Graduate School Newsletter

February 2024

Important Announcements

Writing Center's Writing Retreat (and Other Resources)

Writing in graduate school requires different skills and strategies than writing as an undergrad. The Writing Center can support students as they learn how to adjust their writing to fit these different contexts and how to sustain a long-term writing and revising process.

Writing Retreats: The spring writing retreat will be held on Friday, Feb. 16th and Saturday, Feb. 17th. There will be a writing workshop, plenty of dedicated writing time, and food. Students can learn more about the writing retreat and register here.
Focus Fridays: Every Friday morning, the Writing Center invites graduate students to write from 9 am
to noon in the Wilson Hall Writing Center. We provide the coffee (and bagels on the first Friday of every month).
Groups: Writing groups are four to five students who meet weekly to give each other feedback on drafts. If interested, sign up for a writing group here.
Graduate Tutors: And of course, we have graduate tutors available for one-on-one appointments, face-to-face or online. Students can make an appointment with a graduate tutor here.

Spring Career Fair

Tuesday, February 27 through Friday, March 1 | Strand Union Building

MSU's Spring 2024 Job & Internship Fair will take place from Tuesday, February 27th through Friday, March 1st. Hundreds of employers will be attending and have specifically indicated that they are interested in hiring graduate students! Visit the Spring Career Fair website for a list of the many workshops you may attend in preparation to put your best foot forward at the career fair, as well as lists of visiting employers and a full schedule of events.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS)

As you gear up for another semester, please keep your mental health in mind and be proactive about taking care of all aspects of your health. Below is a brief list of CPS events and resources.

Go to the mental health and wellness resources page to see all of the amazing services here on campus to support you.
If you’re experiencing loneliness or would like to broaden your social circle, consider joining a Project Connect group this spring. This is a low-risk way to connect to others that is peer led and fun.
Don’t really need counseling but would like to check in with someone about a specific concern? Drop in to one of our Let’s Talk hours at your convenience.
As always, Counseling and Psychological Services is available to support your needs. Make an appointment at the CPS website or call (406) 994-4531.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Feb. 5 – Last day for students to file for Spring 2024 graduation in MyInfo or via a Graduation Application (only used when a student has applied for the same degree in a prior term).
Feb. 6 – Last day to drop classes without a "W" grade.
Feb. 19 – President's Day (no classes, offices closed).
Mar. 11-15 – Spring Break (no classes, offices open).

Funding and fellowships graphic

Funding & Fellowships

Child Care Grant Award Application Open for Spring 2024

MSU has received a Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS) grant. Part of the funds are to be used to support graduate student parents by helping pay a portion of their childcare expenses. If awarded, the dollars are directly sent on the student’s behalf to the licensed childcare program. This way, the award does not impact the student’s financial aid package.

Click here to complete theChild Care Grant Award Application.

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.

Workshops and events graphic

Workshops & Events

Leadership Institute - The Humor Habit with Paul Osincup

Thursday, February 22 | 7-8:30PM | Strand Union Building Ballroom A

On February 22nd, at 7:00 pm in Ballroom A, Renowned Speaker, Author, and Humor Strategist Paul Osincup will be leading a 90-workshop followed by a reception focusing on how to utilize humor to develop your leadership skills. Cost to attend is $5.

Paul’s global mission for happiness has provided him the opportunity to work with hundreds of organizations like Google, Discover, The Harvard Kennedy School of Leadership, and the U.S. Army. After building a successful side hustle in stand-up and improv comedy, he developed a nerdy obsession about the power of humor to enhance well-being, resilience, and leadership. This obsession led Paul to the presidency – the presidency of the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor, an international organization dedicated to the study and application of humor to improve health and human performance.

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.