Weekly Digest Dec. 8

To Graduate Students, Graduate Support Staff, & Directors of Graduate Education | Week of December 8, 2025

Here are the key updates and deadlines from the Graduate College. For more details, follow the links provided.

🗓️ Action Items & Deadlines

For Spring 2026 Graduates – Upcoming Deadlines

• ALL master’s and graduate certificate students must have your academic plan fully approved in Workday no later than December 19, 2025, to schedule a final oral defense or graduate Spring 2026.  Submit your academic plan early for routing and approval to meet the December 19 deadline and remain on track for spring graduation!  Once submitted, it is your responsibility to track the routing process to confirm that your academic plan is approved by the December 19 deadline.   

For Fall 2025 Graduates – Upcoming Deadlines

• December 23 - Check your Academic Record to confirm that final fall grades have been reported.  Graduate students cannot graduate with any unresolved F, not pass (NP), incomplete (I) or non-report (NR) grades on your transcript.  If you have any questions about incomplete or non-report grades, please contact the instructor of the class.   

🧰 Resources & Reminders

• Career Conversations: Join us on Tuesday, December 9, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for an engaging workshop "Negotiation & Compensation" where you will learn practical strategies to confidently navigate salary discussions, benefits packages, and workplace negotiations. ➡️ Webex Link

• Beyond Graduate School: December 10, 1:00-1:30 PM. Zoom. "How to Use Your Master’s to Change Careers?" At this webinar you will learn how do you make the case about your credentials, skills, AND experience to break into your new career field. ➡️ Online Link

• Beyond Professoriate: December 8-11, 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. Zoom. "How to Decide Between an Academic and Nonacademic Career?" This special workshop series is designed to walk doctoral students, PhDs, and postdocs through a series of exercises to help them evaluate career options and identify next steps in building their career either as faculty or beyond the professoriate. ➡️ Online Link

• Individual Career Consultations: Graduate students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the Graduate Career Coaches for personalized support. Whether you're exploring career options, crafting your resume or CV, preparing other job application materials, or seeking guidance on job search strategies, our team is here to help. Visit the Graduate Career Services website to learn more and book your appointment.

• Graduate Engagement and Leadership Committee (GELC) Nomination is now open through December 31, 2025. Graduate students seeking a leadership opportunity can request any faculty, staff, or postdoc to nominate them. ➡️ Nomination Link

🤝 Partners

• Cy’s Finals Frenzy: December 7-12. Memorial Union and Parks Library. Free food, study support, and self-care vibes to help Cyclones power through finals week like a champ. ➡️ More Info

• 2026 Food Resilience Fellows Program – Apply by Jan. 16
  Applications are open for the 2026 Food Resilience Fellows Program, a one-year fellowship supporting graduate students, postdocs, and early–mid career professionals interested in sustainable and resilient food systems. Fellows receive up to $1,200 in financial support, collaborate with USDA-NIFA project teams, and gain skills in leadership, team science, and proposal development. ➡️ Learn more and apply

• Sun Grant Program – Funding Opportunity for Graduate Students & Postdocs: The Sun Grant Program (North Central Region) is accepting applications for its 2026 Competitive Grants Program, supporting graduate students and postdoctoral researchers conducting work in biofuels, bioenergy, and biobased products under faculty mentorship.

  • Approximately $420,000 in total funding available

  • Up to $60,000 per project (7 projects anticipated)

  • Proposals due January 7, 2026

  • Project period: March 1 – September 30, 2026

• ➡️ View the full RFA and apply via InfoReady

• ➡️ Learn more about the Sun Grant Program

• I-RAISE (Iowa Research Administration Internship Student Experience): Applications are now open for the third cohort of I-RAISE, a year-long internship and career exploration program in research administration. The program is open to ISU graduate and undergraduate students from any major and includes a classroom bootcamp, a Summer 2026 internship at ISU research units/centers, and additional rotations through the 2026–27 academic year.

• Research administration is a fast-growing career pathway supporting research across higher education, government, and non-profits.

• ➡️ Applications due January 30, 2026 at 5 p.m.

• ➡️ Learn more, view info sessions (Dec. 5, Jan. 14, Jan. 21), and apply here

🏛 Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS)

• The GPSS General Body met on December 1. We were honored to host President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen as our guest speaker. GPSS also discussed and adopted a resolution in support of creating a university-wide general TA hiring system.

• GPSS is now accepting nominations for its annual awards, which recognize excellence in graduate teaching, research, and service, as well as the Dissertation Study Support Award for dissertation-related research expenses. The deadline for nominations has been extended to December 15, 2025.

• GPSS is also accepting funding requests from registered graduate student organizations. Graduate and professional students can apply for Professional Advancement Grants (PAG) to support conference travel on a monthly basis.

• For more information, please visit: Awards Information | Allocations | PAG Program

Questions? Contact the Graduate College at grad_college@iastate.edu or visit us at www.grad-college.iastate.edu