Forms for Graduate Students – Academics – College of Education

Vital Note to Graduate Students

As you will see from the directions below, you are responsible for initiating many of the forms required by the college and university. The University and College are moving toward web-based form completion and submission systems, but we are not there yet.

Wherever indicated, you will be responsible for downloading, filling out — by typing names and information in the appropriate text boxes, and circulating many forms for signatures. Handwritten forms are not allowed. To the extent possible, secure faculty signatures electronically/digitally and ask the faculty to forward the document to the next level signer or your program secretary. Signatures that are handwritten, per university policy, must be in blue ink only. In conjunction with your advisor, you need to make certain that the information is complete and accurate.

The forms will require you to identify yourself in several ways: your name, your PID, your program name, and your program code. It is essential that you provide this information accurately. If you have any question about the name of your program, or your active program code, go to your STUINFO page and select “Major(s) by Term.” You will see your current program name and code. Do not bother your program staff with this question; it is your responsibility to know this information. If you thought that you were in a different program than what you see in STUINFO, you should immediately contact your program secretary to straighten this out.

For advanced (Ph.D. and Ed.D.) graduate students, you and your advisor need to make certain that your Guidance and Dissertation Committees include at least four faculty members who are eligible to serve, per University policy (https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Text.aspx?Section=111#s394), before entering names into the text boxes and routing the document for signatures or entering them into electronic systems. Submitting forms with ineligible committee members will significantly delay the processing of your paperwork, and in the most extreme cases, can hold up graduation.

Before routing your form for signature, you should also do everything to ensure that the form consists of a single page, with all relevant information included; you may reduce font size if necessary and use page reduction features, but leave the form in the same structure as you find it on this website.

The following forms have been placed in sequential order — by program level — and reflect a typical student’s progress through the degree program. Not all forms are required.

Document Signing Instruction and Guide

When a form requires a Department Chair and/or Associate Dean’s Signature (or a designee), please route the form first to your program secretary, who will secure the remaining signatures and submit the form on your behalf. Forms should not be sent directly a Department Chair or the Associate Dean. If you need assistance digitally/electronically signing either a Word or PDF documents, refer to the guide below.

View the Word and PDF Document Signing Instructions

Forms for Master’s Students

Transfer Credit Limit Waiver Request: Program Initiated

Requesting Permission to Transfer in LG and/or Courses “External to MSU” in Excess of 9 Credits

(The policy below applies to ONLY a master’s level degree granting program and the language below can be found in the Academic Programs catalog under each degree level section requirements. For EdS students, the limit is 8 credits in transfer beyond the master’s degree. For the EdD and PhD, there is no set limit, it is at the discretion of the program faculty, who must secure department chairperson and dean’s level approval. The University caps LG level transfers to 9 credits.)

University Policy

Students in any [graduate] program may apply a maximum of 9 credits earned through any combination
of courses taken through lifelong education, or in transfer from another institution. Each program may
determine if courses are appropriate for the program and may allow fewer than 9 credits to be applied
to the specific program.

Waiver Request Procedure

Requests for permission to include LG level and/or courses taken outside of MSU, in excess of the 9
credits allowed, can be initiated in either email chain (formal signature approval would not be required)
or memo form by the student’s Advisor/Guidance Committee Chair (formal signatures would be
required)
All requests must include the following:
- Student’s Name and Program
- Rationale for
  - Why the extra credits are a good fit for the student and
  - How the course meets their program requirement
- Explanation as to why the student exceeded the nine-credit limit (if the courses were taken at
  the LG level)
- Brief approval statement at each approval level or signature on memo form
  
  The email chain or memo needs to follow this approval sequence:
  1. Initiated by Advisor
  2. → Program Coordinator/Director
  3. → Department Chair
  4. → edacadaf@msu.edu or via the SharePoint document submission folders for review and
    approval by Associate Dean Kristine Bowman or her designee
  5. The Associate Dean’s Office will submit the College approved request to the Graduate School
When the Graduate School renders their decision, the Associate Dean’s Office will notify the Program
Assistant if Approved or Denied.
If approved, at the same time the Graduate School notifies the College, they also notify the Registrar’s
Office. The RO documents the approved exception.
If approved, the Program Assistant works with their faculty to submit into the Registrar’s Office system a
Transfer Credit Administrative Form (or in Campus Solutions). It is helpful when submitting the form to
add a comment that this exception was approved by the Graduate School and the date of approval.

Important Note: external transfer credit requests, must include submission of the student’s transcript to the
Registrar’s Office, if an official transcript does not currently display in ESAF/Campus Solutions.

Changes in Advisor: Student Initiated

Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Changes in Advisor: Student Initiated form

View the MA/MS – Change of Advisor: Student Initiated form

Program Plan: Student Initiated

Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Program Plan: Student Initiated form

View the Student Affairs Administration – Program Plan: Student Initiated form

View the MAED – Program Plan: Student Initiated form

View the MATC – Program Plan: Student Initiated form

View the MAET – Program Plan: Student Initiated form

Changes in Program Plan: Student Initiated

Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Changes in Program Plan: Student Initiated form

Record of Final Certifying Examination for Master’s Degree Candidates: Program Initiated

Department completes this form and files it.

View the Record of Final Certifying Examination for Master’s Degree Candidates: Program Initiated form

Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirement: Student Initiated

Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirement: Student and Advisor Initiated form

View the Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirements: Student and Advisor Initiated form

Forms for Ph.D. Students

Change of Advisor (prior to formation of Guidance Committee and entry into GradPlan)

Doctoral students who want to change their temporary advisor prior to the formation of a Guidance Committee, can do so with the acknowledgement of both the outgoing and new advisor, using this form. Students are required by the end of their second year of doctoral study, to form a guidance committee and enter a program plan into the GradPlan system. If a student is close to guidance committee formation, this form is not required. Use GradPlan to enter committee and program plan.
Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Change of Advisor: Student Initiated form

GradPlan: Guidance Committee membership & Ph.D. Degree Plan (program plan)

GradPlan (gradplan.msu.edu) is the portal for PhD students to submit for approval their Guidance Committee Membership roster and their PhD degree plan. GradPlan usage is mandatory for all PhD students. Students who previously submitted paper Report of the Guidance Committee (Program Plan) and Guidance Committee Membership forms, must now create a GradPlan. Components of this system are used by the University to confer degrees. Schedule an appointment with your program secretary prior to your Guidance Committee meeting, for a worksheet to guide you through the process.

Guidance Committee Membership

Planning a Doctoral Program and the Appointment of a Guidance Committee must follow the University rules according the Academic Programs catalog: https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Text.aspx?Section=111#s394

To verify the eligibility of each prospective committee member, a student can log into the GradPlan system (gradplan.msu.edu) and attempt to add them in the committee section. If it is discovered that the system does not recognize an MSU faculty member, a request can be submitted for a non-approved or external faculty member to serve. Contact your Program Secretary to assist with the process for requesting permission for approval of a non-regular or external committee member. Your Program, Department, and the College must first endorse the petition before it will be forwarded to the Graduate School for final approval. Not all committee members need to be tenure-stream MSU faculty members, but those from outside the current MSU tenure system must be approved to serve. This includes faculty members employed elsewhere, previous MSU faculty members who have moved to other institutions, retired MSU faculty (non-emeritus), and fixed-term faculty members at MSU. Graduate School approval is necessary to enable non-regular tenure-stream committee members to access the GradPlan system, through which they review, comment upon, and approve changes or benchmarks in their students’ programs. Requests are reviewed on a student-by-student case, so be sure the request only speaks about a single student.

There are four categories of potential committee members not currently on the MSU tenure-stream faculty. The petition process varies depending on the individual’s status.

External Committee Member (non-MSU)
Former MSU Tenure Stream Faculty Member who left for another institution or exited the academic workforce
Retired, non-emeritus Faculty
Fixed-Term MSU Faculty Member

1. External Committee Member Approval

Faculty members external to MSU require a full formal review and approval. This is the most complicated in terms of process, but final approvals go smoothly.

The Graduate School’s procedure for seeking permission for this group is as follows:

Obtain a copy of the non-approved faculty member’s Vita (must be attached to an e-mail).
Obtain a letter from the non-approved faculty member summarizing his/her background and qualifications and willingness to serve as a member of a graduate student committee.
Obtain two letters of reference for the non-approved faculty member that speak to the individual’s qualifications to serve on graduate student committees. One letter may be from an MSU faculty member, but at least one letter must be from an external source.
Craft an e-mail to your Guidance Committee Chairperson requesting permission for the non-approved faculty member to serve. The message must include a brief summary outlining what the additional member has to offer in terms of knowledge and expertise that warrants the addition of an external member. Be sure to attach his/her Vita and both reference letters to the e-mail request.
Your Guidance Committee Chairperson evaluates your request to ensure that the outside member is the best fit for your academic program. The e-mail needs to address why this person is a good fit for the student’s committee and forwards the e-mail to your Program Coordinator, for program approval.
Your Program Coordinator adds their support and a second, internal, very brief, reference statement for the person to serve. They need to forward the complete e-mail chain on to the Department Chair, for department approval.
The Department Chair needs to add their very brief statement of support and forward the entire e-mail chain, with vita and reference letters still attached to Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Kristine Bowman (klbowman@msu.edu).
Associate Dean Bowman will review the entire chain and add the College’s support, before forwarding the request on to the Graduate School Dean for final approval. When approved, the prospective committee member’s name will be added as an approved member for ony that student’s committee. They will be required to create a CommunityID to gain access to the proper systems. The Graduate School will reach out to them with instructions. The newly approved committee member will appear in GradInfo once the process is complete, for the program to verify the approval.

2. Former MSU Tenure Stream Faculty Member Approval (non-retired, non-emeritus)

Faculty members who have already left MSU go through an abbreviated approval process. The student initiates the request, as they do for external potential members. But the email request needs to define which role the former MSU faculty member will serve on the committee (Chairperson, Dissertation Director, or Member) and should be accompanied only by an updated version of the faculty member’s Vita. The third-party reference letter is not required.

The email request should go first to the Chairperson of the student’s Guidance Committee, who reviews and approves the request and forwards the complete chain to the Program Coordinator, who approves the request.

The Coordinator then forwards the entire endorsed email to the Department Chair, who approves the request. The Chair forwards everything to Associate Dean Kristine Bowman, who sends the entire chain with the College’s endorsement to the Dean of the Graduate School for final approval.

When approved, the prospective committee member’s name will be added as an approved member for only that student’s committee. They will be required to create a CommunityID to gain access to the proper systems. The Graduate School will reach out to them with instructions. The newly approved committee member will appear in GradInfo once the process is complete, for the program to verify the approval.

For current faculty members who are getting ready to leave MSU, it is beneficial for them to prepare a request for each student they intend to continue working with. The approval process cannot begin until they leave MSU and have a new email address they intend to use to access the GradPlan system. The process is simple. The former faculty member emails the Program Coordinator each request, the Department Chairperson endorses the request and forwards it on to the Asssociate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Kristine Bowman, with the student’s name, the role they will serve on the committee and for what length of time. It is preferable to include a projected completion date. No updated Vita or third-party letter is required. The Chair endorses the request and forwards the email to Associate Dean Kristine Bowman, who sends the endorsed email on to the Dean of the Graduate School.

3. Retired, non-emeritus Committee Member Approval

Retired faculty who retire without emeritus status also must to go through a brief approval process. It should be initiated by the retiring faculty member, who submits one email per student with whom he/she intends to continue to work, the students’ programs, the anticipated duration of their service, and in what role they will serve (i.e. Dissertation Director, Guidance Committee Chair, Committee Member). The request should be sent to the Department Chair for approval. If a department approves, the faculty member can be made available to serve, but there should to be a limitation on the duration of membership (no more than two years is preferred). Retired faculty who will not retain their MSU e-mail account, must request a CommunityID and provide another email address in order to access their student’s record. Note that faculty who retire with Emeritus status do not require approval to continue to serve. If continuation will exceed two years past retirement, a request must be initiated including how long they plan to continue their service on the student’s committee and in what capacity. The Department Chair will forward the request on to Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Kristine Bowman, who will forward it on the the Graduate School Dean.

4. Fixed-Term MSU Faculty Member Approval

Individuals serving in fixed-term faculty appointments at MSU must go through the full approval process, as is required of prospective committee members external to MSU. Requests must follow all of the directions found in #1, but the faculty member will not be required to set up a CommunityID.

For any request that requires the faculty member to set up a MSU Community NetID
Once the Graduate School approves an external to MSU member to serve on a guidance committee, an e-mail is sent to that individual asking them to create a CommunityID (in those cases where they have no current MSU NetID). The external member has roughly two weeks to create their CommunityID. An external member’s CommunityID is typically their e-mail address at their primary institution. As a student, you are unable to add an external member to your committee in GradPlan until the external member has created their CommunityID and they have been added by the Graduate School to the GradInfo/GradPlan systems.

The procedures listed above are College of Education procedures and need to be followed for the College’s students. For additional information on committee member approval review the following Graduate School information: https://grad.msu.edu/non-regular-faculty-committees. Be sure the College procedure is followed, versus what the Graduate School site requires. The College handles requests via email, not in letter form.

Please use the link below to enter your Ph.D. Guidance Committee Members into the GradPlan system. Utilize the MSU NetID search feature for committee members internal to MSU and utilize the search by name feature for external committee members.

Dual Ph.D. Major Requests

Students wishing to pursue Dual Ph.D. majors must receive prior approval from both programs, the college(s), and the Graduate School within one semester following the development of a student’s Program Plan/GradPlan, and within the first two years of the student’s enrollment at MSU (https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Text.aspx?Section=111#s407). Approval is necessary before entering or amending your GradPlan to include the new courses and/or committee members. Use this form as a template for your dual major request: Dual-PhD-Request-Letter-Template.

Entering Your Program Plan/Report of the Guidance Committee into GradPlan

The Ph.D. Degree Plan should be filed the first semester of your second year of Ph.D. study and no later than one semester after the Guidance Committee is formed. Please use the link below to enter your Ph.D. Degree Plan into GradPlan.

Visit the GradPlan login.

Record of Comprehensive Examinations for Ph.D students: Program Initiated

Ph.D. comprehensive exam form: the student must be enrolled for semester of exam date for at least one credit. Must be taken within 5 years of admission to Ph.D. program. After the student takes the final part of the examination, the program/department completes and files this form.

View the Record of Comprehensive Examinations for Ph.D students form

View the Dual Major Comp Exam form

Request for Extension of the Five-Year Time Limit to Pass Comprehensive Exams: Student and Advisor Initiated

Ph.D. students must successfully pass all parts of comprehensive exams within their first five years in the program. The clock starts with the first course being counted toward the student’s degree, even if taken in a semester before being admitted to their current Ph.D. program (https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Text.aspx?Section=111#s398). Students need to refer to their program’s Handbook, if they are unclear of their program’s comprehensive exam policy. When a student does not pass all parts of their comprehensive exams within the first five years of their program, they must request a time extension before they can take their exam.

Student schedules an appointment with their advisor who downloads the form, together it is completed electronically. After completion, the advisor prints the form and both the student and advisor sign in blue ink. The form must be completed without handwriting, with the exception of signatures, which must be in blue. The advisor or student submits the signed form to their program secretary for processing. The form requires department, college and graduate school approval. The student and advisor will be notified via email when a decision is reached. If approved, the student can schedule their exam. If disapproved, the student will be excused from the program for failure to make academic progress.

View the Request for Extension of Time to Complete Comprehensive Exam: Student and Advisor Initiated form

Research Practicum: 995: Student Initiated

Doctoral students must complete a Research Practicum. There are several ways of meeting this requirement, all spelled out in your program’s Handbook. This form must be filed when you are completing this experience, typically through a course numbered 995. Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Research Practicum: 995: Student Initiated form

The MSU Human Research Review Program (HRRP)/IRB Application

You must use the Click system to submit an IRB application AND receive approval from the IRB before undertaking any research for your dissertation or other course that involves human subjects.

Dissertation Proposal and Director Approval: Student Initiate.

Dissertation proposals and directors are approved at a meeting of a student’s dissertation committee. If human subjects are to be part of the dissertation research, the IRB approval date must be included on the form. Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, dates and IRB numbers are accepted in blue ink only. Student also needs to go into GradPlan and identify their Dissertation Director, modify committee membership, if needed, and IRB number (if applicable).

View the Dissertation Proposal and Director Approval: Student Initiated form

View the Dual Major Dissertation Proposal and Director Approval: Student Initiated form

Notice of Doctoral Dissertation Oral Examination: Student Initiated

Students are expected to notify anyone they wish to attend their oral defense. If they would also like to have thier defense information included on the College of Education calendar on the College’s website, the student can complete a request to Submit an Event to the Calendar, ideally one to two weeks before the defense date. Under Event Title, put: “Oral Dissertation Defense: [Dissertation Title].” Under Event Cost enter $0, in the Event Summary and Event Description boxes, copy the event title and paste it into these fields.

Record of Dissertation and Oral Examination Requirements for Doctoral Degree Candidate: Student Initiated

Defense of dissertation oral examination form. Prepared by the student and taken to their oral defense with all fields but signatures, dates and decision completed. The dissertation committee members must sign and date the form at student’s defense or shortly thereafter or via MSU email, give someone on the committee or involved with the program permission to sign on their behalf. Once the form is signed by the student’s committee, it needs to be submitted to the program secretary for the student’s primary program. Student must be enrolled for at least one credit during semester of the defense.

View the Record of Dissertation and Oral Examination Requirements for Doctoral Degree Candidate form

View the Dual Major Dissertation Oral Defense form

Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirements: Student Initiated

If a student fails to meet final Ph.D. requirements within eight years AND prior to the eight year deadline, an extension to meet degree requirements must be applied for and approved. Student should complete this form in collaboration with the advisor. Student downloads, completes electronically, prints and submits to advisor along with all required supplemental documentation before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirements: Student Initiated form

View the Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirements: Student Initiated form.

View the Dual Major Request for Time Extension: Student Initated form

Dissertation Credit Limit Waiver: Student Initiated

If a student reaches the 30 credit maximum for Dissertation credits and must enroll in additional Dissertation credits, a waiver must be applied for and approved. A student should complete this form in collaboration with their guidance committee chairperson. Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints this form before securing signatures; no handwritten forms will be accepted: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Dissertation Credit Limit Waiver: Student Initiated form

Request to Participate in the College of Education Doctoral and Educational Specialist Convocation Ceremony

Students wishing to participate in the College’s Doctoral (Ph.D. and Ed.D.) and Educational Specialist Convocation/Hooding Ceremony will be required to complete an electronic application to participate and submit it no later than one month prior to the ceremony. Students who orally defend their dissertation between July 1 and December 31 are required to participate in the fall (December) ceremony. Those who orally defend between January 1 and June 30 are required to participate in the spring (May) ceremony. Students do not have the option to participate in a semester other than the one for which they qualify.

Convocation participation information is sent out via the student listservs each semester (fall and spring only). If you are not enrolled, you may not get the message. We make an effort to add students to the communication list who have completed the University’s Graduation Application early in the semester. You may only participate if you meet the criteria listed above, have not previously participated in a College hooding ceremony, and submit the fully approved electronic request/application by the deadline. Late requests will not be considered.

After a student submits a request, their advisor will be sent an automated request to approve. Once approved, it will go to the Graduate Records Office, who evaluates the student’s record to be sure that all required paperwork was received, especially the Dissertation Proposal and Director Approval Form, and that a fully approved GradPlan, with the correct Dissertation Director and Committee identified, is in the GradPlan system. Students with record deficits will be notified by the system and only have until the deadline to rectify any deficit. If you need assistance to determine if all required paperwork is on file, schedule a meeting with your program secretary to review your paperwork. They have access to the Graduate Records System and GradPlan to verify what documents may be missing.

Following the paperwork review, students approved to participate in the College’s convocation ceremony will be contacted by the Dean’s Office with additional participation information.

Questions can be directed to Jennifer Brown, brown661@msu.edu or (517) 355-1734.

Forms for Ed.D. Students

Capstone Proposal

Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Capstone Proposal Form: Student Initiated

Capstone Director

View the Capstone Director Form: Student Initiated

Capstone Oral Defense

Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Capstone Oral Defense Form: Student Initiated

Changes in Advisor or Guidance Committee Membership

View the Changes in Advisor or Guidance Committee Membership Form: Student Initiated

Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirements: Student Initiated

If a student fails to meet final Ed.D. requirements within six years, an extension to meet degree requirements must be applied for and approved. Student should complete this form in collaboration with the advisor. Student downloads with advisor, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirements: Student Initiated form

Request to Participate in the College of Education Doctoral and Educational Specialist Convocation Ceremony

Students wishing to participate in the College’s Doctoral (Ph.D. and Ed.D.) and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Convocation/Hooding Ceremony will be required to complete an electronic application to participate and submit it no later than one month prior to the ceremony. Students who complete all program requirements between July 1 and December 31 are required to participate in the fall (December) ceremony. Those who complete all program requirements between January 1 and June 30 are required to participate in the spring (May) ceremony. Students do not have the option to participate in a semester other than the one for which they qualify.

After a student submits a request, their advisor will be sent an automated request to approve. Once approved, it will go to the Graduate Records Office, who evaluates the student’s record to be sure that all required paperwork was received. Students with record deficits will be notified by the system and only have until the deadline to rectify any deficit. If you need assistance to determine if all required paperwork is on file, schedule a meeting with your program secretary to review your paperwork. They have access to the Graduate Records System to verify what document(s) may be missing.

Following the paperwork review, students approved to participate in the College’s convocation ceremony will be contacted by the Dean’s Office with additional participation information.

Questions can be directed to Jennifer Brown, brown661@msu.edu or (517) 355-1734.

Forms for Ed.S. Students

Report of the Guidance Committee (Program Plan): Student Initiated

Should typically be filed early in second year of the Ed.S. program. Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Report of the Guidance Committee (Program Plan): Student Initiated

Record of Comprehensive Examination for School Psychology Ed.S. students: Program Initiated

Ed.S. comprehensive exam form: the student must be enrolled for semester of exam date for at least one credit. After the student takes the final part of the examination, the program/department completes and files this form.

View the Record of Comprehensive Examination for School Psychology Ed.S. students

Changes in Ed.S. Program Plan: Student Initiated

Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Changes in Ed.S. Program Plan: Student Initiated form

Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirements: Student Initiated

If a student fails to meet final Ed.S. requirements within five years, an extension to meet degree requirements must be requested and approved. Student completes this form in collaboration with the advisor. Student downloads with advisor, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Request for Extension of Time to Complete Degree Requirements: Student Initiated form

Request to Participate in the College of Education Doctoral and Educational Specialist Convocation Ceremony

After a student submits a request, their advisor will be sent an automated request to approve. Once approved, it will go to the Graduate Records Office, who evaluates the student’s record to be sure that all required paperwork was received. Students with record deficits will be notified by the system and only have until the deadline to rectify any deficit. If you need assistance to determine if all required paperwork is on file, schedule a meeting with your program secretary to review your paperwork. They have access to the Graduate Records System to verify what document(s) may be missing.

Following the paperwork review, students approved to participate in the College’s convocation ceremony will be contacted by the Dean’s Office with additional participation information.

Questions can be directed to Jennifer Brown, brown661@msu.edu or (517) 355-1734.

Forms for all Graduate Levels, Department Initiated

Change from Provisional to Regular Status

Student must clear “Provisional” status (if so admitted) before degree can be conferred. Should be cleared as soon as conditions have been met. Department completes this form and files it.

View the Change from Provisional to Regular Status form

Forms for all Graduate Levels, Student Initiated

College of Education Graduate Application Conviction Disclosure Form: Student Initiated

Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms.

View the College of Education Graduate Application Conviction Disclosure Form: Student Initiated form

Application for Change of Program and Status: Student Initiated

The Change of Program and Status application may only be used by graduate students in programs inside the College of Education. It should only be used for the following action: to add another degree or major inside the College of Education (both programs must be located in the College of Education). Examples of use: If a doctoral student in Educational Policy wants to add a second PhD degree in MQM, this form will be used; or if a master’s student in Kinesiology wants to add a second MA degree in Educational Technology this form will be used. In order to add a second College of Education graduate degree or major, the student downloads the Application for Change of Program and Status form, completes it electronically, and prints it before securing signatures (in blue ink only); no handwritten forms permitted.

View the Application for Change of Program and Status: Student Initiated form

If the graduate student has their primary major or degree inside the College of Education, and they want to add a second degree from another college at MSU, or the student is from another college at MSU and they want to add a second degree from the College of Education, the student must apply to the program using the University’s online Graduate Application system.

Project Agreement Form: Student Initiated

Student must file this form with their Program Secretary and register for Independent Study credit(s) with the appropriate department. Student downloads, completes electronically, and prints before securing signatures; no handwritten forms: handwritten signatures, in blue ink only.

View the Project Agreement Form: Student Initiated form

Application for Graduation: Student Initiated

Students must apply for graduation.

View the Application for Graduation: Student Initiated form

Application for Readmission: Student Initiated

Students must apply for readmission if not enrolled for 3 consecutive semesters (including summers). The readmission application is only to be used for readmission into your current program.

View the Application for Readmission: Student Initiated form

If you wish to apply to a new program, you must complete a new Graduate School online application.

Application for Readmission to an ended College of Education program code: Student Initiated

Students who have not taken courses for three consecutive semesters, must complete a readmission application to be considered for readmission to their program. This hard copy readmission application is only to be used if the College of Education graduate program you are admitted to cannot be found in the pull-down menu of the Registrars Office on-line readmission application (see Application for Readmission form above), because the program code has ended.

Note: If readmission to a terminated program is approved, you must be able to complete all program requirements and graduate by the program end date.

View the Application for Readmission to an ended College of Education program code: Student Initiated form