Graduate School Newsletter

September 2023

Important Announcements

Mindfulness Based Graduate Mentorship Program

In the Mindfulness Based Graduate Mentoring Program, together we will explore evidence-based best practices in mentoring so you may be empowered to get the most out of your mentoring relationships now and in the future. We will use mindfulness, reflection, and inquiry as tools to delve into how your experience in graduate school can be more fulfilling, more purposeful, and less stressful. Find further information on the program, including time commitments, at the Mindful Mentoring website. Mindful Mentoring applications are open now for the 2023-2024 academic year program through Friday, September 8. Please also feel free to reach out to Jennifer Brown at jennifer.brown@montana.edu with any questions.

Chrome River

Many grad students will need to use Chrome River during their time on campus to submit travel pre-approvals, expense reports, and/or p-card purchases. Please see help guides for Chrome River here to familiarize yourself with this application. You will be asked to log in with your NetID and password to view the help guides.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

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).

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Funding & Fellowships

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Writing Workshop

The Office of Research Development, in partnership with the Writing Center, is pleased to support a student-focused proposal workshop series dedicated to the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Cailin Casey, a current GRFP fellow and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering doctoral student, will lead the series for the third year in a row. The workshops begin Wednesday, Aug. 23, 4-5 p.m., and continue weekly through Oct. 11. The GRFP offers a $37,000 yearly stipend and a $12,000 yearly educational allowance.

For more details, see the GRFP writing workshop calendar event.

National Nuclear Security Administration Graduate Fellowship Program

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP) is hiring highly qualified graduate students in a variety of STEM and policy disciplines for the 2024-2025 cohort starting in the summer of June 2024 for fellowships in national security. Fellows will receive specialized training, leadership, and career development and networking with others in the national security field.

An information session on the NGFP will take place on Wednesday, September 6, 11AM-12PM (noon) in the Montana Room in Norm Asbjornson Hall. Come learn in-person about the NGFP with engineer, Carolyn Cramer.

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.

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

Finding Eudaimonia in Grad School Workshop

Friday, September 8 | 1-3:30PM | SUB Rooms 233/235

All graduate students are invited to attend a skills-based training in “eudaimonia” or “happiness” in the deep, Aristotelian sense of balanced orientation toward the best outcome for your life. Join Dr. John Sommers-Flanagan and Dr. Heidi Zetzer for a fun, interactive, and informative workshop on how to apply evidence-based happiness interventions to your life. Help combat grad school fatigue by prioritizing your own happiness and well-being. The event will take place September 8^th in SUB Rooms 233/235. Please RSVP.

Research Integrity & Compliance Conference

Wednesday and Thursday, October 18-19 | Strand Union Building (SUB)

The Research Integrity & Compliance Conference 2023 is the first conference event in the State of Montana designed to address the needs and concerns of Montana stakeholders on research compliance related topics. This conference intends to be inclusive of all Montana research communities, institutions, and professionals who are engaged in research compliance. The 2023 Research Integrity & Compliance Conference will have three primary tracks: 1) Environmental Health & Laboratory Safety, 2) Research Compliance Committees, and 3) Research Integrity & Ethics for Researchers and Students. For more information and to register, visit the Research Integrity & Compliance Conference website.

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.