Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional School

Overview 

To dispute final course grades or other evaluations, absence determinations or separations from the academic program, students may file grievances with the Graduate Academic Appeals Panel (detailed in Student Rule 59) or the Professional Practice Appeals Panel detailed in Student Rule 62). Students should review the relevant sections of the Texas A&M University Student Rules and consult the Graduate Ombuds Office for guidance and clarification of conditions for panels to consider appeals before submitting an appeal.

Before requesting a university-level appeal, students should:

  1. Attempted to resolve the issue informally with the instructor
  2. Submitted a formal appeal to the department or program
  3. Appealed to the college or school dean (or designee)

University panels will not consider appeals that skip these steps.

If you have followed all required academic channels and are still unable to resolve your concern, you may pursue university-level appeal options.

Graduate students are encouraged to consult the Graduate Ombuds Office, a confidential and neutral resource for understanding options, clarifying procedures, and preparing for appeals.

Overview of Graduate Academic Appeals


Texas A&M University provides formal appeal processes for graduate and professional students who believe an academic decision was arbitrary, capricious, or prejudiced. University-level appeals are not intended to replace departmental or college-level review, but rather to serve as a final step after those processes have been completed. See the Student Rules for complete details.

Appeals may be considered for issues related to:

  • Final course grades or unauthorized absence determinations
  • Evaluation of performance on required examinations
  • Probation, suspension, dismissal, or termination for scholastic deficiency
  • NOTEAppeals related to academic misconduct, discrimination, sexual harassment, or disability accommodations follow separate university procedures and are not handled through the academic appeals panels.

Graduate Academic Appeals Panel (GAAP)

The Graduate Academic Appeals Panel (GAAP) hears appeals from graduate students (master’s and doctoral programs) involving academic decisions after all required preliminary steps have been completed. See the Student Rules for complete details.

Eligibility and Scope

The GAAP may consider appeals involving: 

  • Disputes over final grades or unauthorized absences
  • Evaluation of performance on examinations required by the department, intercollegiate faculty, or graduate advisory committee
  • Separation from a department, interdisciplinary degree program, or college due to scholastic deficiency

To be eligible, a student must allege that the decision was arbitrary, capricious, or prejudiced and must have exhausted all required appeals at the instructor, department, and college levels.

To request a hearing before the Graduate Academic Appeals Panel: 

Filing the request authorizes panel members to review the student’s appeal materials and supporting documentation.

Professional Practice Appeals Panel (PPAP)

The Professional Practice Appeals Panel (PPAP) serves students in first professional degree programs (including JD, MD, DDS, DVM, DNP, and PharmD). 

Eligibility and Scope

The PPAP hears appeals only for alleged due process violations after all professional college or school-level processes have been exhausted.

Appeals may involve: 

  • Suspensions, dismissals, or enrollment blocks for scholastic deficiency
  • Final course grade disputes in first professional programs

This panel does not rehear the merits of academic decisions; it reviews whether proper procedures were followed.

Requesting a Hearing

To request a hearing before the Professional Practice Appeals Panel: