​We invite you to explore the electronic proceedings of the 2019 Global Summit, Cultural Contexts of Health and Well-being in Graduate Education. Individual papers are accessible at the links below.

​Summit Program and Compilation of Papers*

*Individual papers below have been updated and edited for the electronic proceedings.

CGS contributions to the 2019 Summit were generously supported by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and ProQuest.

Sometimes a transformative moment in a graduate student’s career comes from the surprising intersection of the local and the global. A master’s student in international studies at North Carolina State University, Fatima Morys Barrios never expected to find parallels between her native Paraguay and Kinston, North Carolina. Through Rural Works!, a summer internship program connecting NC State students to rural North Carolina communities, Barrios discovered the commonalities between her home country and the rural communities around Raleigh, NC. “Paraguay’s…very similar to Kinston.” She said, “Our economy [in Paraguay] is based on agricultural products – we produce and export soybeans and corn and wheat and also beef.”

Barrios’ impact on Rural Works! in Kinston was immediate. She launched “Kickstart Kinston” with funding from NC Rural Center’s Small Business Recovery Program as a resource to help local small businesses grow and modernize. Furthermore, she connected local small businesses to one another in a network of mutual support. “Let’s say business owners do not have a website. We connected them with a web developer here in Kinston. So you don’t have to go to Raleigh, and you don’t have to go to Greenville to do that.”

Her community involvement went beyond “Kickstart Kinston,” however. Barrios worked with several local groups, including Kingston Economic Empowerment, where she organized an employment bootcamp for members of the community who had been incarcerated. She also worked on an oral history project for the African American Heritage Commission by interviewing senior citizens about their memories of Kinston.

Her experience was transformative both professionally and personally. “It changed my career goals,” said Barrios. “I never considered economic development as a way of becoming a consultant or as a person that might work in the planning department of a city hall. But I realized I was really good at that.” Beyond her career, Barrios’ experience also changed the way she thought about the relationship between her work and those it impacted. “I wanted to learn from the people, to learn what they need,” she concluded. To learn more about Fatima, visit the North Carolina State University website.

Visit the GradImpact Feature Gallery to learn more about the amazing, innovative research being done by graduate students and alumni across the world.

Photo Credit: Becky Kirkland

EMBARGOED UNTIL:                                                                                                                                        

Tuesday, August 20, 2019 10:00am EDT

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

JED Contact: Meg Woodworth – (212) 303-2306 / JEDmedia@yr.com

Washington, D.C. — The Council of Graduate Schools, (CGS) an association of universities that grant master’s and doctoral degrees, and The Jed Foundation (JED), a non-profit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, today announced a new initiative to support the mental health and wellness of master’s and doctoral students. The 22-month project will create a foundation for evidence-based policies and resources to support graduate student mental health and well-being, prevent psychological distress, and address barriers to effective support and care. CGS and JED will give particular attention to the experiences of underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities pursuing graduate education.

A growing body of evidence indicates that mental health challenges are common among graduate students. However, many barriers exist to effective support and care. These may include campus services that do not necessarily recognize the unique needs of graduate students, and a lack of evidence about what types of support are best suited to them. Students of different backgrounds may also face different sources of stress and may experience different levels of comfort in seeking help.

The new initiative, Supporting Mental Health and Wellness of Graduate Students will address these and other concerns across all broad fields of graduate study. A grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will support the council’s focus on issues specific to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, while a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will support the council’s work in the humanities.

“Compared with the undergraduate education context, there has been relatively little attention to supporting the mental health and wellness of master’s and doctoral students,” said CGS President Suzanne T. Ortega. “This is a high-priority issue for CGS and the graduate education community more broadly, and we are grateful to our funders for supporting our work on this issue in a coordinated, thoughtful way, and to JED for contributing their expertise.”

The project will convene an advisory committee of experts and graduate education leaders (listed below), who will counsel CGS on its research and action plan. In addition, CGS will survey its member institutions to better understand existing policies and practices for supporting graduate student mental health and factors that may impact the design and delivery of services. In 2020, graduate deans, graduate students, mental health researchers, and other experts will convene in Washington, D.C., for a one-and-half-day workshop. The final project outcome will include a report and a statement of common principles for supporting graduate student mental health.

“In our work with colleges and universities across the country, we hear time and again the increasing concern for graduate and professional students’ mental health and how best to support them," said Nance Roy, Chief Clinical Officer at The Jed Foundation.  “To date, there is no framework focused specifically on the unique challenges and needs of graduate students.  JED is excited to be part of this initiative that will not only identify those needs, but also provide recommended practices for addressing them.”

The report resulting from the project will be released by December 2020.

Advisory Committee:

• Dr. Hollie Chessman, Research Fellow, Center for Policy Research and Strategy, American Council on Education
• Dr. Jan Collins-Eaglin, Scientific Advisor, The Steve Fund
• Dr. Michael Cunningham, Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research, Tulane University
• Dr. Daniel Eisenberg, S.J. Axelrod Collegiate Professor in Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan
• Dr. Andres Gil, Vice President for Research and Economic Development and Dean of the University Graduate School, Florida International University 
• Ms. Susanna Harris, CEO Founder, PhD Balance and doctoral student in microbiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Dr. Paula McClain, Dean of The Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Duke University
• Dr. Suzanne Ortega (Ex-Officio), President, Council of Graduate Schools
• Dr. Susan Porter, Dean and Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, University of British Columbia and President, Canadian Association for Graduate Studies
• Dr. Sally Pratt, Vice Provost for Graduate Programs, University of Southern California
• Dr. Nance Roy (Ex-Officio), Chief Clinical Officer, The Jed Foundation and Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry
• Dr. Barry Schreier, Director of the University Counseling Service and Professor of Counseling Psychology, The University of Iowa
• Dr. Tammi Vacha-Haase, Dean of the Graduate College, Boise State University and President-Elect, Western Association of Graduate Schools

# # #

According to recent data from Get Georgia Reading, only 34% of children in the state are reading proficiently by the end of third grade. In addition to future learning barriers, these children are more likely to face other challenges, including disciplinary issues and poor health; they’re also more likely to drop out of high school and spend time in prison. Meghen Bassel, a graduate student in the library media specialist program at the University of West Georgia, has an interesting approach to help children at South Salem elementary school improve their reading skills. His name is Mr. Booker T. Pug.

“Booker offers a nonjudgmental environment for kids to practice reading,” said Bassel. “He's not going to notice if they said a word incorrectly, missed a word or didn't attempt a word. He will simply sit and listen.” Students at South Salem visit the media center at least once a week, and their reward for good behavior is time with Mr. Booker, a certified therapy dog.

“We’ve had students who become different children because of him and the program,” Bassel concluded. “They're no longer afraid of picking up books and reading in front of the class, whereas before they would whisper or pass on the opportunity. They jump at the chance now. It’s amazing to see. One little dog.” To learn more about Meghen and Booker, visit the University of West Georgia website.

Visit the GradImpact Feature Gallery to learn more about the amazing, innovative research being done by graduate students and alumni across the world.

Photo Credit: Julia Mothersole

A growing body of evidence indicates that mental health challenges are common among graduate students. Unfortunately, many barriers exist to effective support and care. Beginning in 2019, CGS and The JED Foundation undertook a project to create an evidence base to inform future policies, programs and resources. Below are the results of that project, including the report, "Supporting Graduate Student Mental Health and Well-being: Evidence-Informed Recommendations for the Graduate Community."

Report and Recommendations

• Executive Summary and Recommendations
• "Supporting Graduate Student Mental Health and Well-being: Evidence-Informed Recommendations for the Graduate Community" (Final Report)
• Communications Toolkit
• Call to Action and List of Signatories  (Updated December 13, 2021)
• Webinar: Supporting Graduate Student Mental Health and Well-being: Evidence and Recommendations to Catalyze Action (Recording and slides)

Other Resources

• "CGS & JED Release Evidence-Informed Recommendations and Resources to Support Graduate Student Mental Health & Well-being" (Press Release)
• Webinar: "A Framework on Graduate Student Mental Health: CGS Members Share Ideas and Guidance" (3.16.2021)
• Hironao Okahana, "Pressing Issue: Mental Wellness of Graduate Students" (4.9.2018)

Contact

Julia Kent

In Partnership with

Project Funders

As the most common physical disability in childhood, one in 323 babies is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) annually in the U.S. and most require medical devices to improve mobility. CP is a life-long disability due to damage of the developing brain, and there is no known cure. Ahad Behboodi, a doctoral candidate in biomechanics and movement science at the University of Delaware, is leading a team of researchers to improve mobility in children with CP.

Behboodi and his team recently received a QED grant from the University City Science Center in Philadelphia, “to develop a motorized ankle foot device for children with Cerebral Palsy that includes a novel artificial muscle.” The device will help correct and improve ankle motion, potentially leading to better mobility. Comprised of common elastic materials, the artificial muscle device is lightweight and compact and simulates the motion of skeletal muscle.

“For now, the device can only assist the wearer’s own muscle contractions, but we are able to customize where we put the force to change the movement,” said Behboodi. “In the future, we may add functional electrical stimulation technology, which is a major area of research in Dr. Lee’s lab, to also trigger muscles, when needed. This would improve the timing and power of the muscle’s activation, thereby strengthening the muscle and improving the user’s walking coordination.” To learn more about Ahad’s work, visit the University of Delaware website.

Visit the GradImpact Feature Gallery to learn more about the amazing, innovative research being done by graduate students and alumni across the world.

Photo Credit: University of Delaware

As a master’s student in the School of Public Health at the University at Albany, SUNY, Thoin Begum’s research has focused on environmental exposures and how they impact in vitro fertilization. Her work was recently recognized by Global Kids, a nonprofit that “develops youth leaders through dynamic global education and leadership development programs.” Named as one of Global Kids’ 30 under 30 in March 2019, Begum is a young alumnus of the program.

Beginning her sophomore year of high school, Begum became involved with Global Kids through college tours, annual functions, and scholarships. “Global Kids taught me to push boundaries and change perspectives, something that is needed in this field,” said Begum.

Begum intends to continue her graduate education and pursue a doctoral degree. “Public health and environmental health is an emerging field that has a lot of misconceptions – it isn’t just about global warming or about dealing with the amount of natural disasters we are seeing. It’s really about our everyday life.” To learn more about Thoin’s work, visit the University at Albany, SUNY website.

Visit the GradImpact Feature Gallery to learn more about the amazing, innovative research being done by graduate students and alumni across the world.

Photo Credit: University at Albany

Monica Burney, a master’s degree alum in history at Eastern Illinois University, was recently awarded the 2019 Robert and Kathryn Augustine Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award for her work, “The Meaning of a Woman's Work: Refugees, Statelessness, Nationality, and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, 1918-1931.” Burney’s thesis examines “how the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) sought to influence how the League of Nations approached questions of nationality and statelessness between 1918 and 1931.”

First as an undergraduate and later as a graduate student at EIU, Burney participated in its Living History Program. This project was started in 1989 to underscore the contributions of women in the past and to inspire interest in women’s history by portraying women in history at local elementary schools. "Through this program children are introduced to some of the captivating women who had a hand in creating the world today,” Burney said. “This new knowledge helps to inspire children to embrace their individuality and to make a difference."

Burney was named a 2018 Hamand Scholar for her achievements in both scholarship and service that have impact on the discipline and in the community. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in library sciences and hopes to then work in an academic library. To learn more about Monica’s work, visit the Eastern Illinois University website.

Visit the GradImpact Feature Gallery to learn more about the amazing, innovative research being done by graduate students and alumni across the world.

Photo Credit: Bev Cruse/EIU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Washington, DC – The Council of Graduate Schools applauds the bipartisan introduction of the Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act (H.R. 3334), introduced by Representatives Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), Fred Upton (R-MI), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Tim Burchett (R-TN), and Harley Rouda (D-CA). H.R. 3334 would provide graduate students who received Pell Grant support as undergraduates and who remain income-eligible the ability to apply remaining semesters of Pell support towards a graduate degree. CGS has long supported this proposal to modernize the Pell program, thereby improving access and diversity within graduate education and strengthening the workforce.

Currently, Pell is only available to undergraduate students, and eligible individuals can receive up to 12 semesters’ worth of grant awards. However, a growing number of graduate students are former Pell recipients. According to the Department of Education, in Academic Year 2015-2016, nearly 46 percent of first-year graduate and professional students received some level of Pell support during their undergraduate education -- an encouraging indicator that a greater number of students from lower socio-economic means are pursuing graduate degrees. If enacted, the legislation would potentially assist nearly 387,600 students, according to CGS estimates.

“This legislation upholds the primary mission of the Pell Grant program, which is to help ensure that individuals with exceptional financial need are able to pursue higher levels of education,” said Suzanne T. Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools. “Our nation is becoming increasingly diverse, and it is imperative that our graduate student population reflects that diversity by including more students from low-income and underrepresented communities.”

Moreover, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in high-demand fields such as education, health care, and STEM often require at least a master’s degree. "As occupations requiring a master's degree continue to grow, we need to make sure those who wish to fill these jobs are not prevented from doing so because of the high cost of graduate school," said Congresswoman Kuster. "This legislation will help remove some of the barriers that many Americans face in their pursuit of post-graduate opportunities, reduce student debt, and ensure workers have the skills they need to help fill the jobs of the future-this bill is a win-win for students and our economy."

"The bottom line is this legislation will help make a graduate degree more affordable for the nearly 5,000 graduate students who attend Western Michigan University and the millions of graduate students across the country," Congressman Upton said. "Countless good-paying jobs today require a graduate degree, but earning one can be expensive-especially after already paying for an undergraduate degree. The bipartisan legislation we introduced today would help reduce the debt burden of these students."

###

As a Latina first generation college student from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background, Theresa E. Hernandez’s research is inspired by her own experiences. As a doctoral student in urban education policy at the University of Southern California, she is interested in how policies and interventions either support or hinder access and academic success of first-generation students of color from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Hernandez experienced first-hand how policies that did not account for the unique challenges faced by underrepresented persons could hinder one’s education. “[My undergrad] was very difficult transition and acculturation that kind of had me hit pause on my education for a while” she noted. “But it ultimately inspired me to come back to get my master’s and now my PhD and inspires me to do the work I’m doing to make higher ed a more equitable space to people who come from my background.”

Her experience and research have compelled Hernandez to take an active role advocating for graduate students, particularly those from underrepresented groups. In April 2019, Hernandez was one of two graduate students from USC to attend CGS Advocacy Day to meet with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and advocate for graduate education. “Just seeing the process of policymaking…was interesting to me,” Hernandez said. “Also, participating helped me see the ways in which grad students and others who are really fighting for educational support from the government are a part of the process, and got me thinking about the roles we have, and the voices we have.”

In addition to Advocacy Day, Hernandez has amplified her voice in other ways, including a published op-ed in The Huffington Post urging colleges and universities to abolish standardized testing requirements for admissions. To learn more about Theresa’s work, visit the University of Southern California website.

Visit the GradImpact Feature Gallery to learn more about the amazing, innovative research being done by graduate students and alumni across the world.