Important Deadlines
If you intend to graduate this semester, please remember to apply for graduation in Pathway prior to the October 31st deadline. You will then receive information from your School's Commencement Coordinator regarding the applicable ceremony or ceremonies in December.
If you are graduating in a program that requires a thesis or dissertation, please also contact Sarah Beach in SGS and review our thesis/dissertation deadlines here.
Monday, October 27, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. CT is the deadline for graduate students to submit the following to the SGS
(1) Thesis/Dissertation (T/D) draft as an attachment via email directly to Sarah Beach or to the general SGS email account
(2) Preliminary Approval online Kuali form via https://gradproroo.umkc.edu/
(3) MOspace license agreement online Kuali form via https://gradproroo.umkc.edu/
Students are encouraged to submit their files earlier.
Please see the webpages Theses and Dissertations and Submitting your Thesis or Dissertation for Review for more information, including formatting guidance resources.
Events, Information, Assistantships
Join the School of Graduate Studies for a discussion with the Dean about Individual Development Plans - what they are, how to use them, and what versions are available to mentors/mentees.
We are primarily encouraging first-year students in doctoral and other terminal degrees to familiarize themselves with the IDP for use with their mentors, but all students and graduate/doctoral faculty are welcome to attend this session.
Please email us at umkcsgs@umkc.edu for the calendar invitation if you would like to attend this 4-5pm online session on October 14th.
The School of Graduate Studies invites applications for two Faculty Fellows, preferably one in a STEM field and one in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, to serve in the Graduate Writing Initiative (GWI) for AY2025-26.
The fellows will develop and co-facilitate a one-week (at 3-4 hours per day) in-person grant-writing seminar for a maximum of 25 graduate students and postdocs to be held during late May 2026.
Successful applicants will be current members of the Doctoral or Graduate Faculty who have experience in writing and advising external grant applications to support research and dissertation fellowships. The School of Graduate Studies will provide each Faculty Fellow with a stipend of $3000 and organizational support for the seminar via the Graduate Writing Initiative, and the Graduate Writing Initiative will make available individual writing consultations for participants.
During the Spring 2026 semester, fellows should expect to spend approximately 3 hours per week helping finalize the call for applications, developing the Canvas site for the seminar, designing the in-person programming, reviewing applications and selecting the graduate and postdoc participants, and meeting with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Graduate Writing Specialist as needed. They further will work with the School of Graduate Studies to identify the week in which the in-person seminar will be offered, co-facilitate it, and follow up with each participant individually to ensure they are moving forward with their advisor on next steps in submitting their proposal. The School of Graduate Studies will administer a brief survey of the graduate and postdoc participants to collect feedback on the experience for what is intended to become an annual professional development event.
Interested faculty should fill out the brief application and provide a current CV. Review of applications will begin on October 27, 2025, and the fellows will be chosen by November 15, 2025, so that they have adequate time to design the seminar in collaboration with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Graduate Writing Specialist Dr. Annie Lowe.
Join the School of Graduate Studies for a discussion with the Dean and professional staff and faculty. They will discuss what they wish they had known the first time they applied, what to consider when selecting the right school or program, and what contributes to a strong application.
Please visit our RooGroups page to register for this online October 28th event.
Register to attend the October 11th Second Saturdays Writing Retreat at tinyurl.com/GWIOctoberRetreat!
This Graduate Writing Initiative (GWI) Second Saturday Writing Retreat will be held Saturday, October 11, from 9:30am to 3:30pm at the Miller Nichols Library 4th floor Theater and study spaces, and virtually via Zoom. Registration required for both virtual and in-person participants, with choices of partial or full day attendance. In-person spots are limited so check your schedule and register today!
The Second Saturday Writing Retreats are free, one-day events for graduate students to work on their own writing projects with expert tips and techniques, graduate writing consultants, and optional lunch for in-person attendees all provided by the GWI. Attendees are welcome to bring food and beverage into the retreat. Coffee and hot tea beverage service also included.
Find out more about the GWI, Second Saturdays Writing Retreats, and our other services and resources for graduate students here!
Questions can be directed to Graduate Writing Specialist Dr. Annie Lowe at Annie.Lowe@umkc.edu.
GWI contact: Graduate Writing Specialist Dr. Annie Lowe, Annie.Lowe@umkc.edu.
New Graduate Teaching Assistants with the Graduate Writing Initiative
The Graduate Writing Initiative is pleased to introduce UMKC graduate students to the GWI Graduate Teaching Assistants for 2025-26. In addition to designing and delivering GWI events and resources with Dr. Annie Lowe, GWI Graduate Assistants are available for graduate students to schedule individual writing consultations through the Writing Studio page on RooLearning+.
Angel Williams holds an A.A. in Liberal Arts and General Studies from Johnson County Community College and a B.A. in Psychology from UMKC and is in his final year of the Counseling M.A. program here at UMKC. As a researcher with the Community Health Research Group in Kansas City and the NITE Lab at UMKC, Angel contributed to the development of proposals to secure funding for critical projects, conducted laboratory trials, composed literature reviews, and synthesized findings from experimental data. He fulfilled his counselor-in-training practicum with KC’s Community Counseling and Assessment Services and now interns with the Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault (MOCSA) while completing his Master’s studies. In addition to his academic research and professional counseling experience, Angel has served as a Lead Peer Career Coach at UMKC, leading peer career coach trainings and events and working with fellow students to realize their professional aspirations.
Sarah Feldmann holds her B.A. in Creative Writing and Publishing with a minor in English and M.A. in English from Northwest Missouri State University and is a second-year MFA student studying creative writing and media arts at UMKC. While an undergraduate English major, Sarah already gained years of experience as a Writing Center tutor and literary publishing intern at Greentower Press. During her M.A. studies at Northwest Missouri State, Sarah served as a graduate assistant in their Writing Center, further honing her expertise working with academic writers across disciplines. As a writing center GA, Sarah consulted with graduate writers, held student conferences on behalf of English Department faculty, and fulfilled administrative responsibilities. Her poetry and prose has appeared in Medium Weight Forks student journal.
Who is eligible: Senior students and first-year graduate students who will be pursuing next year a graduate degree program in an applicable field (Chemistry, Computer and Information Science & Engineering, Engineering, Geosciences, Life Sciences, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology, Social Sciences, and STEM Education and Learning Research). Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program's solitication is live on their website.
Updated application deadlines (5pm local time of applicant's mailing address) include:
- November 10th - Life Sciences
- November 12th - Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Materials Research; Psychology; Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences; STEM Education and Learning
- November 13th - Engineering
- November 14th - Chemistry; Geosciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy
Please contact Misty Vaughn with any questions at mrvaughn@umkc.edu.
Other resources
UMKC Central can help students tackle financial and enrollment barriers! As the one stop service center on campus, the team at UMKC Central can help with questions and concerns related to financial aid, scholarships, billing, enrollment, and records.
The office is located on the 1st floor of the Administrative Center, room 120, and does accept walk-ins. Students can schedule an in-person or virtual appointment through the UMKC Central Service Page in UMKC Connect.
Students are also welcome to call 816-235-6000 or email umkccentral@umkc.edu.
Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm, except Wednesday, 9:00am – 4:30pm.
Looking for assistance with your resume or job search? Career Services is here to help! Visit umkc.joinhandshake.com to schedule your appointment.
You have access to many campus resources, such as the CARE team, Campus Recreation, Financial Aid, Career Services, University Libraries, and more. More information is available online.