FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

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

Washington, DC – The Council of Graduate Schools today announced that four federally-recognized Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) will join an existing coalition that are working to gather and use data about the careers of PhD students and alumni. A grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF grant #1661272) has been supporting data collection about PhD careers in STEM fields.

The universities selected to receive awards to participate as funded project partners are:

• Howard University
• North Carolina A&T State University
• University of Arizona
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas

In addition to the 33 universities participating in the project as grant recipients, 31 additional institutions are participating in the project as affiliate partners.

Over the course of the multi-year project, universities will collect data from current PhD students and alumni with surveys that were developed by CGS in consultation with senior university leaders, funding agencies, disciplinary societies, researchers, and PhD students and alumni. The resulting data will allow universities to analyze PhD career preferences and outcomes at the program level and help faculty and university leaders strengthen career services, professional development opportunities, and mentoring in doctoral programs.

“We are thrilled to include four doctoral-granting, MSIs to our PhD Career Pathways project. We know that PhD students aspire to a wide variety of careers, including academic research and teaching,” said CGS President Suzanne Ortega. “We need to gain a better understanding of what the career pathways for our alumni look like. Our university partners are leading the way for the entire community of doctoral institutions.”

Universities from across the country will be able to compare their data on PhD career preferences and outcomes with CGS’s national dataset. Universities will also be able to use the data to communicate the career trajectories of PhD alumni to current and prospective students, helping them to make more informed selections of PhD programs. By analyzing the processes of survey administration, CGS will identify promising practices for implementing the surveys and share them with graduate schools nationwide.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is supporting the PhD Career Pathways project focused on the humanities. This supplemental grant from NSF will support the data collection in STEM fields at the previously mentioned four MSIs.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Katherine Hazelrigg / khazelrigg@cgs.nche.edu / 202.461.3888

Washington, DC— Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) President Suzanne Ortega released the following statement on recent immigration proposals

“Recent proposals stemming from Congress and the Administration have focused the nation’s attention on immigration issues impacting students and families. The Council of Graduate Schools remains steadfast in its support of policies that help ensure individuals are afforded opportunities to pursue their graduate studies here in the United States, including those with DACA status and those from the international student community.

“As the House of Representatives continues to debate the future of DACA recipients who, at a young age, were brought to the U.S. and have grown to call it home, CGS implores Congress to yield a solution that will ensure they can continue to live, work, pursue higher education, and strengthen our nation’s economy.

“CGS also remains supportive of policies that bolster the ability of U.S. higher education institutions to recruit and retain international talent. Immigration policies, including the visa process, should strive for greater efficiency without imposing additional barriers so that international graduate students and faculty can enroll, graduate, and apply their education in ways that increase our country’s global competitiveness.

“We remain committed to working in a bipartisan manner and urge Congress to find solutions that support DACA recipients and the international graduate student community.”

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The training of graduate students in science is no laughing matter. But the cascade of reports issued on the topic over the past quarter-century has become something of an inside joke among those who care about graduate education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. So, when a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) this week issued a report on “revitalizing” graduate STEM education that referenced 19 related studies, its chairperson wasn’t surprised.

A new report from the Brookings Institution argues that the federal government is forgoing hundreds of millions in tax revenue each year through a tax credit that largely benefits graduate students with high incomes. Advocates for graduate education, though, say the report reinforces a false dichotomy between supporting undergraduate and graduate education. Beth Buehlmann of the Council of Graduate Schools said assessing the tax credit based on the income of those claiming it doesn’t account for the whole financial picture of those students. Those borrowers have different life circumstances than those who claim the Lifetime Learning Credit, she said -- they’re older, they may have dependents and their occupation may require a master’s degree in order to advance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Katherine Hazelrigg / khazelrigg@cgs.nche.edu / 202.461.3888

“Over the past few weeks, the Council of Graduate Schools joined a coalition of organizations raising serious concerns about the proposed tax legislation and its effects on higher education, particularly on graduate education and graduate students. We were pleased to see our community join forces to raise awareness about the consequences of the proposed tax reforms. As a result, many proposals that would have negatively impacted graduate education were defeated. This is an excellent example of what we can achieve when we work together. Our efforts will help ensure that graduate students are able to pursue and achieve their educational goals.”

“The bill passed by the House and Senate remains far from perfect, and we continue to have serious reservations about its overall impact on institutions of higher education. We maintain our belief that master’s and doctoral education are the backbone of America’s national security and greatly contribute to our economic standing in a global economy. Any tax provisions that affect the financial stability and accessibility of institutions of higher education could negatively impact our nation’s future.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             

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

Washington, DC – The Board of Directors of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has announced that Dr. John C. Keller, dean of the Graduate College, associate provost for graduate and professional education, and interim vice president for research and economic development at the University of Iowa, is the 2017 winner of the Debra W. Stewart Award for Outstanding Leadership in Graduate Education. The awards ceremony was held during the CGS 57th Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, AZ.

The award was created in 2016 by the CGS Board of Directors to recognize outstanding leadership in graduate education, and particularly those leadership qualities exemplified by the Council’s fifth President, Debra W. Stewart. The selection committee gives consideration to nominees with a strong reputation for ethics and integrity, a history of active participation in the graduate community, and a record of strategic vision and actions resulting in meaningful impacts. Areas of special consideration include evidence-based innovation, program development, diversity and inclusion, student learning and career outcomes, personnel management, policy advocacy in support of graduate education and research, and fiscal responsibility.

For his invaluable contributions to the University of Iowa graduate community, Dr. Keller becomes the second Debra W. Steward Award recipient. A passionate advocate for graduate education, Dr. Keller undertook several major initiatives at the University of Iowa to enhance graduate education. He oversaw the development of 14 new graduate programs – including three interdisciplinary programs. Keller also developed and implemented a model for systematic assessments aimed towards program improvement. Under his leadership, time to degree was reduced while completion rates improved. In addition to his academic oversight, Keller promotes publicly accessible research, holistic career preparation, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and institutional research support.

“I echo the Council of Graduate Schools’ recognition of Dean Keller for nearly two decades of outstanding leadership in graduate education,” said University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld. “John holds graduate student success at the core of his vision for graduate education. His national engagement, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to our students continues to advance the research and scholarship enterprise at Iowa.”

“John’s leadership has extended well beyond the University of Iowa’s campus,” said Dr. Nancy Marcus, dean emeritus of the Graduate School at Florida State University and chair of the Council’s Board of Directors. “Dr. Keller’s leadership in the Big Ten Academic Alliance, the AAU Association of Graduate Schools, the CGS Board of Directors and Committee on Advocacy and Public Policy has benefited the graduate education community across the country.”

Nominees for the award must be a current senior, graduate dean at a CGS member institution (Regular or Associate) and cannot be an active member of the CGS Board of Directors. Nominations are made by CGS member institutions and are reviewed by a selection committee of former graduate deans in the CGS community. The winner receives a $4,000 prize to support continuing innovations at the awardee’s institution.

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For Immediate Release:

Contacts:

Katherine Hazelrigg, CGS

(202) 461-3888 | khazelrigg@cgs.nche.edu

Tom Ewing, ETS

(609) 683-2803 | tewing@ets.org

Washington, DC – Today the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and the Educational Testing Service (ETS) presented the University of Washington with this year’s ETS/CGS Award for Innovation in Promoting Success in Graduate Education: From Admission through Completion. Dr. David Eaton, senior vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, accepted the co-sponsored award on UW’s behalf during the 57^th Annual Meeting of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).

The award recognizes promising, innovative proposals to enhance student success and degree completion at the master’s or doctoral levels while promoting inclusiveness. The winning institution is selected on the strength of its proposal to meet the award’s goals and to serve as a model for other schools. The winner receives a two-year, $20,000 matching grant.

Through the project University of Washington’s U501: Extend the Reach, the University of Washington intends to expand its University 501 (U501) online orientation modules and reach more students, staff, and faculty at UW, as well as at other universities. U501 “flips” orientation so all incoming graduate and professional students can view online modules containing text and videos with students, faculty, and staff introducing key information before they arrive on campus. Students may access these at any time - day or night, in any country, at their own pace. It introduces the nuts and bolts of graduate school, gives an overview of the graduate student experience and details resources and support systems.

“We are so honored to have been selected, and very gratified that the importance of welcoming and engaging students well before they step foot on campus has been recognized,” said David Eaton, senior vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, University of Washington. “We look forward to improving and expanding U501 and to sharing a rich and powerful toolkit with our colleagues.”

“This award competition showcases practices that greatly benefit the graduate education community. We are grateful to ETS, whose support makes possible this novel way to promote best practices among graduate schools,” said CGS President Suzanne T. Ortega.

“Building a comprehensive orientation program for new graduate students across departments is a challenging endeavor. U501 incorporates online programming accessible to students at any time, providing a level of engagement that goes a long way to ensuring higher levels of student success,” said David G. Payne, Vice President and COO of ETS’s Global Education  Division. “ETS congratulates the University of Washington for their innovative and inclusive approach.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

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

Washington, DC – The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has awarded the 2017 Gustave O. Arlt Award in the Humanities to Dr. John North Hopkins, assistant professor of art history and classical studies at Rice University. The awards ceremony was held during the CGS 57th Annual Meeting.

The Arlt Award is given annually to a young scholar-teacher who has written a book deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to scholarship in the humanities. Dr. Hopkins becomes the award’s 47^th recipient for his book, The Genesis of Roman Architecture (Yale UP, 2016). He received his PhD in art history from the University of Texas at Austin in 2010.

In The Genesis of Roman Architecture, Hopkins offers a close investigation of a dissected architectural and urban fabric from Rome’s origins through the mid fifth century BCE. By focusing on individual elements of architectural creation—including architectonic practice, structural analysis, the style of decorative sculpture, and the social and political purpose of architectural manufacture—Hopkins assembles an image of Rome in continuous change through the beginning of the Republican period.  The outcome is a book that allows the archaeological and visual record to play the primary role in telling the story of Rome’s origins. Recent excavations—some still unpublished—are synthesized with the existing archaeological scholarship to create a holistic picture of the existing evidence.  The analysis of these materials in comparison with remains from across the ancient Mediterranean reveals that Romans, as much as any other cultures in the classical world (Greek, Etruscans, etc.), helped shape the genesis of Mediterranean artistic and socio-political movements that lie at the foundations of world history.

“The Council of Graduate Schools is delighted to present this year’s Arlt award to Dr. Hopkins. This award has a long and prestigious history of recognizing the outstanding scholarship by early-career humanities faculty,” said Dr. Suzanne Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools. “Dr. Hopkins’ exceptional work is a valuable contribution to the study of early Rome.”

Created in 1971, the Arlt Award honors the first president of CGS, Gustave O. Arlt. The winner must have earned a doctorate within the past seven years, and currently be teaching at a North American university. Nominations are made by CGS member institutions and are reviewed by a panel of scholars in the field of competition, which rotates annually among seven disciplines within the humanities. This year’s field was Classical Studies/Archaeology. The winner receives a $1,000 honorarium, a certificate, and travel to the awards ceremony.

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For Immediate Release

Contacts:

Katherine Hazelrigg, Council of Graduate Schools
(202) 461-3888 | khazelrigg@cgs.nche.edu

Beth Dempsey, ProQuest
(248) 349-7810 | beth.dempsey@proquest.com

Awards recognize outstanding research by graduates in the fields of Biological and Life Sciences & Humanities and Fine Arts

Washington, DC -- The Council of Graduate Schools / ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards, the nation’s most prestigious honors for doctoral dissertations, were presented to Chad Johnston and Leif Fredrickson during the Council’s 57th Annual Meeting award ceremony. Dr. Johnston completed his PhD in 2016 at McMaster University in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, and Dr. Fredrickson received his PhD in 2017 from the University of Virginia in History.

Bestowed annually since 1982, the awards recognize recent doctoral recipients who have already made unusually significant and original contributions to their fields. ProQuest, an international leader in dissertation archiving, discovery, and access, sponsors the awards and an independent committee from the Council of Graduate Schools selects the winners. Two awards are given each year, rotating among four general areas of scholarship. The winners receive a certificate, a $2,000 honorarium, and funds for travel to the awards ceremony.

“The Distinguished Dissertation Awards recognize the significant contributions young scholars make in their disciplines,” said CGS President Suzanne T. Ortega. “Dr. Johnston and Dr. Fredrickson’s work demonstrates the value and impact of graduate education to the world.”

“These are significant contributions to research on issues that are both timely and important to our communities,” said Austin McLean, director, ProQuest Scholarly Communication and Dissertations Publishing, “They are great exemplars of the groundbreaking work that is produced at universities. Speaking on behalf of all of us at ProQuest, we’re honored to help acknowledge and disseminate this research.”

The 2017 Award in Biological and Life Sciences was presented to Dr. Johnston for his dissertation, New Techniques Facilitate the Discovery and Study of Modular Microbial Natural Products. The rise in antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to modern healthcare. Increasing resistance is rendering our current antibacterial arsenal useless at a time when almost no new antibiotics are being developed. In his doctoral thesis, Johnston pioneered new techniques to use new big data analytics and computer automation to reveal these new antibiotics, providing tools that are poised to dramatically increase the rate of drug discovery and push back the tide of antibiotic resistance. Dr. Johnston is currently a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Fredrickson received the 2017 Award in Humanities and Fine Arts for his dissertation, The Age of Lead: Metropolitan Change, Environmental Health, and Inner City Underdevelopment.  Using lead hazards as a case study to explore the relationship between metropolitan development, environmental health, and social inequality, Fredrickson shows how suburbanites and suburban development benefited from lead-related technologies not shared by those in the inner city, and the costs of lead pollution from these technologies were imposed disproportionately on inner-city residents. Fredrickson examines how one element, lead, linked the environment, metropolitan expansion, the state, and capitalism over the course of a century, providing a window into the tradeoffs that shaped the lives of millions.

More information about the CGS / ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award is available at www.proquest.com/go/scholars or at www.cgsnet.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Julia Kent 

202.461.3874 / jkent@cgs.nche.edu

“We believe that the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects nearly 800,000 young, undocumented people brought to the U.S. as children, will hurt the American economy and our institutions of higher education. The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), an organization of approximately 500 universities, recognizes and affirms the importance of constitutional order and the need to follow the rule of law. However, we also believe that the DACA program has allowed a group of exceptional young people, brought to this country by their parents, the opportunity to contribute to and positively impact our society and economy by serving in the U.S. military, attending college, entering the workforce and paying taxes. The strength of our nation’s graduate programs depends upon students from diverse backgrounds. To disrupt the lives of these young people is unconscionable and inconsistent with the moral values and basic principles upon which our country was founded.

Dreamers contribute significantly to our economy; according to a recent study by the CATO Institute, deporting those currently in DACA would cost over $60 billion in lost tax revenue and result in a $280 billion reduction in economic growth over the next decade. These bright and talented young people did not choose to come to this country, but America is the only home they know. We hope the U.S. Congress will work to find a permanent solution that allows these young people to stay. It is in our country’s best interest to do so.”

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