COGS Disciplinary Leadership Award

Graduate students may either apply directly to this award or be nominated by another. 

Individuals applying can do so using the button at the top of this page. Faculty or others are encouraged to nominate a graduate student by emailing tgsawards@grd.msu.edu to submit a nomination.

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.

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.

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.

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 a 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.