Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional School

Table of Contents 

1        Graduate and Professional Studies at Texas A&M University

  • 1.1            Expectations for Graduate Study
  • 1.2            Directory Summary and General Contacts
  • 1.3            Administration of Graduate and Professional Studies
    • 1.3.1        Graduate and Professional School Leadership Team
    • 1.3.2        Graduate and Professional Council
    • 1.3.3        Graduate Operations Committee
    • 1.3.4        Office of the Registrar
    • 1.3.5        Graduate and Professional Student Government
  • 1.4            Graduate and Professional School Services
    • 1.4.1        Business Services
    • 1.4.2        Data and Survey Coordination
    • 1.4.3        Dual Enrollment Graduate Student Special Support
    • 1.4.4        English Language Proficiency Compliance
    • 1.4.5        Graduate Committee Faculty
    • 1.4.6        Graduate Records Processing
    • 1.4.7        Graduate Student Recruitment
    • 1.4.8        Graduate Student Awards
    • 1.4.9        Graduate Student Ombuds Services
    • 1.4.10           Graduate Student Professional Development
    • 1.4.11           Interdisciplinary Degree Graduate Student Special Support
    • 1.4.12           Operations
    • 1.4.13           Thesis and Dissertation Services

2        Graduate Administrative Services

  • 2.1            Graduate Advisor Development Program
    • 2.1.1        Graduate Advisor Handbook
    • 2.1.2        Graduate Advisor Workshops
    • 2.1.3        Graduate Advisor Development Sessions
    • 2.1.4        Graduate Advisor Development Program Portal
  • 2.2            GradAdvisors Listserv
    • 2.2.1        Subscribing/Unsubscribing from the Listserv
    • 2.2.2        Submitting Notifications to the Listserv
    • 2.2.3        Examples of Listserv Appropriate Information
  • 2.3            Authorized Signers for Academic Units
    • 2.3.1        Authorized Signers Form Access
    • 2.3.2        Academic Unit Contacts
    • 2.3.3        Authorizations
  • 2.4            Graduate Student Recruitment
    • 2.4.1        Graduate and Professional School Recruiting Services
    • 2.4.2        Graduate Student Recruiting Best Practices
  • 2.5            Interdisciplinary Degree Programs
  • 2.6            New 689 (Special Topics) Courses
  • 2.7            Graduate Faculty
    • 2.7.1        Graduate Teaching Faculty
    • 2.7.2        Graduate Committee Faculty
  • 2.8            Graduate and Professional Digital Platforms
    • 2.8.1        Graduate Committee Faculty Portal
    • 2.8.2        Document Processing Submission System
    • 2.8.3        Academic Requirements Completion System
    • 2.8.4        AdobeSign
    • 2.8.5        InfoReady
  • 2.9            Graduate and Professional Student Documents in TAMUDocs
  • 2.10         Howdy Portal
  • 2.11         Compass
    • 2.11.1           Compass Access
    • 2.11.2           Compass Training
    • 2.11.3           Compass Reports
  • 2.12         Retention Techniques
    • 2.12.1           Tracking Reports
    • 2.12.2           My Grad Journey System
    • 2.12.3           Workshops
    • 2.12.4           Social Events
    • 2.12.5           Graduate Ombuds Officer

3        Graduate Admissions

  • 3.1            Directory and General Contacts
  • 3.2            Items Required by the Office of Admissions
    • 3.2.1        Centralized Application Services Application Forms
    • 3.2.2        Academic Program Application Fee
    • 3.2.3        Official Transcripts
    • 3.2.4        Official Test Scores
    • 3.2.5        Proof of English Language Proficiency for International Graduate Students
  • 3.3            Graduate Confirmation Process
  • 3.4            Admission Evaluation Tools
    • 3.4.1        WebAdMIT
    • 3.4.2        Graduate Tracking Report and Decision Codes
    • 3.4.3        Admission Documents in TAMUDocs
    • 3.4.4        Uploaded Transcripts
    • 3.4.5        Applicant Information System
  • 3.5            Special Circumstances
    • 3.5.1        Texas A&M Undergraduates Admitted to Graduate and Professional Studies
    • 3.5.2        Admission without Final Transcript or Diploma
    • 3.5.3        Admission Deferrals
    • 3.5.4        Readmission to Graduate and Professional Studies
  • 3.6            Graduate Admission Compass Forms Guide
    • 3.6.1        General Personal Identification (SPAIDEN)
    • 3.6.2        General Person Information (SOAIDEN)
    • 3.6.3        Admissions Application (SAASUMI)
    • 3.6.4        Admission Application/Checklist Summary (SAAACKL)
    • 3.6.5        Prior College and Degree (SOAPCOQ)
    • 3.6.6        Test Score Information (SOATEST)
    • 3.6.7        Hold Information (SOAHOLD/WOAHOLD)
    • 3.6.8        Person Comment (SPACMNT)
    • 3.6.9        Application Supplemental Information (SOASUPL)
    • 3.6.10           Student Mail (SUAMAIL)
    • 3.6.11           International Information (GOAINTL)

4        International Student and Scholar Services

  • 4.1            Directory
  • 4.2            Overview of International Student and Scholar Services
  • 4.3            Information about F-1 and J-1 Status
    • 4.3.1        Steps after Admission to the University
    • 4.3.2        Maintaining F-1 or J-1 Status
    • 4.3.3        On-Campus Employment
    • 4.3.4        Mandatory Health Insurance
    • 4.3.5        Travelling Inside and Outside the United States
  • 4.4          Academic Units and ISSS
    • 4.4.1        Common ISSS Processes that Involve Academic Units
    • 4.4.2        Texas A&M University Funding Offer Letters
  • 4.5            Financially Sponsored Students
    • 4.5.1        Identifying a Sponsored International Student
    • 4.5.2        Restrictions
    • 4.5.3        Sponsor Visits

5        Graduate Student Matriculation Process

  • 5.1            New Graduate Student Orientation
  • 5.2            Transfer Coursework
  • 5.3            English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Graduate Students
    • 5.3.1        English Language Proficiency Admission Requirement
    • 5.3.2        English Language Proficiency Verification Requirement for Registration
    • 5.3.3        English Language Proficiency Status Codes
    • 5.3.4        Non-Degree Status International Students
  • 5.4           Graduate Classifications
    • 5.4.1        Post-Baccalaureate Non-Degree (G6)
    • 5.4.2        Master’s Graduate (G7)
    • 5.4.3        Doctoral Graduate (G8)
    • 5.4.4        Master’s/Doctoral Graduate Admitted (G9)
  • 5.5           Degree Level Change Information
    • 5.5.1        Domestic Students
    • 5.5.2        International Students
    • 5.5.3        Changing from G7 PhD to G8 PhD
    • 5.5.4        Effective Semester Change for Late Classification Changes
  • 5.6           Enrollment
    • 5.6.1        General Registration Information
    • 5.6.2        Add/Drop and Change Requests
    • 5.6.3        Registration after Census Request Form
    • 5.6.4        Registration Status
    • 5.6.5        Continuous Enrollment
    • 5.6.6        Registration during Examination Semesters
    • 5.6.7        Excess Hours (Maximum Schedule)
    • 5.6.8        Residence Requirement
    • 5.6.9        Not Registering for Courses in Graduating Semester
    • 5.6.10           Undergraduates Registering for Graduate Courses
    • 5.6.11           Leave of Absence
    • 5.6.12           Subvention Funding
    • 5.6.13           99-Hour and 7-Year Cap on Doctoral Degree
  • 5.7           Grades
    • 5.7.1        Scholastic Requirements
    • 5.7.2        Graduate Point Average Requirements
    • 5.7.3        Grade Changes
  • 5.8           Degree Plans
    • 5.8.1        Document Processing Submission System
    • 5.8.2        Thesis Option Codes
    • 5.8.3        Filing Degree Plans
    • 5.8.4        Academic Unit Roles in Document Processing
    • 5.8.5        Pre-Committee, Advisory Committee, and Program Approvers
    • 5.8.6        Proxy Approvers
    • 5.8.7        Special Appointments and Degree Plans
    • 5.8.8        Viewing Approved Degree Plans
    • 5.8.9        Degree Plan Blocking Criteria
  • 5.9           Petitions
  • 5.10         Degree Evaluations
    • 5.10.1           Graduate Advisor View
    • 5.10.2           Advisory Committee Chair/Co-Chair View
  • 5.11         Research Proposal
  • 5.12         Preliminary Examinations for Doctoral Degrees
    • 5.12.1           Scheduling
    • 5.12.2           Format
    • 5.12.3           Grading
    • 5.12.4           Failures and Retakes
    • 5.12.5           Expiration of Preliminary Examinations
  • 5.13         Final Examination
    • 5.13.1           Final Examinations for Doctoral Degrees
    • 5.13.2           Final Examinations for Master’s Degrees
    • 5.13.3           Scheduling
    • 5.13.4           Format
    • 5.13.5           Grading
  • 5.14       Theses, Dissertations, and Records of Study
  • 5.15       Graduate Certificates
    • 5.15.1           Types of Graduate Certificates
    • 5.15.2           University Adjustment System
    • 5.15.3           Other Certificate Information
  • 5.16        Graduation Application
    • 5.16.1           Graduation Application Submission
    • 5.16.2           Graduate Degree Deadlines and Submission Time-Frame
  • 5.17        Separation for Scholastic Deficiency
    • 5.17.1           Separation, Dismissal, or Termination from a Program or Academic Unit
    • 5.17.2           Separation, Dismissal, or Termination from the University

6        Graduate Student Funding and Financial Processing

  • 6.1            Graduate Student Funding Offer Guidelines
  • 6.2            Texas A&M University Graduate Fellowships
    • 6.2.1        Dr. Dionel Avilés ’53 and Dr. James Johnson ’67 Fellowship Program
    • 6.2.2        Dissertation Fellowship
    • 6.2.3        Pathways to the Doctorate Fellowship Program
    • 6.2.4        Future Faculty Fellowship
  • 6.3           National Fellowships
    • 6.3.1        National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
    • 6.3.2        National GEM Consortium | GEM Fellowship Program
    • 6.3.3        Graduate Recruitment, Enhancement, and Travel Grant Program
  • 6.4            Graduate Student Awards, Grants, and Assistantships
    • 6.4.1        U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Doctoral Fellowship Award
    • 6.4.2        Texas A&M Distinguished Dissertation Award
    • 6.4.3        Montgomery Award
    • 6.4.4        Distinguished Graduate Student Award
    • 6.4.5        Graduate Student Travel Awards
    • 6.4.6        Pathways to the Doctorate Collaboration Grant
    • 6.4.7        Doctoral Research Excellence Assistantship
    • 6.4.8        Texas Leadership Research Scholars Program
    • 6.4.9        Crossing Latinidades Mellon Fellowship
  • 6.5            Graduate Fellowship Nominations/Applications and Processing
    • 6.5.1        Call for Nominations/Applications
    • 6.5.2        Nomination/Application Submission Process
    • 6.5.3        Review and Award Process
    • 6.5.4        Reviewer Selection Process
    • 6.5.5        Award Letters
    • 6.5.6        Acceptance Forms
    • 6.5.7        Follow-up Emails and Newsletters
    • 6.5.8        New Fellows Financial Workshop and Social
  • 6.6           Fellowship Payments

7        Graduate Assistantships

  • 7.1            Graduate Assistant Titles and Position Requirements
  • 7.2            English Language Proficiency Certification Requirement for Teaching
    • 7.2.1        English Language Proficiency Certification Levels
    • 7.2.2        Certification Attained during Admission
    • 7.2.3        Test Scores Accepted by Texas A&M for Certification
    • 7.2.4        Alternative Certification
    • 7.2.5        Emergency Deferral of Certification
    • 7.2.6        English Language Proficiency Status Codes
    • 7.2.7        English Language Proficiency Compliance Audit Procedures
  • 7.3            Tuition and University Fees
  • 7.4            Minimum Stipend Rates
  • 7.5            Non-Resident Tuition Waivers
    • 7.5.1        Eligibility
    • 7.5.2        Procedures
  • 7.6           Teaching Assistant Training and Evaluation Program
    • 7.6.1        Requirements
    • 7.6.2        Reporting TA Training Compliance
    • 7.6.3        CTE Best Practices Resources
    • 7.6.4        Teaching Assistant Evaluation

8        Graduate Student Services

  • 8.1           Professional Development Opportunities
    • 8.1.1        Graduate Resources and Development for Aggies
    • 8.1.2        Graduate Mentoring Academy
    • 8.1.3        Three Minute Thesis Competition
    • 8.1.4        Graduate Community of Scholars
    • 8.1.5        Summer Fellowship Application Writing Boot Camp
  • 8.2           Center for Teaching Excellence
    • 8.2.1        General Services
    • 8.2.2        English Language Proficiency Program
  • 8.3           English Language Proficiency Examination
    • 8.3.1        Testing during the Semester
    • 8.3.2        Testing Dates for International Graduate Students with a GAT Offer
    • 8.3.3        ELPE Results
    • 8.3.4        ELPE Retesting
  • 8.4            Graduate Student Health Insurance
    • 8.4.1        Insurance for Graduate Assistants
    • 8.4.2        Avilés-Johnson Fellowship Students
    • 8.4.3        Dissertation Future Faculty Fellowship Students
    • 8.4.4        NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Students
  • 8.5            Resources and Services for Texas A&M Students Going Abroad
    • 8.5.1        Education Abroad
    • 8.5.2        Passport Services
    • 8.5.3        International Medical and Evacuation Insurance
    • 8.5.4        Emergency Support
    • 8.5.5        Education Abroad Programs
    • 8.5.6        Scholarships and Funding Opportunities

9        Graduate and Professional School – Student Forms

  • 9.1            Graduate Student Milestones
    • 9.1.1        Research Proposal, Preliminary, and Final Examination (ARCS Guides)
    • 9.1.2        Final Examination Exemption Request
    • 9.1.3        Copyright and Availability Form
    • 9.1.4        Written Thesis/Dissertation Form
    • 9.1.5        Graduate Student Graduation Cancellation Form
  • 9.2           AdobeSign Forms
    • 9.2.1        Letter of Completion Request
    • 9.2.2        Letter of Intent
    • 9.2.3        Special Request Letter Form
  • 9.3           Funding and Financial Processing
    • 9.3.1        Non-Resident Tuition Waiver
    • 9.3.2        Spouse/Resident Non-Resident Tuition Waiver
    • 9.3.3        Fellowship Deferment Request
    • 9.3.4        Fellowship Reinstatement Request

10            Graduate and Professional School – Faculty and Staff Forms

  • 10.1         Authorized Signers Forms
    • 10.1.1           College/School Authorized Signers Form
    • 10.1.2           Department Authorized Signers Form
    • 10.1.3           Interdisciplinary Degree Program Authorized Signers Form
  • 10.2         English Language Proficiency Compliance
    • 10.2.1           Alternative Verification/Certification Request Form
    • 10.2.2           English Language Proficiency Waiver for Admission Request Form
    • 10.2.3           Emergency Deferral Request Form
  • 10.3        Request to Add a Secondary Degree Program
  • 10.4        Academic Department Approval for Graduate Assistant to Work >50% Effort

The Graduate Advisor Handbook is updated as needed.