Mizzou Graduate School’s Office of Graduate Recruitment and Engagement is proud to offer two distinct programs designed to support and empower graduate students as they navigate their academic journey: First-Year Scholars and GradCircles. While both programs aim to foster community and enhance the graduate student experience, they offer unique approaches and benefits tailored to different student needs and preferences.
First-Year Scholars
First-Year Scholars aims to create a structured environment where incoming graduate students from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences can build community as they navigate their first year in graduate school at Mizzou. The program fosters connections between students in different disciplines by addressing the hidden curriculum in graduate education, access and awareness to resources at Mizzou and the Columbia community, mentor-mentee relationships, wellness, and more. This program is for on-campus students only.
A strength of the program is the interdisciplinarity of participants so that graduate students can exchange ideas and be aware of practices in their programs, which allows for exploration of their needs and resources available or alternatives to the offerings in their programs. First-Year Scholars is ideal for those seeking a more structured approach to navigating graduate school, emphasizing understanding the nuances of academic life at Mizzou.
Structure: Two semesters with bi-weekly one-hour meetings from September to May, two 15–30-minute meetings with the program director, two required socials, and several optional ones. Participants must commit to the whole program.
Scholar: First-year graduate students (entering graduate school in summer or fall) who are interested and are selected to participate in the program.
Participant selection: any graduate student entering their first graduate program at Mizzou (summer or fall) in their first year are eligible to submit an interest form. Fifteen students from different disciplines will be selected to create a cohort that brings diverse perspectives and lived experiences (different personal characteristics, abilities, experiences, and perspectives).
June 1-August 10 at 5 p.m.: Interest Form submission.
Aug. 14: Decisions sent out
Sept. 4: First social—required (save the date)
Fall Sessions: Every two weeks on Tuesdays at 3 p.m.
- Sept. 10 – Introduction to the Program and Aligning Expectations with Your Mentor/Advisor
- Sept. 24 – Hidden Curriculum: Navigating Higher Ed
- Oct. 8 – Tools to Succeed in Your First Year, From Studying to Organizing (scholars panelists)
- Oct. 22 – Cultivating Your Identity at Mizzou: Embracing Your Authentic Self (scholars co-leaders)
- Nov. 5 – Wellness in Graduate School
- Nov. 19 – Mizzou Academic and Community Resources (staff presentations, scholars panelists)
Fall socials (optional): Sept., Oct., Nov.
Spring sessions: Every two weeks on Tuesdays at 3 p.m.
- Feb. 4 – Candid Conversation with Faculty
- Feb. 18 – Graduate School myVita and milestones
- March 4 – Tax Preparation
- March 18 – Thriving past the first year (scholars panelists)
- April 8 – CliftonStrengths Assessment
- April 22 – Navigating Networking at Mizzou & Conferences (scholars co-leaders)
Spring socials (optional): Feb., March, April
May 7: Final social
Completing the program requires attending five meetings in the fall and spring unless excused from a meeting by the program director (one excused absence per semester). Excused absences are on a case-by-case basis and usually take into consideration other academic or personal commitments or sickness. Successful program completion will mean you will be eligible to be a co-leader or panelist in the following academic year and receive a leadership award of up to $200 per semester.
Scholar co-leader: Scholars who participated in previous cohorts will have a chance to lead some sessions for the incoming cohort. At the end of the academic year, they will be awarded $100 per session they co-led as part of a Scholar Leadership award.
Scholar panelist: Scholars who participated in previous cohorts will have a chance to be panelists in events hosted by the Assistant Dean for Graduate Recruitment and Engagement. At the end of the academic year, they will be awarded $50 per panel participation as part of a Scholar Leadership award.
Additional benefits during the First-Year Scholars program are:
- A professional padfolio for meetings
- A Grad School T-Shirt
- Business cards (50 count)
GradCircles
GradCircles aims to create a network and social connections through peer-driven support. GradCircles offers a more flexible, student-driven experience focused on peer mentoring and organic community building. This program creates a “third space” outside of home and academic settings where graduate students can share experiences, strategies, and resources. It is perfect for students who thrive in a more autonomous environment and wish to co-construct knowledge with peers at various stages of their graduate journey.
There will be up to 3 in-person circles for the Academic Year 2026-2027.
This program is not a substitute for or considered to be counseling. Students who feel they need professional mental health support should contact MU’s Counseling Center.
Structure: two semesters with monthly meetings (three per semester) from September to May, and two required socials. Participants must commit to the whole program, that is, four hours of engagement a semester (eight hours in the academic year). Graduate students can be participants or leaders in the program.
Participant: Graduate students in master’s, specialist, or doctoral programs at Mizzou.
GradCircle co-leader: Graduate students who have completed at least two years at Mizzou (i.e., have started their graduate program on or before Fall 2024), and who will be enrolled in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. Leaders should be on-campus graduate students who will be available for 3-hour, in-person training and available to lead programming once a month during the semester. Up to six co-leaders will be selected, depending on available circles.
April 6-24: Applications to be co-leaders.
April 30: Decisions sent out
May 11 or 12: 3-hour training session
Aug. 4-18: Participant’s interest form
Aug. 19-21: Leaders review applications
Aug. 21: Decisions sent out
Sept. 3: First social—required (save the date; location: Heidelberg)
Fall Sessions: Once per month, TBD by leaders
Spring sessions: Once per month, TBD by leaders
Jan. 11: Spring schedule released
May 6: Final social—required (save the date)
Completing the program requires attending seven meetings unless excused from a meeting by the appropriate GradCircle co-leaders (one excuse allowed). Excused absences are on a case-by-case basis and usually take into consideration other academic or personal commitments or sickness. Successful program completion will mean eligibility for up to $200 per participant as a GradCircles Professional Development Award, and up to $400 per co-leader as a GradCircles Leadership Award at the end of the program.
Resources for Scholars
In addition to these programs, the Graduate Scholars of Excellence program is open to students who are currently pursuing a doctoral degree at Mizzou.