The following links will direct you to important MSU documents relating to graduate students, mentoring, research, and teaching.
For specific forms please see our Forms Page. Many of the below policies and procedures can be found in the Student Handbook and Resource Guide.
This statement of university policy addresses principles and procedures to be used in instances of academic dishonesty, violations of professional standards, and falsification of academic or admission records.
This process is followed when the Dean of the Graduate School receives a finding of research or other academic misconduct that may warrant revocation of the graduate degree.
If a graduate student is requesting a medical leave of absence for a semester, the department will need to complete a “withdrawal” form located on the Registrar’s Office website under forms.
Once the form is completed, it goes to the Registrar’s Office.
A Medical Leave is a complete withdrawal from enrollment in a term as a result of a medical condition causing a catastrophic impact on a student’s ability to remain enrolled.
It is also referred to as a Medical Withdrawal.
Certain types of graduate courses that were taken up to three years before the matriculation semester can be transferred into a program of study with approval from the graduate program and the college.
Courses taken more than three years prior to the matriculation semester will need additional approval from the Graduate School before they can be transferred in.
MSU requires that new graduate students have earned the equivalent of a 4-year bachelor's degree. If the prospective student does not hold a 4-year bachelor's degree, they must demonstrate that they hold the equivalent.
In their handbooks, graduate programs at MSU describe what it means to be in “acceptable” and “good” academic standing. Part of this is tied to timely progress: Graduate students are expected to reach various milestones within certain time limits. Units should be guiding and mentoring students toward timely progress.
The MSU Graduate School acknowledges that there are unforeseen circumstances that may impede students’ timely progress. The Graduate School, therefore, allows students who are facing unforeseen circumstances that impede their timely progress to request an extension of the University’s time limits.
In a limited number of cases, non-resident doctoral students not supported by GAs may be eligible to be classified at MSU’s in-state tuition rate.
MSU provides a limited number of out-of-state tuition waivers to the Graduate School, which may be requested for fellowships, traineeships and internships that fall under the criteria described below.
The GSRR specifically addresses student conduct, academic pursuits, keeping of records, and publications.
It describes procedures for formulating regulations governing student conduct and for providing due process in the adjudication of student disciplinary cases. It also defines channels and procedures for student complaints and grievances.
This MSRR contains guidelines to the rights and responsibilities of medical students in matters of conduct, academic pursuits, keeping of records, and employment.
This document describes structures and procedures for adjudicating medical student disciplinary cases, and for channeling medical student complaints, grievances, or concerns to faculty, staff, and administrators for appropriate action.
This document and related documents (including the Academic Hearing Procedures for the MSU College of Law and the Code of Student Discipline) contain guidelines to the rights and responsibilities of law students in matters of conduct, professionalism and ethics, academic pursuits, keeping of records, and employment.
This report (along with the GSSR document and the MSRR and LSRR documents) contains guidelines to the rights and duties of students in matters of conduct, academic pursuits, the keeping of records and publications.
The effective advising and mentoring of graduate students is the joint responsibility of the graduate degree-granting and program units, the faculty advisors, and the students.
The guidelines are intended to foster faculty-graduate student relationships that are characterized by honesty, courtesy, and professionalism, and that provide students with intellectual support and guidance.
This site references the policies governing who can serve on MSU guidance committees, and the procedures for requesting non-regular MSU Faculty, academic specialists, and non-MSU individual’s membership on graduate student committees.
Each college and/or department has specific requirements for research integrity training for its graduate students.
This policy establishes a plan for complying with Section 7009 of the American Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act, as implemented by the National Science Foundation (NSF), to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be supported by NSF funding to conduct research.
The intent of this document is to serve as a general guideline for consideration of important issues surrounding authorship as scholars construct a piece of work for public distribution. Some programs have their own written policies.
Describes MSU's best practices for recording and archiving data. Departments and labs may have their own additional requirements.
A joint effort of the MSU Libraries and University Archives, this service helps faculty create and execute data management plans.
This includes an online template and tutorial for creating DMPs, a guide to research data management fundamentals, and a template for lifecycle data management planning.
The IACUC advises the University President and the Institutional Official regarding all aspects of the responsible use of animals in university research and instructional activities.
The IACUC reviews protocols, and the animal care and use program, and monitors related activities to ensure compliance with standards and regulatory requirements.
The HRRP’s primary mission is the protection of individuals who are the subjects of research.
MSU has established three Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that have oversight for all research conducted under its Federal Wide Assurance.
This report details the procedures for the investigation and evaluation of alleged or apparent misconduct in order to safeguard the integrity of research and creative activities at MSU.
Satisfaction of teaching responsibilities by instructional staff members is essential to the successful functioning of a university. This document dictates the expected duties and responsibilities of all instructors.
The GEU contract dictates terms and conditions of employment for graduate teaching assistants at MSU, and includes agreements on rates of pay, hours, health care, and procedures for the resolution of differences.
This website details the health insurance options available to MSU Graduate Assistants.
MSU candidates for TA appointments who were required to demonstrate English proficiency as a condition for regular admission to Michigan State University must also demonstrate that they meet a minimum standard of proficiency in spoken English before they can be assigned teaching work that involves oral communication with undergraduate students.
This document outlines the responsibilities associated with MSU Research Assistantships.
This section of GSRR outlines policies related to graduate assistants.
This website details the health insurance options available to MSU Graduate Assistants.