The Council of Graduate Schools provides policy and legislative briefs to examine and expand on federal issues impacting graduate institutions and students.

• Policy brief: How Graduate Students Finance Their Education
• Policy brief: Grad PLUS Direct Loan Program
• Policy brief: International Graduate Students: Innovators, Researchers, and Entrepreneurs
• Policy brief: Optional Practical Training
  • Talking Points: Optional Practical Training
• Legislative brief: Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act of 2019 (H.R. 3334)

CGS Summary of Select Provisions in the HEROES Act (5/18/20)

On May 15, the House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R. 6800) as a framework for a fifth COVID-19 relief package. CGS has complied a summary of certain higher education and research provisions as a member resource.

Graduate enrollment at many institutions remained flat in recent years, and certain academic programs were prone to greater declines than others. Several factors have contributed to these outcomes, including immigration restrictions, a strong job market, and a growing aversion to debt. The graduate enrollment market has become even more unpredictable with the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The current landscape presents an opportunity for graduate school deans and university leaders to approach enrollments with a strategic lens.The facilitated discussion will highlight real-world examples from graduate school deans – providing attendees an opportunity to learn from peers across the country. Webinar sponsored by Huron.

CGS Supports the HEROES Act (5/14/20)

On May 14, CGS joined a higher education community letter in support of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R. 6800). The bill provides approximately $3 trillion in economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CGS Supports the American Opportunity Student Tax Relief Act (5/6/2020)

On May 7, CGS joined its higher education colleagues in supporting a bill introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) that would ensure emergency grants to students from the CARES Act are not taxed and makes improvements to the AOTC program.

CGS Letter to DHS and DOS on International Graduate Students (5/13/2020)

On May 13, CGS sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State with recommendations and seeking additional guidance on issues related to the international graduate student pipeline during COVID-19.

Contact:

Katherine Hazelrigg: (202) 461-3888 / khazelrigg@cgs.nche.edu

Washington, DC - In mid-April, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) received a letter from student body presidents and leaders at 157 universities requesting formal acknowledgment of the “unprecedented challenges undergraduates have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic” and recognition of a set of principles regarding admissions policies. In response, CGS released the following statement on graduate admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The past few weeks have been filled with new challenges and extreme uncertainty for undergraduate and graduate students. Nevertheless, postsecondary students have shown extraordinary resilience during this time, balancing their studies and research in an online environment with personal responsibilities and planning for an unpredictable future.

Given the extraordinary disruptions we’re experiencing as a community, it’s important to ensure that our admissions practices continue to be as fair and transparent as possible. While CGS is not in a position to direct university graduate admissions policies, we encourage the graduate education community to continue to consider the impact of COVID-19 on students; to be flexible regarding existing deadlines, policies, and procedures; and to regularly communicate with both current and prospective students to reassure them of our support.

This guidance is consistent with the Council’s support and advocacy for holistic file review practices. Since we began our holistic admissions work in 2015, we have encouraged graduate programs to consider a broad range of candidate qualities when assessing graduate school applications rather than using strict GPA or standardized test score cutoffs. Determining a prospective graduate student’s potential to succeed in a program requires an evaluation of a broad range of attributes.

The principles of holistic review have special importance at a time when social and economic disparities are becoming starker. Undue emphasis on the quantifiable measures of academic achievement may disproportionately affect students who are managing greater responsibilities—including financial burdens-- during this time, including underrepresented minorities and women. Examining the fullest range of student qualities possible, and placing scores and GPA’s in the broader context of a student’s personal and intellectual qualities, will help us assess all candidates more fairly.

Several CGS members have already issued formal statements to reassure prospective graduate students of their commitment to holistic file review, and some graduate schools suggest students consider addressing their unique challenges and experiences during the pandemic in their personal statements. These statements explicitly address student concerns regarding changes to university grading policies from designated letter grades to a P/F or S/U system for this semester. CGS encourages all members to take the opportunity to emphasize holistic review as a good admissions practice that benefits programs, institutions, and students under any circumstances.”

CGS Joins Community Letter to Agencies on Value of International Students (4/30/20)

On April 30, 2020, CGS joined 61 additional higher education associations on a letter to the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Labor expressing the value international students bring to the United States. This letter follows President Trump’s executive order to temporarily suspend immigration.

Suzanne Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools, said she agreed with almost all of the points in the students’ letter — particularly with the idea that an applicant should be judged on an entire package of information rather than a single piece of evidence. Some universities have issued statements emphasizing holistic file review, she said.