Supporting more than 4,000 students, UNLV Graduate College deployed Salesforce CRM in 2015 to streamline the admissions process across more than 155 programs, each with its own unique needs. From building personalized communications journeys for prospective students to optimizing case management and student funding, UNLV Graduate College’s phase-one work for recruitment and admissions has laid the groundwork for a comprehensive lifecycle CRM that will be the system of engagement for graduate and professional students. Register here to learn ways to leverage powerful marketing tools to create personalized journeys for prospects and admitted students, what is possible when CRM momentum spreads beyond recruitment and admissions to support student success, and how working with partners can streamline and accelerate your CRM implementation. Webinar sponsored by Salesforce.org.

Jaqui Falkenheim and Josh Trapani from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics at NSF will present the most recent data on graduate students from the Survey of Earned Doctorates and the Science and Engineering Indicators. They will address trends in enrollment and degree awards, student demographics (sex, race/ethnicity, citizenship), financial support patterns, and post-graduation employment, among other topics. These data include trends in the humanities and other non-STEM fields when available. They will also present some data on U.S. graduate education in global context. Additionally, the presentation will include information on how graduate deans can access NCSES reports and datasets.

This webpage serves as a hub to view CGS’s communications and resources related to Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 advocacy. CGS will continue to keep its members apprised of the appropriations process as the President's proposed budget is released and respective congressional committees begin their work. 

(Updated June 4) CGS FY 2022 Appropriations Chart

Latest Action: President Biden's Full FY22 Budget Request

On May 28, the White House released President Biden’s full budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2022. The request seeks to increase funding for most federal agencies and includes provisions first shared in the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. Notably, the Department of Education would receive $102.8 billion, a 40 percent increase in funding compared to the enacted FY21 levels. Themes of promoting diversity, bolstering U.S. research and development, and streamlining immigration services are interwoven throughout the request. 

• Member resource: CGS summary of programs of interest included in the May FY22 budget request.

On April 9, President Biden released his preliminary budget request for FY22, including top-line, discretionary funding levels for the federal agencies in the new fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2021. The proposal builds upon appropriations funding allocated in the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed into law on March 11.

• Member resource: CGS summary of graduate education and research provisions included in the April discretionary funding request.

CGS Appropriations Advocacy in the 117th Congress

Coalition Letter on Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations (1/24/22)

The Task Force on American Innovation, of which CGS is a member, sent a letter to appropriations leadership regarding the importance of federally funded research in the physical sciences and engineering. Given the urgent need to recommit our nation to prioritizing science and technology research and the increasing global competition we face in emerging technologies, we strongly encourage Congress to complete the FY22 appropriations process in a timely manner.

CGS Joins Coalition Letter to Biden Administration Regarding National Science Foundation Funding (11/9/21)

On November 5, the Coalition for National Science Funding sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy regarding increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Fiscal Year 2023. NSF plays a critical role in advancing our nation’s competitiveness and addressing research and education challenges related to many Biden Administration priorities.

CGS Joins Coalition Letter in Strong Support of Robust Funding Levels for National Science Foundation (11/9/21)

On November 2, members of the Coalition for National Science Funding sent a letter to appropriators regarding support for National Science Foundation (NSF) funding in Fiscal Year 2022. NSF investments are key to bolstering U.S. innovation and competitiveness by funding highly meritorious curiosity-driven research; building and fostering U.S. STEM education and workforce programs; supporting cutting-edge facilities that enable the work of scientists and engineers; and addressing the most pressing issues of our time.

CGS Joins Letter of Support for the House Appropriations FY22 Labor-HHS-Education Bill (07/14/21)

On July 14, CGS joined a community letter supporting the House Appropriations Committee's legislation that provides FY 2022 funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

CGS Joins Letter of Support for International and Foreign Language Studies (06/28/21)

On June 28, CGS joined the Coalition for International Education on a letter to the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee recommending Fiscal Year 2022 funding for HEA-Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs.

CGS Joins Community Requests for FY22 Appropriations to Fund Higher Education Programs (06/11/21)

On June 11, CGS joined the higher education community on a letter to House Appropriators requesting fiscal year (FY) 2022 funding for programs of interest to graduate education and research, including $35 million for Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need.

CGS Joins Letter of Support for International Education and Foreign Language Studies (05/12/21)

On May 12, CGS joined the Coalition for International Education on a letter to the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee supporting Fiscal Year 2022 funding for HEA-Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs.

CGS Joins Request for $1.51B for HRSA in FY22

On March 31, CGS joined a community letter urging Congress to provide $1.51 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs for FY 2022.

CGS Joins Request $35 Million for GAANN in FY 2022 Appropriations (3/17/21)

On March 17, CGS joined the Student Aid Alliance on a FY 2022 appropriations request letter to Congress, including $35 million for the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program.

Advocacy Opportunity: Send a FY22 Appropriations Request to Your Member of Congress

This resource is available to assist CGS members in submitting appropriations requests to their Members of Congress for programs of importance to graduate education and research. Supplemental resources, including a guide to submitting a request form and a sample form letter, are available here. 

House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Website

Senate Appropriations Committee Website

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Washington, DC — Today the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) announced a partnership with the University of Maryland’s PERVADE: Pervasive Data Ethics to identify ways to enhance and influence the training graduate students receive when using big data methods in their research. The project, which will convene thought leaders from the big data ethics community and graduate deans from research-intensive institutions, has received funding support from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and Elsevier.

An increasing number of research disciplines and industry leaders embrace big data approaches as they pursue important research questions and product development. However, the methods used to assemble large datasets, and their applications in decision-making contexts, challenge existing ethical paradigms for data management, data integrity, human subject protections, and data use. Unfortunately, current attempts to identify and address these challenges are often focused within specific disciplines or corporate settings and offer little opportunity to integrate these evolving ethical concerns within master’s and doctoral programs.

“Graduate deans often oversee professional development and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training curricula and are uniquely positioned to present the ethical concerns of big data research to their university communities and to bridge potential silos that impede the sharing of best practices to address these evolving challenges,” said CGS President Suzanne T. Ortega.

CGS has long been interested in scholarly integrity in graduate education, including training graduate students in the ethical use of big data. The CGS 2015 Global Summit (“Implications of ‘Big Data’ for Graduate Education”) brought together policy experts from 15 countries to discuss the implications of big data in research but did not develop specific strategies to train graduate students in the ethical issues arising from its use to study human behaviors and activities. The 1.5-day workshop, which will take place in June 2020, will address a critical gap in our training of graduate students and future researchers: understanding the unique ethical challenges of data ownership and data management within the context of big data research.

Workshop goals include identifying specific ethical challenges that arise from the use of big data resources in graduate student research, critiquing existing resources for training, identifying potential levers for change, and formulating strategies for deploying and embedding resources for big data ethics within the RCR training curriculum. This conversation will empower graduate deans to expand our current training paradigms for scholarly integrity to address the evolving ethical challenges presented by big data.

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Where does your institution stand with respect to national trends in international graduate student enrollment? Are other universities experiencing similar patterns, or is your university an outlier? This webinar provides an overview of the 2019 International Graduate Admissions survey results, and provide an opportunity for CGS members to share their questions and experiences. The broadcasting of this webinar presentation is sponsored in part by IELTS.

The Evolving Role of Mentors and Supervisors in Graduate Education

November 8-10, 2020
The American University in Cairo

Description to be added

The 2020 Summit is generously supported by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

International graduate application and first-time enrollment rates have increased at U.S. universities for the first time since fall 2016, reported the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).

After two consecutive years of declines in international graduate student applications and first-time enrollments, U.S. institutions reported increases in both categories for 2019. That’s the key takeaway from a just-released survey of American graduate schools conducted by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).

Andrew G. Campbell of Brown University to Serve as Chair of CGS Board (12/9/2020)

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) Board of Directors has announced its officers for the 2021 term. CGS is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors drawn from member institutions. Board members serve set terms.

CGS Recognizes 2020 Congressional Champion Award Recipients, Rep. Annie Kuster and Rep. Rodney Davis (12/2/2020)

Today, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) recognized Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Representative Rodney Davis (IL-13) with their inaugural Congressional Champion Award during CGS’s 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting, held virtually December 2-4. Granted to two bipartisan members of Congress, the award acknowledges the remarkable contributions each has made toward advancing graduate education in the federal arena. “We are extremely grateful for Congressman Davis’ and Congresswoman Kuster’s ongoing support for graduate students,” said Suzanne T. Ortega, CGS president. “Each demonstrates a commitment to increasing access to graduate education, which benefits individuals from communities across the country and ensures we have a workforce armed with the knowledge and skills to ignite innovation and find solutions to today’s challenges.”

Minority Graduate Students Remain Substantially Underrepresented in Graduate Education, Particularly in STEM Fields (10/15/2020)

Graduate degree holders representing diverse backgrounds will play a key role in driving innovation and discovery in the U.S. workforce, and new data from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) on graduate enrollments and degrees provide a revealing snapshot of the country's progress in meeting these demands. According to a CGS report released today, graduate applications were flat (-0.6%) and first-time graduate enrollment (2.5%) increased overall for the Fall 2019 semester. While graduate schools reported  overall increases in the first-time enrollment of minority students between Fall 2018 and Fall 2019 (Latinx +5.7%, Black/African American +5.5%, Asian +5.3%, and American Indian/Alaska Native +3.5%), students from these demographic groups remain substantially underrepresented as percentage shares of the graduate student population, particularly in STEM fields. These data are part of the latest CGS/GRE Graduate Enrollment & Degrees: 2009-2019 report.

CGS Expands Research & Partnership Network to Support PhD Career Pathways (8/19/2020)

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has announced a new phase in its efforts to understand and support diverse PhD career pathways. A significant grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF #2000750) will allow CGS to examine factors likely to impact retention and persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers, particularly for underrepresented students.  Meanwhile, a previously-announced grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will seek to uncover both challenges and decision-making factors at points of career transition for Humanities PhDs.

CGS Takes Action to Protect Pathways to Graduate Schools for Underrepresented Graduate Students during COVID-19 (8/06/2020)

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) announced a new project to examine the obstacles underrepresented students (URM) have faced in their matriculation, persistence, and completion of STEM graduate programs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With funding from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Rapid Response Research (RAPID) program, CGS will collaborate with the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools (CHBGS) to understand challenges currently faced by URM and first-generation students and provide just-in-time information that will help support their success.

CGS Applauds SCOTUS Decision to Uphold DACA (6/19/2020)

On June 18, in a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court deemed the Trump Administration’s move to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program unlawful. CGS applauds the high court’s ruling to uphold DACA, which will provide immediate relief for the over 650,000 individuals who have DACA status (“Dreamers”). 

CGS Calls for Action to End Racism and Injustice (6/03/2020)

Recent days and weeks have brought us heart-wrenching reminders of race-based inequality and injustice. In addition to COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on students of color and their families, we have witnessed appalling acts of racism and violence toward African Americans—most recently George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade—acts that cause further distress and fear among communities already suffering. The CGS Board of Directors condemns both the deeply embedded and structural forms of racism and injustice we see around us as well as their most immediate manifestations. We also stand in solidarity with people of color in our community as they confront painful examples of violence and injustice.

CGS Statement on Graduate Admissions during the COVID-19 Pandemic (5/08/2020)

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.

CGS and PERVADE to Convene Thought Leaders on Ethical Issues in Big Data Research (2/25/2020)

Today the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) announced a partnership with the University of Maryland’s PERVADE: Pervasive Data Ethics to identify ways to enhance and influence the training graduate students receive when using big data methods in their research. The project, which will convene thought leaders from the big data ethics community and graduate deans from research-intensive institutions, has received funding support from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and Elsevier.

International Graduate Application and Enrollment Rates Increase at U.S. Institutions After Two Consecutive Years of Decline (2/12/2020)

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has published new data showing that international graduate application and first-time enrollment rates have increased at U.S. universities for the first time since Fall 2016. For Fall 2019, the final application counts from prospective international students increased by 3%, and the first-time enrollment of international graduate students increased by 4%. The proportion of first-time international graduate enrollment in master’s and certificate programs (75%) vs. doctoral programs (25%) has remained roughly the same.