Graduate School Newsletter

September 2024

Important Announcements

Next Steps in Your Career Presentation for Graduate Students

Monday, September 9 | 10-11AM | SUB Ballroom B

Learn what you can do now to prepare for a career transition after grad school!

The GradCat 360 Professional Development program and AYCSS team up to offer a "Next Steps in Your Career" presentation specifically for graduate students. Graduate School Career Education Manager Joan Lorraine will cover topics such as networking, interviewing, and negotiating. Coffee and doughnuts provided!

Writing Center Resources

The Writing Center offers a multitude of support for graduate student writers! Please see their website for a full list of graduate support offerings, including:

One-on-one Tutoring: Graduate tutors are available to meet one-on-one to discuss writing, research, or the writing process. Make appointments in-person or online here.
Focus Fridays: Open writing time for graduate students every Friday from 9 am to noon in Wilson 1-114. Students are encouraged to come write in the Writing Center alongside other grad students - we'll provide the coffee (always) and bagels (first Friday of every month).
Fall Writing Retreat: We'll be holding a writing retreat on Friday, Sept. 20 (5-8 pm) and Saturday, Sept. 21 (9 am-2 pm). A retreat combines a writing workshop with dedicated writing time (and free food!). Students can learn more and register for the retreat here.
Graduate Writing Groups: Writing groups offer students a chance to meet regularly with others and discuss their writing. Students benefit from both giving and receiving feedback, and the consistent group meetings can provide support and accountability throughout the writing process. We will offer two info sessions in September (9/6 at 10am and 9/17 at 3pm) to discuss writing groups with any students who are interested - stop by for doughnuts and come with questions! Click here to sign up for a writing group.

CatTracks Campus Shuttle

The new, FREE CatTracks shuttle service runs 7AM to 6PM on weekdays to transport people to and from locations on campus, including parking lots at the university’s perimeter, the campus core, University Student Apartments and the Nopper building near the MSU Innovation Campus.

Shuttle vans will run continuously during those hours on two routes. The Gold route will circle main campus with stops at Bobcat Stadium, along 11th Avenue, near Rendezvous Dining Pavilion, along Sixth Avenue and at the Strand Union Building. The Blue route will traverse the western portion of campus, with stops at 11th and Lincoln, the MSU Innovation Campus (including the Nopper Building), and along 15th Avenue south of College Street with a stop on Garfield Street near the ASMSU Early Learning Center.

More information and shuttle route maps are available on the Parking Services website.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Sept. 4 – Last day to self-drop fall classes online.
Sept. 11 – 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 a Graduation Application (only used when a student has applied for the same degree in a prior term).
Oct. 21 – Priority registration opens for spring semester.

Funding and fellowships graphic

Funding & Fellowships

Virtual Training Webinar: How to Use GrantForward as a Grant Seeker or Researcher

Thursday, September 19 | Noon-1PM | Virtual via Zoom

GrantForward will host a training webinar "Using GrantForward as a Grant Seeker/Researcher" for the Montana State University community. Included will be tips on best practices for using GrantForward across three use cases on Searching for Grants, Receiving Recommendations, and Learning Strategic Information. We look forward to your participation in moving your research forward with us! Learn more about GrantForward here. RSVP requested.

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

Paws-itive Vibes: Chill with Cats & Dogs

Tuesday, September 3 | 11:30AM-1PM | Malone Centennial Mall (South of Montana Hall)

The start of school can be overwhelming and "ruff". Paws-itive Vibes provides the opportunity for the campus community to take a break from class or work and chill with some cool cats and dogs (and give them lots of pets!).

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.