Faculty and Staff Resources

Course Completion Agreements (due when grades are due)

The Graduate School has a stringent policy and graduate students must complete the work within 60 days of the grade due date. 

1. The student submits the Course Completion Agreement eForm in Campus Connection, which includes the term, academic career, course information, reason for the request, assignments to be completed, date by which the work must be completed, the grade to change to if work is not completed, and adds the instructor as the Approver. 
2. The instructor approves, recycles, or denies the student's eForm.
3. The Registrar's Office team will change the student's grade to I for the course.

Application for Revalidation of Graduate Courses:

This form must be completed in collaboration with the student. Program Coordinators should have a working copy saved; if not, contact the Graduate School Admissions Coordinator to receive a copy.

• 701-858-3413
• graduate@minotstateu.edu

Graduate Faculty Status

• Application for status

Mission Statement
The Graduate Council is the policy and governance body dealing with all graduate education issues according to the duties outlined in the Graduate Council Charter. As the representative governance unit of the Graduate faculty at Minot State University. The Graduate Council considers policy recommendations that govern graduate programs. It supports programs developed in accordance with the vision statement for Graduate Education.

• Graduate Council Charter 

Vision of Graduate Education at Minot State University
Minot State University is recognized as a regional leader for high quality graduate programs. MSU prepares graduates who have the knowledge and skills to make significant contributions in their chosen professions.

Composition of the Graduate Council
The Graduate Council consists of the head of the Graduate School, one elected graduate faculty member from each graduate program (not including separate tracks within programs), two graduate faculty members appointed by the head of the Graduate School, and three graduate students who are enrolled and in good standing. Faculty are elected by the graduate faculty from their own programs, and both they and faculty appointed by the head of the Graduate School serve for three-year terms. Student members are nominated by the program coordinators, selected by the head of the Graduate School, and serve one-year terms. (from approved Graduate Charter, March 2020)

Meeting Times: Second Tuesday of each month from 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m., in the Jones Room and Teams (some months vary*) (please contact Penny Brandt in the Graduate School for a Teams invite, penny.brandt@minotstateu.edu or 701-858-3413).

Meeting Dates 2026-2027:

September 8
October 13
November 10
December 8
January 12
February 9
March 16
April 13
May 11
 

 Graduate Council Members 2026-2027 

The Citation for Excellence is awarded by the Graduate School in recognition of outstanding achievements by students completing graduate programs at MSU. Students selected for this honor will exemplify excellence in areas consistent with the mission of the MSU Graduate School including critical inquiry, creativity, discovery, and leadership.

Graduate program coordinators may submit nominations for the Citation of Excellence in the form of a letter to the head of the Graduate School. Supporting documentation and other evidence describing achievements beyond typical expectations should accompany the letter of nomination. This information should be filed in the Graduate School Office by March 15 each year.

Nominees will be reviewed by a committee* of the Graduate Council who will award the Citations of Excellence based on the criteria specified below. The number of Citations awarded each year will be at the discretion of the committee and will reflect the qualifications of the pool of nominees.

The Graduate School will release the names of recipients of this award to the graduate programs by April 15 each year.

Enrollment Criteria
Those students nominated for the award must meet ONE of the following enrollment criteria.

1. Currently enrolled in a graduate program
2. Applied for graduation, or
3. Completed the degree within two semesters of the semester in which they were nominated.

Nomination Criteria
In addition, nominees must meet all the following nomination criteria:

1. Have a continuous cumulative GPA of at least 3.75 for required courses in their major,
2. Provide documented evidence of superior accomplishments during the student’s program of study at MSU which "extend beyond the usual expectations" of the respective graduate programs.

Examples of superior accomplishments which exceed the usual expectations of the graduate program may include, but are not limited to:

• an exemplary thesis or original research project;
• exemplary field applications (experiences) appropriate to the domain;
• professional presentations, publications or similar contributions which stem from work completed in the master’s degree at a state, regional or national level;
• exemplary leadership in the profession at a state, regional or national level;
• exemplary service demonstrating critical inquiry, creativity, discovery, or leadership at the university, state, regional or national level;
• other documented achievements which extend beyond the typical expectations of the student’s graduate program.

Examples of accomplishments within the usual expectations of a student’s graduate program include

• completion of a good thesis or research project;
• satisfactory completion of assigned GTA duties;
• GPA over 3.75 without other achievements, etc.

Students selected for this award will receive a plaque from the Graduate School and will be recognized during the Graduate School hooding ceremony which is held prior to commencement on each year.

*The Citation of Excellence Committee will consist of five members selected from and approved by the Graduate Council. Membership will include the head of Graduate School and when possible, a student representative to the Graduate Council. The remaining committee members will be selected from the Graduate Council at large.