Documents, Guidelines, Forms
New Students FAQ & Information
- Graduate onboarding, useful information (updated: August 25)
- Grad Life Overview (updated: August 2025)
Graduate Program Handbook & Program Signposts
- Graduate Program Handbook (updated: August 2025)
- Cheat Sheet for the graduate program containing major signposts (updated: August 2025)
Responsibilities of Faculty and Graduate Students & Mentoring Guidelines
- General expectations & responsibilities of faculty and graduate students
- Graduate Program Code of Conduct
- Graduate students who teach their own course during summer and their designated teaching mentor should consult the following form: Mentoring Checklist
- Large lecture classes (IAH) TA Workload Checklist – this Excel spreadsheet can also be used, in addition to the TA workload checklist, to determine the load in larger lecture classes.
Graduate Program Best Practices
- How to Apply for Travel Funding
- Expectations and best practices: Comprehensive Exams
- Graduate Program FAQ (forthcoming)
- GradPlan & SIS (forthcoming)
Graduate Student Advising
- Ph.D. Program Checklist (updated July 2023)
- Annual Progress Report for Ph.D. Students (updated May 2025)
- Note that it’s acceptable for graduate students to submit a C.V. in place of questions 1-7 on the form.
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Requirement Checklist
- All graduate students must complete RCR training prior to degree completion.
Independent Studies
- Application Form for Independent Study (PHL 890) Form
- Template for Independent Study (PHL 490) for Fulfilling the Logic Requirement via PHL 330
Evaluations
- Evaluation Form for Graduate Students in Seminars
- Evaluation Form for Teaching Assistants
Milestone Reviews
Approved by the Philosophy Department, April 30, 2012; updated and approved May 2023
To ensure that doctoral students move through the program in a timely fashion, three “milestone” reviews will be conducted by the student’s guidance committee. Note: the department began to use one form for all three milestone reviews in May 2023. The milestone reviews will supplement the annual reports that guidance committees conduct each year.
Early & Middle & Advanced Milestone Review (this form should be updated during the entire career)
Early update by end the 2nd year (by May 15, end of the 4th semester), middle update by middle of the 4th year (by Dec. 31, end of the 7th semester); advanced update by end of the 5th year (by May 15, end of the 10th semester). If there are inadequacies, students will be notified that they are not making satisfactory progress toward the degree (see Graduate Handbook, sec 3.4) and that they have one semester in which to address the remediable deficiencies (sec 4.4). Although some adjustments to the Milestone timetable might be allowed in an individual case, these must be for sound programmatic reasons and must be arranged in advance—not after the fact (sec. 3.4.1). Records of such approved adjustments will be filed in the student’s academic portfolio.
MA for Ph.D. Students
Students who are currently enrolled in the doctoral program can earn a Master’s degree by fulfilling the M.A. requirements. See this document for details and consult the Graduate Handbook.
Information for Current Graduate Students
Academic Operations (AO)
Job functions include: course overrides, GA appointments, fellowships & awards, GradPlan, degree audit, etc.
Contact: Marina Valli vallimar@msu.edu
Human Resources (HR)
Job functions include: I-9s, student hourly hires support, summer UNTF positions
Contact: Angela Hunt huntaj@msu.edu
Office Operations (OO)
Job functions include: managing offices spaces, office supplies/copiers, building access, event coordination
Contact: Stacy Hoxey hoxseys@msu.edu
Teaching Assistantships
Appointment will be processed after signed offer letter is received. Once finalized, Carrie Lewis (clewis@msu.edu) will link TA to their course which provides access to D2L and Registrar Instructor Systems.
- D2L is an online platform for building/accessing course materials, submitting assignments, taking tests, etc.
- Registrar Instructor system provides student information and grade submission
- D2L online trainings are available: https://help.d2l.msu.edu/training
- These systems cannot be accessed until I-9 is completed and appointment is finalized.
- New I-9s (handled by CAL HR) are required anytime there is a break in employment.
Student Well Being
- MSU Counselling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) https://caps.msu.edu/ (517-355-8270)
- MSU Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (Linton Hall, 517-355-4506, eap@msu.edu for appointments)
- Jonathon Ritz, CAL Director of Student Wellness, ritz@msu.edu
Graduate Assistant FAQ
Why do I have a tuition bill?
GAs have tuition coverage – please contact AO member if you see an unexpected bill
When will I get paid?
Start dates for payroll are on August 16th, meaning that first paycheck will be smaller than usual. For 2025-2026, first check will be approximately 50% of your offer letter stipend. http://www.ctlr.msu.edu/copayroll/payrollSchedules.aspx. Sign up for direct deposit via instructions on grad onboarding document (will be emailed).
How do I get information about Health Insurance coverage?
Contact MSU HR Solutions Center solutionscenter@hr.msu.edu –
https://hr.msu.edu/graduate-assistants.html