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Receiving & Validating a Texas A&M University Official PDF eTranscripts

Texas A&M University will send an official transcript via U.S. Mail, electronically via EDI on the SPEEDE network, and electronically via a certified PDF document.  Texas A&M University official transcripts in PDF format should be considered official documents as they can be validated through a blue ribbon certificate indicating the transcript has been digitally signed and certified by Texas A&M University's Office of the Registrar.  Texas A&M University will provide official transcripts in certified PDF format for current and certain former Texas A&M University students*.

*The following former students may order official PDF transcripts:

  • Texas A&M University students who attended from Fall 1985 to present
  • School of Law students who attended from fall 2013 to present
  • Health Science Center - College of Dentistry students who attended from fall 2009 to present
  • Health Science Center - College of Medicine students who attended fall 1999 to present
  • Health Science Center - College of Nursing students who attended fall 2008 to present
  • Health Science Center - Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy students who attended fall 2006 to present
  • Health Science Center - School of Public Health students who attended fall 1999 to present

When the official PDF transcript is viewed through Adobe Reader (version 7.0 or higher), or through Adobe Acrobat (version 7 or higher), it will reveal a digital signature has been applied to the document.  This should be displayed through a digital signature certification bar across the top of the official transcript.  This certification bar will indicate to the recipient whether the document is valid, invalid, or if the signer of the document is unknown.  Additionally, the certification bar will allow the recipient to further review the signature properties of the digital signature and authentication of the origin of the document.  Please note:  Mac users must use the free Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat to properly view the official transcript as the software utilizes Adobe's secure certified PDF technology.  Texas A&M University official PDF transcripts will not display correctly in the default Mac preview application.

Recipients should note that any Texas A&M University official PDF transcripts sent to them are time-sensitive.  The secure message, official transcript, and any student-uploaded document(s) will only be available for download or view on our Proofpoint server for 30 days. 
  1. When a recipient is authorized by a student to receive an official PDF transcript from Texas A&M University, the recipient will be notified via email in a secure message from transcript@tamu.edu. The email subject will be "Texas A&M University Official PDF Transcript for {Student Name}.  (The email will look similar to the screenshot below.)

  2. Per the instructions in the body of the email, the recipient is asked to open the attachment.

    • When a recipient double-clicks on the attachment to open it (depending on the email software utilized), the following pop-up message should display.  The recipient will need to click 'Open' to continue the process.

  3. After opening the secure message attachment, the recipient should have the following page displayed in a browser window.  The recipient will need to click on the "Click to read message" button. 

  4. Depending on whether the recipient is registered with the TAMU Proofpoint server, he or she will follow one of the following two processes:

    1. If the recipient has not ever registered with the Texas A&M University Proofpoint server, they will be taken to the https://secure-reader.tamu.edu registration page to create an account on the server. 

    2. The new user will need to enter his/her first name, last name, and a password to create the account.

    3. Once the user has entered the recipient's name and navigates to the password field, a password policy popup will be displayed providing the new user with the parameters he/she must follow in creating the new password. 

    4. The password policy will assist the new user in tracking when the recipient has met each of the password rules. 
       
      New User has met two of the three password rules. 


      New User has met all three password rules.

    5. Once the user has met all three password rules, the recipient will need to tab over to the "Confirm Password" field and retype the new password in the field.
      1. If the password entered into the "Confirm Password" field does not agree with the content entered into the original "Password" field, the following message will display: 
    6. The user will need to click on the "Continue" button.
    1. Once someone has registered with the server, then the user will simply be directed to the logon page after clicking on the "Click to read message" button.

    2. The recipient will need to enter his/her password and then click on the "Continue" button.

      • Wrong password entered → If the user enters the wrong password, the following will be displayed for the user:

        • Once the user enters the correct password, then the following message will be displayed for the recipient.  

          • If this is displayed, then the recipient should go back to the original email received and open the secure message attachment to navigate to the secured email message.  (The user will then go to step 5 in the retrieval process.) 

      • Forgotten Password →  If the user has forgotten his/her password, the user will need to click on the "Forgot Password" button.  The following page will be displayed. 

        • An email message with a link for the user to follow will be sent to his or her registered email address. 

        • The user will need to click on the link within the email to be directed to the password reset page (pictured below). 

        • Similar to the original password setup, the password reset page will display a password policy popup which will track the successful entry of a new password. 

        • The recipient will need to enter his/her new password and then click on the "Continue" button.

        • The user should then be directed to the step 5 in the process.


  5. Once the recipient has either successfully created an account or logged onto his/her account, then the encrypted and secure Proofpoint email message with transcript attachments should be displayed for the user in a browser window. 

  6. To download the PDF transcript and any attachment uploaded by the student for the recipient, the user would simply need to open the attachments.  Please note, as mentioned in the recipient email, any attachment uploaded by the student will not be signed by the Office of the Registrar's Adobe CDS signature. 

  7. The recipient will be able to see in the email that the Digital Signature is valid if it displays the following: 

  8. When the recipient opens the attachments, the following security message may appear:


Once an official Texas A&M University PDF transcript has been opened, it should display the digital signature certification bar across the top of the document.
  • Valid Signature
    An official PDF transcript should display the digital signature certification bar with the "blue ribbon" icon included and look similar to the image below.  The blue ribbon certification icon and statement indicates the document is certified by the Texas A&M University, Office of the Registrar. The digital signature also means the document is true and authentic.  The "blue ribbon" certification also means the document's contents have note been changed or altered in any way.

  • Invalid Signature
    If the following image displays at the top of the document, this is an indication that the document is invalid and should be rejected.  The invalid status could be due to several reasons, such as inauthentic signature or alteration done to the original document.  In any case where this digital signature certification bar appears, reject the document.

  • Unknown Signature
    If the following digital signature certification bar displays at the top of the document, it is an indication that the validity of this document is unknown, thus please make sure the computer has an active internet connection.  This display can have two possible meanings, the digital signature cannot be validated due to an inactive internet connection, or the digital signature cannot be instantly validated online.  However, if after restoring an active internet connection, or if there was already a properly working internet connection, and the digital signature still cannot be validated, reject the document.

  • Other Important Notes:
    • It should be noted that only the Texas A&M University official PDF transcript will be validated using the Adobe CDS signature.  Any additional documents uploaded by the student during the online ordering process for official transcripts in PDF format are included as a separate attachment for the recipient alongside the official PDF transcript. The additional attachment will not be signed with the Office of the Registrar's Adobe CDS signature, as staff do not review or authenticate attachments.  Acceptance of a student's uploaded documents is at the discretion of the recipient.  Texas A&M University Office of the Registrar staff do not have access to these uploaded documents.
    • The official Texas A&M University PDF transcript is considered official in PDF format only.

Recipients may contact the Office of the Registrar at 979-845-1066 or transcript@tamu.edu should there be any questions related to Texas A&M University's Office of the Registrar's digital signature, the authenticity of an official PDF transcript, or the method you received the official PDF transcript.