Graduate School Newsletter

January 2025

Important Announcements

University Housing Has Open Spaces for Graduate Students!

University Housing has about 10 spaces that need to be filled and want to give graduate students priority on these spaces before they will be filled with eligible undergraduate students for the Spring semester. These spaces are in the Grant Chamberlain apartments, so these students should expect to have a roommate. If a grad student applies for housing by January 3, 2025 and also meets eligibility requirements (registered for at least 6 credits for Spring 2025), they will be prioritized for on-campus housing.

University Housing Website | housing@montana.edu | (406) 994-2661

Counseling Opportunity for Grad Students through the MSU Human Development Clinic

The MSU Human Development Clinic (HDC) has immediate openings starting in mid-January for low cost, sliding scale, mental health counseling. This counseling is available to students without MSU health insurance. The HDC will reopen for the spring semester on 1/6/25 and will begin scheduling new clients the week of 1/13/25. Spots are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Human Development Clinic Website | Online Request Form | (406) 994-4113

Grad Student Housing Meet & Match

Want to get jump on your housing hunt for the Summer or Fall? Looking for a roommate to start your search? Look no further-join other prospective and current graduate students in Off-Campus Student Life (OCSL) to make connections, share contact information, and to make plans to find housing together! Attendance is free, and snacks and games will be provided!

Graduate Student Meet & Match: Monday, January 27, 2025 | 5-6PM | SUB Room 268 (OCSL Office)
International Meet & Match (Grad & Undergrad): Monday, February 10, 2025 | 5-6PM | SUB Room 268 (OCSL Office)

CatsConnect, CatsConnect+, and CatServe

Looking for connection? CatsConnect, launched in 2019, continues to serve as the Office of Student Engagement's primary platform, centralizing opportunities for students to join clubs, attend events, and engage with campus groups. Building on CatsConnect’s success, OSE is thrilled to announce CatsConnect+, a new mobile app that brings engagement directly to students’ phones. Whether exploring clubs, staying updated on events, or discovering new ways to get involved, CatsConnect+ makes it easy! They are also proud to introduce CatServe, a platform dedicated to connecting students with community service opportunities. CatServe simplifies the process of finding and tracking volunteer opportunities, helping students make a positive impact locally.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Jan. 14 - Classes begin. One-credit extension deadline. ETD Formatting deadline. Non-degree applications deadline.
Jan. 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no classes; offices closed).
Jan. 21 - Last day to self-add classes online.
Jan. 28 - Last day to self-drop classes online.
Feb. 4 - Last day to drop classes without a "W" grade.
Feb. 5 - Last day 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).

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Funding & Fellowships

Workshop: Intro to Grants and Finding Funding

Friday, January 31, 2025 | 9:30-11:00AM | MSU Library Room 324 and Webex

New to writing grants? Need funding for your research program or summer salary? Join the Office of Research Development for an interactive session that introduces you to grants, the grant writing process, and associated MSU policies and procedures. They will also cover how to find funding opportunities to meet your research, scholarship, or creative goals.

While the workshop is geared towards early career faculty, graduate students are also welcome to attend. Please indicate if you plan to attend via Webex in the comments section when you register. We will send you the link and materials prior to the workshop.

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 Open House

Monday, January 13, 2025 | 3-6PM | MSU Library

On January 9, 1950, Montana State University celebrated a milestone with the opening of its first dedicated library building. MSU Library invites faculty, staff, graduate students, and community members to honor 75 years of Renne Library at the 2025 Open House. The event will feature food, beverages, a cash bar, music by Woodsmoke Jazz, and fantastic door prizes. With an old Hollywood red-carpet theme, attendees are encouraged to dress in their version of glamour—whether it’s gowns, tuxedos, boots, or bow ties. Explore MSU Library’s history, services, and Open House partner exhibits offering games, activities, and information. Graduate students can discover extremely helpful resources for research, including publication and citation help, copyright guidance, and supercomputing support.

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.