GraduateCollege Update
(December 7, 2016)
TIME CHANGE FOR COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES: Please note the following new times for FA16 commencement on December 16, 2016.
10:00 AM Ceremony:COB and COE
1:30 PM Ceremony: COAL, CHHS, CHPA, CNAS and Darr School of Agriculture
McNair Graduate Fellowships. The Graduate College will offer a limited number of McNair Graduate Fellowships for the 2017-18 academic year (nominations due March 1, 2017). The primary function of these fellowships will be to enhance the diversity of the graduate student body, which is a focus of the university’s long range plan. These fellowships will be treated like $1000 scholarships per semester in addition to a graduate assistantship stipend awarded by the academic department, and the commitment at this time is only for one year (2017-18). We anticipate funding up to 15 of McNair Graduate Fellowships to be distributed across the University based in part on the number of assistantships offered by Colleges. Departments are responsible for nominating new students who meet the criteria. Information and nomination forms can be found at
Important Faculty related funding deadlines. Guidelines and applications can be found at
International Travel Funds. Applications are due in the Graduate College on January 15. Other application deadlines for the year are April 15, July 15 and October 15. No applications will be considered between the deadlines.
Faculty Research Grants: Spring applications are due February 1.
Important Student related funding deadlines.
Non-Thesis Research Funding. Spring deadline – Feb. 20. Information can be found at
Thesis Funding: Spring deadline – Feb 20. Information can be found at
Need-Based Scholarship for Graduate Students. Deadlines are November 15 (for spring semester), April 1 (for summer semester) and June 1 (for fall semester). Information can be found at
Graduation Deadlines
DUE NOW - - applications for FA16 graduation. Students who apply now will not have their name printed in the Commencement Program.
December 8, 2016 - - Deadline for submission of Comprehensive Exam Result Form to the Graduate College.
December 16, 2016 - - Commencement (12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.).
10:00 AM Ceremony:COB and COE
1:30 PM Ceremony: COAL, CHHS, CHPA, CNAS and Darr School of Agriculture
Department Highlight:
MSEd, Literacy. Five of the articles in a special edition of the state reading journal, The Missouri Reader, are by current MSEd, Literacy students. These students included:
- Bonnie Crossman: Student Goals Lead to Reading Success
- Brandi Farris: A Student Organized Classroom Library
- Jerri James: Motivating Struggling Readers through Collaborative Writing
- Michelle Mayne Nicholls: How Readers’ Theatre Can Motivate the Unmotivated
- Janelle Samuel: Self-efficacy, Self-concept, and Motivation in Reading
Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum. The date for the 2017IDF is Saturday, April 29, 2017. Abstracts are due by April 10, 2017. Pictures and information from the 2016Forum can be found at
Graduate Student Workshops -
Thesis Writing 101. January 26, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., PSU 317B. Speaker: Dr. Tom Tomasi, Graduate College. This session will focus on the research requirements of the Graduate College, specifically dealing with formatting requirements of a thesis. The session will include hints on how to avoid some of the common pitfalls in writing a thesis.
How to Get Into Grad School. February 21, 4:00 -5:00 pm, PSU 317B. Speaker: Dr. Tom Tomasi, Graduate College. This session will discuss the types of graduate programs, degrees, and certificatesavailable to students, as well as some do's and don'tsfor applying to graduate school.
Writing an Abstract. March 15, 4:00 -5:00 pm, PSU 317B. Speakers: Tom Tomasi, Graduate College. This session will include suggestions on how to write an abstract. The session is intended to assist students as they prepare abstracts for their theses and for the Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum, which will be held May 3, 2014, but this session is also open to any graduate student.
Giving a Presentation. April 10, 3:30 -5:00 pm, PSU 314C. Speakers: Tom Tomasi, Graduate College. This session will include suggestions and examples of successful presentation techniques for both oral and poster presentations. This session is intended to assist students as they prepare for the Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum, which will be held on April 25, 2015, but this session is also open to any graduate student.