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Graduate Advisor Handbook
Find everything you need to know about working with the Graduate and Professional School, from policies and procedures, to clearance for graduation, in the Grad Advisor Handbook.
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.