Support Services
Benevolence Resource
Messiah’s Graduate Student Benevolence Fund provides assistance to a current graduate student experiencing a crisis or hardship. Potential recipients may be nominated by any Messiah employee, student, or through self-nomination. Upon the determination that financial assistance will be granted, funds will likely be distributed through the recipient’s student financial account.
Criteria for funding requests:
- Nomination should be for a current graduate student at Messiah.
- Assistance for basic necessities such as food, clothing, housing/utilities, medical assistance, and/or transportation will be given priority.
- Financial assistance will be limited to one award per student.
- Documentation of need may be requested.
To nominate a student or self, email graduate student services, sgpsstudentservices@messiah.edu, with the following:
- Name and program of the student.
- Paragraph describing the emergency or hardship that has fallen upon the student
- Provide as much detail as possible and suggested assistance.
Graduate student services will meet with the committee to review and discuss the nomination; a decision will be made. If the committee deems funds to be allocated to the student's account, a member of the committee will contact the student to inform them of the financial assistance.
Career Services
The Career and Professional Development Center offers a selection of services to support graduate students' career development. These services include: personal career coaching (in-person or virtual) regarding resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation and job search strategies; access to CPDC programs that are open to all students, including the annual Career Expo, Pizza with Professionals Series featuring employer information sessions, and Rezumania (resume review service); access to job postings through our exclusive Handshake portal; and access to CPDC guides and tutorials through our website: www.messiah.edu/info/22189/graduate_students.
University Ministries & Spiritual Development
For undergraduate and graduate students alike, the work of Christian formation takes place in the curriculum as well as the co-curriculum. Messiah educators and staff serve as partners in student faith journeys and are committed to helping and challenging students to follow Christ and to respond to the biblical call to faithful service. Each academic program explores a Christian perspective of a particular aspect of God’s world, and each program encourages the academic, professional, and spiritual development of every student.
Some graduate at Messiah are offered on campus and it is not difficult for students to take advantage of resources and opportunities available to them —worship services (Chapel at Winding Hill), lunches with our community pastor, guest lectures, mentoring and counseling, or a bible study for graduate students. While there may be challenges for online students to access some of these resources remotely, we encourage online students to reach out and ask for assistance. We recommend that students make first contact with graduate student services, who will be sure to connect them with others who are ready with support and guidance.