In 2010, the MSU Council of Graduate Students (COGS) established an endowment to recognize disciplinary leadership by graduate and grad-professional students.
The recipients are selected during Fall Semester to be awarded the following Spring Semester. Recipients need to be enrolled for the Spring Semester.
Graduate and professional students regularly (not provisional or lifelong) enrolled in a graduate or grad-professional program (not a certificate program only) at MSU and who are in good standing in their programs may apply. Faculty or others are encouraged to nominate a graduate student (Please email tgsawards@grd.msu.edu to submit a nomination). Students must be enrolled for the minimum credits to be in full-time status or provide a justification for less than full-time status. A graduate or professional student can receive a Disciplinary Leadership Award once during their time at MSU. Consideration will be given to students who have clearly demonstrated leadership in their respective disciplines and/or professional societies at the local, state, regional, national, or international levels while a student at MSU. Examples include: an award from the disciplinary or professional society, invited participation in a panel, presentation or poster session at a disciplinary society meeting, service or leadership on a disciplinary society committee, or leadership role in a nationally-recognized graduate student organization linked to or sponsored by a disciplinary society. This award is not for leadership on MSU committees or governance bodies, even though those are important contributions.
Consideration will be given to graduate and professional students who have clearly demonstrated leadership in their respective disciplines and/or professional societies at the local, state, regional, national, or international levels while a student at MSU. This award is not for leadership on MSU committees or governance bodies, even though those are important contributions. Examples, include:
- An award from the disciplinary or professional society
- Invited participation in a panel at a disciplinary and/or professional society meeting
- Presentation or poster session at a disciplinary and/or professional society meeting
- Service or leadership on a disciplinary and/or professional society committee
- Leadership role in a nationally-recognized graduate student organization linked to or sponsored by a disciplinary and/or professional society
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leadership activities within a disciplinary and/or professional society**
Nominators/recommendations should come from a faculty member (at MSU or in the disciplinary society) with knowledge of your leadership activities and who is familiar with the impacts of your leadership activities.
This award is not for leadership done or completed through a paid position at a disciplinary and/or professional society.
**For those doing DEI work in their respective disciplines and/or professional societies at the local, state, regional, national, or international levels, this “DEI leadership” is considered Leadership under the Disciplinary Leadership Award. Do NOT apply for an Disciplinary Leadership Award if your DEI leadership activities are occurring on MSU campus or within a program, unit, or department on campus with effects on campus communities. You should apply to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award instead (https://grad.msu.edu/fellowships/cogs-dei-award).
The Disciplinary Leadership Award is awarded to up to five students at $1,000.00 each in recognition of their leadership work. MSU must follow federal awarding rules.
If you have federal loans or other needs-based loans/aid, the amount of your fellowship award may cause a reduction of your loan(s) or other financial aid. You may still wish to consider the fellowship as this will most likely reduce your total loan debt at graduation. Please seek advice from your Office of Financial Aid Counselor before you turn down a fellowship.
A committee consisting of representative(s) from the Graduate School, 3 members of the COGS membership at large, and 2 graduate program directors will review applications. The committee will select 3-5 candidates and forward to the Dean of the Graduate School who will make the final decision. The Dean may also consider any remaining candidates in the pool.
To apply, fill out this form.
For further information pertaining to this fellowship, please contact tgsawards@grd.msu.edu.
Previous Recipients
2024-25 COGS Disciplinary Leadership Award Recipients
2023-24 COGS Disciplinary Leadership Award Recipients