston St. #101A, College Station, TX 77843, or see the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) webpage. Reported allegations of discrimination will be immediately forwarded to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX for review, investigation or resolution.

University Statement on Pregnancy and Related Conditions

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including pregnancy and parental status in educational programs and activities. This includes harassment and discrimination against a student based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy or recovery from any of these conditions.

The university is required to provide reasonable accommodations due to pregnancy and related conditions, including excused absences or alternative participation options when accommodations are medically necessary. Students seeking accommodations should contact Jessica Mata in the Pregnancy Accommodations Office at YMCA Building Ste 101A, 365 Houston St. #101A, College Station, TX 77843 or 979-458-9115 or email address TIX.Pregnancy@tamu.edu.

Students who have questions or believe they have experienced discrimination and/or harassment based on pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions or parenting status are encouraged to contact Paul Coxe, Director and Title IX Coordinator, at the Coke Building Ste 202, 415 Houston St. #202, College Station, TX 77843. His telephone number is: 979-458-8407 and email address is civilrights@tamu.edu. Visit the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX website for more information.

University Student Rules

Each student enrolled at Texas A&M University is responsible for being fully acquainted with 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 department. Students are encouraged to reference the Student Rules website for current published rules and regulations.

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