We encourage graduate program directors (GPDs) and graduate program assistants (GPAs) to always use the most recent version of each form. The Graduate School makes regular updates to these forms to continuously improve clarity and usability. Major changes are announced to campus.
Students with federal financial aid may experience an adjustment in their aid package as a result of new funding (i.e. fellowship) which was not assessed in their initial semester aid package.
When the student incurs an additional educational expense (housing, books, tuition, research, travel, etc.) and receives a fellowship to cover the expense, the department can request that the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) review the student’s budget and possibly increase their Cost of Attendance to offset any possible reduction in aid. There is no guarantee that the student’s Cost of Attendance will be increased.
Please be very detailed about the nature of the expenses. Please complete the form below and send it to the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@msu.edu.
Please note: OFA will only consider a Cost of Attendance adjustment request when the student experiences additional educational expenses.
Deadline: The deadline for Fall 2026 international graduate admissions (including applications and accompanying materials) is Monday, June 15.
All graduate students must have an advisor assigned to their record in SIS. The following job aids provide information on how to complete this task. For any advisor assignment questions not addressed by the job aids, please reach out to gradsis@grd.msu.edu.
Strategic Program Assessment (SPA) is MSU’s process for reviewing graduate programs, including graduate certificates.
Each graduate program is expected to have a Graduate Handbook to inform students on:
Departmental and Program perspectives concerning academic integrity and how this is to be communicated to students should be incorporated in each handbook.
These are templates for graduate students and faculty to use in the required written annual evaluation process. Please check with your own graduate program for the specific form for you to use.
For more information about the required written annual evaluation of each graduate student, please see Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities: 2.4.8.
GradPlan helps master's and doctoral students create and store their degree plans and subsequent graduate program activities.
It is where students form their guidance committee (if required), create and update a course list, complete an annual research activity guide, and upload documentation of their annual review with their advisor.
Administrative and support staff will access GradPlan to view/approve course lists and committee information, view activity guides, and upload students’ annual reviews.
For GradPlan questions not addressed by the quick guides or job aids, please reach out to gradsis@grd.msu.edu.
Graduate program directors and assistants are responsible for completing a variety of forms relevant to students. A list of these forms can be found below.
eGradFel is a platform that allows MSU staff and faculty to initiate and manage fellowships. GAADs, Graduate Program Directors, and Graduate Program Assistants can read the manual to learn how to receive access and begin to use this platform.
RECR requirement information for students and staff may be found on the Graduate School's RECR webpage. Training materials related to RECR in SIS are below.