Handbook Update

Dear Graduate Program Directors,

This document captures required and suggested changes to your Graduate Handbooks for 2026-2027.

Required changes:

1. We have made minor changes to the Graduate School Template. See the file here. These changes mostly involved updating links as the Graduate, Medical and Law student rights and responsibilities documents moved locations and the Graduate School has a new website. All changes are highlighted in yellow.
2. We completed the handbook revision from last year regarding Shared Programs – Undergraduate to Graduate (Shared Programs-UG2G). A link to the request form is provided in the template now.

Future Required Changes:

1. Programs are strongly encouraged to develop their own guidelines outlining acceptable and unacceptable uses of generative AI in key academic milestones, such as theses/dissertations, defenses, and comprehensive exams, given the rapidly advancing capabilities of these technologies. 
   
   The Graduate School will provide supporting materials early this fall to assist in this process. All programs are expected to have finalized their guidelines by the end of the Spring 2027 semester. 
   
   Your handbook should link to the new policies in the Departmental Policies: Integrity and Safety in Research and Creative Activities section. More detailed information is provided in that section of the Handbook Template.
    
2. Similarly, faculty are encouraged to develop their own specific policies regarding acceptable AI use for students that they advise, mentor, supervise as teaching assistants, or otherwise work with. 
   
   The Graduate School will also provide supporting materials early this fall to help faculty develop these policies. This aligns with MSU’s AI guidelines released in June 2026 that students should obtain clear guidance regarding how generative AI tools may be used in a variety of settings.

Other Notes:

1. We are noticing cases where students need to request approvals to enroll in extra 999 credits due to students registering for 9 credits even when they do not need to. Please remind students about the maximum limits for 999 credits and to reduce their enrollments as they approach and then pass the required 24 credits.
2. As a reminder, there is a report in the Campus Solutions Graduate Reporting Center (MSU_GRAD_STUDENT_RESEARCHCRED) where you can identify the number of 899 or 999 credits taken by all students with a program or a collection of plans. Also, within ESAF, you can see a detailed account of all 999 credits taken with the Course Listing by Subject/Transfer Institution option.