Graduate School Newsletter

April 2025

Important Announcements

Message from the Dean

Dear Graduate Students,

The good news that I want to share with you is that we have had very few disruptions of graduate student studies during the upheaval involving federal grants. The few disruptions have been managed without any graduate student losing a tuition waiver or a stipend. I hope you continue your studies and research with diligence and the optimism that you will complete your degrees. As always, we in The Graduate School will work with students and their advisors to provide connections to available resources and support services if needed.

Dean Deborah Haynes

Message from Grad Student Leadership Council (GSLC)

Thank you to those of you who were able to attend the March Townhall. For anyone that couldn’t make it, we'd still love to hear your feedback. Please fill out the GSLC student feedback form.

Additional Graduate Student Resources: For information regarding federal funding updates, please check out the funding updates website. All current guidance and resources regarding federal funding disruptions can be found on this website, as well as contacts to reach out to if you have further questions.

Are you looking for mental health counseling alternatives to CPS? Check out the Human Development Clinic at 1501 S 3rd Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715! They have immediate openings and work off a sliding scale model that is very flexible and affordable. Check out the Human Development Clinic website for more information.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Full List of Grad School Dates & Deadlines

Registration is open!
Apr. 15 – Last day to drop with a W.
Apr. 18 – University Day (no classes; offices open)
Apr. 25 – Last day to complete a comprehensive exam or thesis/dissertation defense if graduating spring 2025.
May 2 – Last day for ETD formatting approval from the formatting advisor. 5PM deadline. Submission of draft at minimum 2-3 weeks prior.
May 8 – Last day of classes. Spring semester ends. Last day to withdraw Graduation Application and file for one-credit Extension

Funding and fellowships graphic

Funding & Fellowships

NSF ART Student Assistant Opportunity

Two student assistant positions are available with MSU's research translation team, an interdisciplinary team at Montana State University reporting into the Vice President for Research. The role of the team is to help all graduate students, faculty, and researchers take their research from the laboratory setting to real world solutions. The positions are funded via a National Science Foundation grant entitled Accelerating Research Translation. One of the positions is meant to help with programs and events design, and the other is directed at offering direct support to the MSU teams actively working on translating their research to the world. If you are interested or curious about them, check out the positions and apply!
Translation Programs student position
Translating Team(s) student position

Adams' Intro to Research Translation Opportunity

Did you know that university research can have a tremendous impact in helping create a better world? Did you know that 77% of projects that aim to create impact from research have graduate students deeply involved in their success?

You too can be one of those changemakers. If you think someone can benefit from the results of your research or if you're just curious to learn more, consider applying for the Introduction to Research Translation program, a short 4-hour program designed to help you explore the potential for impact or your research and what YOU can do about it. Attendees will receive a $200 scholarship for participation and will be eligible for additional support to continue exploring the potential of their projects upon completion of the program. Contact Magali Eaton (Magali.eaton@montana.edu) in Tech Transfer for more info.
Intro to Research Translation Overview

GrantForward – Sign Up to Get Notifications for New Funding!

GrantForward is MSU’s relatively new funding opportunity search engine and works great for graduate student relevant opportunities. Anyone with a “montana.edu” email can create a free account, and then they can perform tailored searches for relevant funding opportunities including fellowships and research grants specifically for grads. Other awesome features include setting up saved searches to use again and again to find relevant opportunities as they become available, creating tailored funding opportunity lists to share in an email or link to a webpage, among many others.

Identify Scholarships and Research Funding for Your Graduate Education!

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

ETD Drop-In Help Sessions

Monday, April 7 | 9-10 AM| Romney 201
Tuesday, April 15 | 9-10 AM | Romney 201
Wednesday, April 23 | 9-10:30 AM | Romney 201

The Graduate School is hosting a drop-in help session for electronic thesis and dissertation formatting. Bring your laptop and document. Please review the ETD website and watch the formatting/template videos beforehand. Visit www.montana.edu/etd

Program of Study Student Drop-In Help Sessions

Thursday, April 3 | 10-11AM | Library Rm 15, Heathcote Classroom
Wednesday, April 9 | 1-2PM| Library Rm 15, Heathcote Classroom

The Graduate School is hosting a drop-in help session for graduate program of study and committee forms. We are in a computer lab, but you are also welcome to bring a laptop. Open to students, faculty, and staff.

MSU Leadership Institute

The MSU Leadership Institute is excited to offer three programs this semester, focusing on conflict communication, leadership skills, and non-profit service. Please share these opportunities with Graduate School students.

1. Leading through Artful Communication: Timeless Strategies for Modern Conversations
This event will feature conflict resolution coach and author Dr. Deidre Combs. Wednesday, April 9, from 4:30-6:30 PM. Registration is free, using the Artful Communication link here.

2. The Leadership Lab Workshop Series
This four-part workshop series runs Mondays 4:30 – 6:30 pm from March 31 to April 21, in the Strand Union Building. Registration is free at this link. Spots are limited, secure yours today!

3. Boardroom Bobcats
Participants gain board experience, mentorship, leadership skills, and professional development—ideal for those exploring nonprofit careers.
Application Deadline: April 13,Boardroom Bobcats apply here.

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.