Graduate School Newsletter

August 2023

Message from the Dean

Dear graduate students,

Welcome/welcome back to the fall semester here at Montana State! What you are doing by attending graduate school is truly impressive. I am meeting so many students who are deepening their knowledge and skills so they can make a difference to our communities. Thank you for all that you do.

As your Graduate Dean, I look forward to the accomplishments you will achieve during your time at Montana State.

Your Graduate Dean,
Craig

Important Announcements

Welcome/Welcome Back!

Friday, August 25 | 3:30-5PM | North Lawns of Montana Hall

The Graduate School will be hosting its annual Welcome/Welcome Back event for new and returning graduate students on Friday, August 25, from 3:30-5PM on the north side lawn of Montana Hall.

Join the Graduate School in welcoming the Fall semester! This garden party-style event, with appetizers provided by the Graduate School, is a casual way to get to know your fellow graduate student peers as well as introduce yourself to staff and faculty. So bring a blanket or something to sit on and help us in kicking off the new academic year – hope to see you there!

Grad School Wellness Champion Openings

A $500 fellowship is available for graduate student wellness champions who will advocate and organize well-being events in their departments. This fellowship is to support the student for organizational work during the academic year. If you are interested, please read the position description (PDF).

Food Security Scholarship Application is Open

Food Security Scholarships provide students who experience food insecurity with a 25-pass meal plan to campus dining halls which can be used over the duration of the semester. Consistent with national averages, approximately 30% of MSU students will face food insecurity over their college career, impacting well-being, academic achievement, and retention. This scholarship directly serves that need.

More details and the Food Security Scholarship application can be found here.

Child Care Scholarship Application is Open

MSU offers a Child Care Scholarship that is funded by a Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS) grant. If students are awarded this scholarship, the dollars are directly sent on the student’s behalf to a MT licensed childcare program. This way, the award does not impact the student’s financial aid package. To receive an award, student parents must be income eligible according to Federal Pell Grant criteria. Hence, we require all applicants to submit a FAFSA which we will use for the income eligibility.

More details and the Child Care Scholarship application can be found here. If you have questions or need help on the application, contact Molly Barrow in the MSU Off-campus Student Life Office at molly.barrow@montana.edu.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Aug. 23 – Classes begin. One-credit extension deadline. 5PM ETD formatting approval deadline. Last day for non-degree applications to be submitted.
Aug. 29 – Last day to self-add fall classes online.
Sept. 4 – Labor Day (No classes; offices closed).
Sept. 6 – Last day to self-drop fall classes online.
Sept. 13 – Last day to drop fall classes without a "W" grade.
Sept. 20 – Last day for graduate students to file for graduation in MyInfo or via Graduation Application (only used when a student has applied for the same degree in a prior term).

Funding and fellowships graphic

Funding & Fellowships

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

MSU Library's Bobcat Browse Birthday Celebration

Wednesday, August 9 | 3-5PM | Library Atrium

Come celebrate ten years of reading with the Bobcat Browse enrichment reading collection in the MSU Library! To mark this anniversary, the library is hosting the Bobcat Browse Birthday Celebration from 3-5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 9. It will take place in the Bobcat Browse area of the library atrium (First floor, near Brewed Awakening).

Whether you are a regular reader or a wannabe reader, join us for a piece of cake, iced tea, and conversation. We’d love to hear what you’re reading now – or suggest a book you’d like to read. Browse our juicy titles and take one home for end of summer reading! All members of the MSU and local communities are welcome.

Visit the MSU Library's Bobcat Browse website or contact Collection Development Librarian Rachelle McLain at rachelle.mclain@montana.edu or 406-994-6549 for more information.

Finding Eudaimonia in Grad School Workshop

Friday, September 8 | 1-3:30PM | SUB Ballroom B

Eudaimonia: the Greek word for “happiness”, or more accurately, “the flourishing life” or “the good life”. But we are not referring to an emotional state or pleasure, but rather a fulfilled life, one that is lived in accord to our deepest values and aspirations not just for ourselves but for our families and community.

Counseling Professor John Sommers-Flanagan from the University of Montana will be visiting the MSU campus on Friday, September 8 from 1-3:30PM to offer a workshop on flourishing as a graduate student. Learn how you can achieve eudaimonia in your own life.

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.