Hi 2020 MSU Doctoral Graduates!

We want to celebrate you and your huge accomplishment. But we can't do that with our traditional pomp & circumstance (yet!), and we are disappointed to not host the grand celebration you deserve. We can't replace that experience right now - we are working on it - so in the meantime, we'd like to do something that really showcases who you are, where you are, for now.

We are going to put together a video montage starring you, a special 2020 MSU Ph.D graduate.

But we need your help.

And you can help by recording yourself doing...something. From wherever you are "staying home and staying safe," record a short video and submit it to us. Do a dance, act out your research in a funny way, show off your awesome workspace where your dissertation was written, do a jig, model your favorite Spartan wear, dance in front of your favorite data slide...whatever. We want it to be about you, by you, starring you, and be something you're excited to share with your friends, family, and colleagues. (If you need more ideas, poke around on the internet for graduation video compilations or if you're out of ideas, simply smile and wave goodbye to the camera for a few seconds).

This is entirely optional. If you think this is dumb, or an inferior substitute for a proper graduation ceremony (we'd agree on that point, actually), you don't have to participate. That's fine! But we hope you will, and if you do want to help us put something together, we'd be grateful. Don't overthink it, and don't spend too much time trying to perfect your video. Just be you: that's who we are celebrating.

Recording parameters and file requirements:

• Please name your file with your full name and graduate program so we know who you are (i.e. Sammy Sparty_Cell and Molecular Biology) when you upload it to the Google drive (link below).
• Recordings should be 15 seconds or less.
• Please use landscape mode (hold your phone sideways) for any recordings (as opposed to portrait mode) for any recordings. Doing so will help make a consistent end product.
• We are going to put music over the whole thing, so we will be removing audio. Don't focus on talking too much.
• Please do not upload 4K footage.
• Don’t be afraid to be real, silly, solemn, or creative: this is for students, about students, created by students to celebrate your accomplishment in a way that communicates how you feel about it.
• We will be editing the videos together (and will not include anything inappropriate, obviously). We reserve the right to trim and edit as needed.
• Upload link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DZ_1TzGqaHw_YrwcWwkQ6NkigHdr56D4...
• Please load your video by Thursday, April 30 so we can put them together in a timely fashion. If that seems like a short turnaround, it is. Don't overthink your video: just go for it, record something 15-seconds-or-less and upload it so we can see your happy, "I am a Ph.D.!" face.
• Standard release we have to include: By uploading your video you are agree to allow the Graduate School at Michigan State University to use your image and/or voice for use in research, educational, marketing, and public service programs. These programs include, without limitation Graduate School websites, social media platforms, and publications. You understand and agree that these audio, video, film and/or print images may be edited, duplicated, distributed, reproduced, reformatted, and/or translated into other languages in any manner without payment of fees, in perpetuity.

We can't wait to see what creative ideas you have, to help you say hello to the next stage of your career, and say goodbye to your time as a graduate student at MSU!

Please share with your colleagues who are also graduating this Spring/Summer. We want them to be included too, so spread the word.

Thank you!

Questions? Please contact:

Julie W. Rojewski, Ph.D.
Director, Ph.D. Career Development
The Graduate School
Michigan State University
517-884-1333
rojewsj@msu.edu