Graduate School Newsletter

April 2024

Important Announcements

You're Invited! GradCat Spring Summit

Friday, April 12, 2024 | 8AM-12:30PM | Strand Union Ballrooms

The GradCat Spring Summit is a conference-style, half-day event with several presentations and workshops geared specifically toward Grad Students. Join us starting at 8AM on Friday, April 12th in the SUB Ballrooms for breakfast and a day of engaging and informative sessions. Students may choose to attend any or all sessions. The Spring Summit will conclude by 12:30PM. View the schedule of concurrent sessions and RSVP at the GradCat Spring Summit webpage. This event is FREE!

Funding for Grad Students

The Graduate Office has recently updated and re-organized its Funding and Fellowships page for graduate students wishing to explore a wide range of internal and external funding opportunities.

Graduate Leadership Academy (GLA) Applications Open

The Graduate School is pleased to announce the application period for the 2024-2025 Graduate Leadership Academy (GLA) is now open!

This is a professional leadership development program that prepares Montana State University graduate students for equitable, inclusive, and collaborative leadership across a variety of professional contexts. Based on the philosophy that complex challenges require diverse voices, knowledges, and life experiences for their solution, the GLA is centered on a transdisciplinary community of graduate students working together to grow their leadership abilities through workshops and collaborative projects.

For complete program information as well as application instructions, please visit the GLA webpage. The priority application deadline is May 15, 2024.

Writing Center Graduate Peer Tutor Application Open

The MSU Writing Center is looking for graduate students to work as a peer tutor. If you are a student who enjoys writing, working with others, learning from others, and who wants to be a part of a supportive community, please apply!

You can find information about the job and the application process on the Writing Center's Job Opportunities webpage. The application deadline is April 17, 2024.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

April 17 – Last day to drop classes with a "W" grade.
April 26 – Last day for master's and doctoral comprehensive examination or thesis/dissertation defense if the student plans to graduate Spring 2024.
May 3 – Last day for approval of thesis or dissertation (ETD) formatting by 5PM. Recommended submission now. See ETD website for details.
May 9 – Last day of classes. Last day to withdraw graduation application and file for one credit extension.
May 10 – Spring Commencement.

Funding and fellowships graphic

Funding & Fellowships

Newly Updated! Identify Scholarships and Research Funding for Your Graduate Education!

The MSU Graduate School maintains a Funding & Fellowships webpage listing various ways you may find funding throughout your time at MSU.

The University of Illinois has an excellent Fellowship Finder featuring awards that are open to grad students from any university. It features several filters to aid your search.

The National Research Council postdoctoral program is used by federal agencies across the country to support postdoc searches. This is a great place to look when you are close to finishing your PhD and the salaries are quite good. Quarterly application deadlines.

For more funding opportunities, visit MSU's Research Funding Opportunities and the MSU Graduate School's Funding and Fellowships webpage.

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Workshops & Events

Grad School’s Wellbeing Initiative Empowerment Week

Monday, April 1^st through Friday, April 5^th

Join the Graduate School and your Graduate Wellness Champions in celebrating this semester's wellness week: Empowerment.

Monday, April 1: Navigating Power Dynamics | 12-1:30pm | SUB 236
Tuesday, April 2: Introduction to Empowerment Self-Defense | 12-1pm | SUB 236
Wednesday, April 3: Empowerment through Boundaries | 12-1:30pm | SUB 236
Thursday, April 4: Self-Defense Workshop | 4-6pm | SUB Ballroom A
Friday, April 5: Mentor Mapping | 12-1:30pm | SUB 236

ETD Drop-In Help Hours

The MSU Graduate School requires that all students who are writing a formal thesis or dissertation conform to standard formatting guidelines before they graduate. For students graduating in Spring 2024, the deadline to have your ETD formatting APPROVED (not just submitted) is Friday, May 3, 2024, at 5PM. All formatting requirements and deadlines, as well as step-by-step formatting guides, can be found on the ETD website.

Drop-in help hours are scheduled for this month. If you come to drop-in hours, please be prepared with a good faith effort of a formatted draft of your ETD.

Tuesday, April 2 from 1:30-3PM in Gaines Hall 344
Monday, April 8 from 10:00-11:30AM in American Indian Hall 112
Tuesday, April 9 from 1:00-2:00PM via Webex
Wednesday, April 17 from 1-2:30PM in Romney Hall 415
Wednesday, April 24 from 11:30AM-1:00PM in Roberts Hall 321
Monday, April 29 from 10:30AM-12:00PM in Reid 401

Program of Study Drop-In Help Hours

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 | 1:00-2:00PM | Hamilton Hall 202

The Graduate School is hosting a help session for electronic program of study (and committee) in 202 Hamilton Hall on April 24th, 1-2pm. We are in a computer lab but you are also welcome to bring a laptop. Open to students, faculty, and staff.

Montana Science Olympiad Outreach Opportunity

Friday, April 19 | 1-2PM | Across Campus

On April 19, the Science Olympiad will bring hundreds of students and their teachers to campus for a rigorous statewide STEM competition. After students have finished their contests, Talks & Tours allow them to visit MSU labs and classrooms or learn about research and creative activities happening at the university.

The Montana Science Olympiad seeks faculty, staff and graduate students who want to share their work with middle and high school students via the event's popular "Talks and Tours" program. Talks and Tour leaders set how many students they can accommodate. Sign up as a Talks & Tours leader on the Science Olympiad 2024 Talks & Tours Leader Registration form. The registration deadline is April 4, 2024.

Professional Development: GradCat 360

GradCat 360 is a comprehensive professional development program for graduate students at Montana State University. It is a series of programs and events designed by the Graduate School and departments across campus that center around nine focus areas. These areas are tailored to help students cultivate a unified set of skills and knowledge for educational success and professional preparation.

Check out our GradCat 360 Event Calendar, specifically curated for Graduate Students. We are constantly updating the GradCat 360 calendar with workshops and events that are uniquely useful for graduate students.

MSU Writing Center

The MSU Writing Center offers ongoing support to students working on graduate-level writing.