Employee Services > Managers & Liaisons > Policy and Practices > Notice

Revised A&M System Policies and Regulations Affecting Non-Faculty Employees

On September 28, 2007, the Texas A&M University System Chancellor presented to the Board of Regents and received approval for two revised policies that affect non-faculty employees. The new versions of System Policy 32.01, Employee Complaint and Appeal Procedures, and Policy 32.02, Discipline and Dismissal of Employees, effective immediately, more clearly align the A&M System with state law. Several regulations have also been revised to reflect the policy changes.

The following are the significant changes:

• The policy was revised to restate and clarify that, pursuant to the general rule in Texas as recognized by state law, case law, and Attorney General Opinions, all non-contractual, non-faculty employees are at-will employees which means that either the employee or the university can terminate employment at any time for any reason, with or without cause. Involuntary terminations of non-faculty employees must be approved by an employee’s departmental management and will continue to be routed through the university’s Employee Relations office for review and approval before the termination is granted.
• The six-month probationary period for non-faculty employees has been eliminated.
• The reasons for discipline and dismissal were restated as broad categories of job performance or conduct falling below expected or required standards.
• The steps for discipline and dismissal were streamlined.

What does this mean to you?

The Texas A&M University System has historically been an "at-will" employer so the purpose of the policy change is to simply clarify the statement. Texas A&M University continues to value fair and consistent treatment of all employees and involuntary terminations will continue to be routed through the university’s Employee Relations office for review and approval before the termination is granted. We shall utilize processes and rules to assist us with the orderly conduct of work. The Office of Employee Services will also continue to work with employees and supervisors when work problems arise to reach a reasonable solution.

Additional Information:

• Memos
• Distribution A
• NEO Message


• Frequently Asked Questions
• Employees
• Managers and Liaisons


• ES Documents Impacted
• Offer Letters (revised)
• Hiring Managers Workbook (revised)
• Probationary Review Form (eliminated)
• Probationary Review Guidelines (eliminated)


• System Policies and Regulations Impacted - System Policies and Regulations Library
• System Policy 32.01, Employee Complaint and Appeal Procedures
• System Policy 32.02, Discipline and Dismissal of Employees
• System Regulation 31.03.04, Leave of Absence Without Pay
• System Regulation 32.01.02, Complaint and Appeal Process for Non-Faculty Employees
• System Regulation 32.02.02, Discipline and Dismissal of Non-faculty Employees
• System Regulation 33.99.02, Probation (eliminated)
• System Regulation 33.99.03, Performance Evaluations for Non-faculty Employees
• System Regulation 33.99.15, Reduction in Force for Employees Other than Faculty


• University Rules and SAPs Impacted (these Rules and SAPs have been removed from the TAMU Rules and SAPs Library until they are updated)
• University Rule 31.03.04, Leave of Absence Without Pay
• SAP 32.01.02.M1.01, Mediation Procedures
• University Rule 32.02.02.M1, Discipline and Dismissal Procedure for Employees Other than Faculty
• University Rule 33.99.03.M1, Performance Development and Evaluation for Non-Faculty Employees
• University Rule 33.99.15.M2, Temporary Workforce Reduction