linking policy

Overview

The Texas A&M University System provides this linking policy to outline the conditions under which external websites may link to official A&M System websites, as well as the circumstances in which the A&M System may link to external sites. These guidelines ensure compliance with state regulations, uphold information accuracy, and maintain the integrity of the A&M System’s digital presence. The A&M System makes every reasonable effort to comply with the Texas State Website Linking and Privacy Policy.

This policy applies to all websites published under the tamus.edu domain and all officially sanctioned TAMUS subdomains.

linking to A&M system Websites

Permissable Linking

External organizations and individuals may link to any publicly available page on an A&M System website without prior permission provided that the link:

  • Does not misrepresent A&M System content or imply endorsement, approval, sponsorship, or affiliation.
  • Does not frame, reproduce, or present A&M System content within another site’s look-and-feel.
  • Does not use A&M System trademarks, logos, or branding without formal written authorization.
  • Does not display A&M System content in a misleading or defamatory context.

Prohibited Practices

You may not:

  • Use A&M System trademarks, logos, seals, or graphics to create the appearance of endorsement.
  • Copy or host A&M System content on external servers (“mirroring”) without permission.
  • Embed A&M System pages within iframes or other embedding tools.
  • Present links in a way that mislead users about the source or ownership of A&M System content.

Recommended Link Formats

When linking to the A&M System, we recommend:

  • Using plain-text URLs or page titles for most links so users know where the link goes. Only using a plain‑text URL when the address is short, clear, and easy to read (for example, tamus.edu/business/).
  • Writing link descriptions that accurately represent the destination content.
  • Linking to full URLs rather than internal file paths that may change.

linking from a&M system websites

Types of External Links the A&M System May Provide

The A&M System may link to external websites when the content: 

  • Supports the A&M System’s academic, research, administrative, or public-service mission.
  • Provides authoritative governmental, educational, or public-interest information.
  • Offers tools, resources, or documents necessary for state or federal compliance. 

Restrictions on External Linking

To protect users, the A&M System does not link to external sites that:

  • Contain political campaigning, lobbying, or partisan content.
  • Sell products or promote commercial services unless directly related to A&M System operations.
  • Feature inappropriate, offensive, or misleading content.
  • Require payment or subscription to view state required information.

Disclaimer for External Links

The A&M System is not responsible for the content, accuracy, security, or accessibility of external websites.

Links to non-A&M System sites:

  • Do not constitute endorsement.
  • Are provided for informational purposes only.
  • May change without notice.

Users leaving an A&M System website are encouraged to review the external site’s privacy, security, and accessibility policies.

While the A&M System follows the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §206 and §213, as well as WCAG 2.1 AA standards, external sites linked from A&M System pages are not guaranteed to meet accessibility standards. The A&M System will make reasonable efforts to avoid linking to sites known to be inaccessible.

If you find a link that is broken, inaccessible, or inappropriate or believe an A&M System website links to your site in a way that is misleading or causes concern, please report it to the A&M System webmaster.