Graduate School Newsletter - Graduate School | Montana State University


	August 2026

	Important Announcements Message from the Vice Provost Dear Graduate Students, I am excited to begin my first year as Vice Provost of Graduate Education and Director of the Graduate School at Montana State University! In this role, I will be focused on collaboration and partnership with students, staff, faculty, administrators, and indeed the greater MSU community network to support our shared graduate education mission. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to work with you. In the very brief time I have been at MSU - I just arrived on campus in July 2026 - I have made several observations I would like to share. First, whether you are a new or returning graduate student, all of us in the Graduate School look forward to helping you thrive. This newsletter is full of upcoming events and available resources designed to welcome and support you; future newsletters will continue to be timely and informative as well. We hope you will participate as you can and review the included information geared towards the upcoming academic year. Second, your graduate program faculty and staff are greatly invested in your success too. We encourage you to meaningfully connect with these talented and dedicated folks as well as with your fellow student colleagues. Whether you are on campus in Bozeman, online from your home community, or anywhere in between, your connections promote belonging and success. Third, our campus excels when graduate students excel; your contributions to our teaching, research and scholarship, and extension/outreach missions are indispensable. We need your creativity, intelligence, experience, and dedication to continue to be successful, and we are proud that you have chosen MSU to help you develop your skills and elevate your impact. If you have questions for the Graduate School, please do not hesitate to contact us. We cannot wait to meet/re-connect with you in the upcoming academic year. Please take care of yourselves and Go Cats! Warmly, Matthew Lovern, Ph.D. Welcome/Welcome Back Picnic! Upcoming Dates & Deadlines Full List of Grad School Dates & Deadlines August 26: First Day of Classes. August 28: Welcome/Welcome Back Picnic, 3:30-5pm on the Jabs Patio. September 1: Last day to self-add classes online. September 4: Last day for master’s and doctoral comprehensive examination or thesis/dissertation defense for One-credit Extension. September 7: Labor Day (no classes, offices closed) September 9: Last day to self-drop classes online. September 11: One-credit Extension deadline; last day for formatting approval of Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (ETD) by the formatting advisor. 5PM deadline. September 16: Last day to drop classes without a "W" grade. September 20: Last day for graduate students to file for graduation in MyMSU or via a pdf Graduation Application (only used when a student has applied for the same degree in a prior term). Degree Works will be down for an upgrade from 9/21-9/28. Get your grad apps in early! A Degree Works Note is needed to apply to graduate in MyMSU.

	Workshops & Events Graduate Wellness Champions The Graduate School is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. To support the well-being of graduate students, department-level initiatives are key – both in running local well-being events, but also to help change culture and practices. A $500 fellowship ($250 per semester) is available for graduate student wellness champions who will advocate and organize well-being events in their departments. This fellowship is to support the student for organizational work during the academic year. For more information or to apply, please visit the GradCat Wellness Champion Program website. Applications open for the Fall 2026 Mindfulness Based Graduate Mentorship Program! TheMindfulness Based Graduate Mentorship Program (MBGMP) is for graduate student mentees interested in learning how to mindfully cultivate and sustain functional mentoring relationships. In the program, graduate students gather weekly in peer community to inquire into questions around the qualities of effective mentorship, what functional relationships look like, and how to get support from mentors. Applications are open now through September 4th! 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.
	Funding & Fellowships 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.
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