Samantha Hernandez was finishing up an argument for her dissertation about Latinos and affirmative action on Thursday when the emails started pouring in with the subject line “Congratulations.” President Trump had finished a celebratory news conference to announce the completion of a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s tax code, and graduate students were breathing a deep sigh of relief. House Republicans had targeted them for a hefty tax increase, one that many of them could not hope to pay, but they had escaped unscathed.

Graduate students across the country have loudly protested a controversial provision of the tax plans that moved through the House and Senate in recent weeks. The proposal would have significantly driven up the tax burdens for those who receive tuition waivers from their schools. They are often teaching and research assistants.

The GOP’s proposed update to the law governing higher education would force a U-turn for long-standing federal policies on graduate student lending. Students who pursue graduate degrees have been allowed to take out an unlimited amount in federal student loans since Congress authorized the Grad PLUS program in 2005. But the legislation proposed last week by Representative Virginia Foxx, the North Carolina Republican who chairs the House education committee, would cap annual borrowing amounts for grad students at $28,500 annually.

The Council of Graduate Schools Ph.D. Completion Project found 10-year Ph.D. completion rates to range around only 50 to 65 percent, depending on field. The project, which collected data on 29 institutions, discovered that the reasons people leave Ph.D. programs are complex, but that few students drop out because they are intellectually incapable of doing the work. Stress, lack of financial support and problematic relationships with faculty members are among the factors cited to explain the remarkable rate at which students who have successfully completed other educational challenges leave graduate school.

Graduate students around the U.S. are staging campus walk-outs and lobbying Congress in an effort to keep their tuition waivers tax-free. They have the support of their schools in arguing that a provision in the House Republican tax bill could, as graduate student Shawn Rhoads says, “upend the American Ph.D. system.”

Many Ph.D. students studying science, technology, engineering and math receive tuition waivers. That means their tuition is covered, and that money isn't taxed as long as the student does research or teaches for the university.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

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

Majority of Decline in Master’s and Certificate Programs

Washington, DC —New data from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) reveal that for the first time since Fall 2003, international graduate application and first-time enrollment rates declined at U.S. universities. For Fall 2017, the final application counts from prospective international students declined by 3%, while the first-time enrollment of international graduate students declined by 1%.

The overall decline is primarily in master’s and certificate programs, with responding institutions reporting a 4.8% decrease in applications and a 2.8% decrease in first-time enrollment. In contrast, first-time international doctoral enrollment grew by 1.8%. Given that 77% of first-time international graduate enrollment was in master’s and certificate programs and 23% was in doctoral programs, the discrepancy by degree objective is notable.

Recent changes in immigration policy, including the executive order barring entry or return of U.S. visa holders from specific countries, are being closely watched by members of the graduate education community. While students directly affected by the ban constitute a relatively small percentage of international graduate students, there has been significant concern that new immigration policies will tarnish the U.S.’s image as a welcoming destination for international students and scholars.

CGS President Suzanne Ortega noted, “While the declines we see this year are concerning, the good news is that the application acceptance rates and admission yield rates are comparable to last year. This suggests that prospective international graduate students remain highly likely to accept offers of admission to U.S. graduate schools. This may be due to increased efforts on the part of graduate schools and universities to assure international students that they will be welcomed and supported.”

Application and enrollment numbers saw wide variations by sending country. The 2016-2017 admissions cycle marks the second year in a row that applications and first-time enrollment of international graduate students from the Middle East and North Africa declined. In aggregate, responding institutions reported a greater decline in applications between Fall 2016 and Fall 2017 (-17%) than was seen in the prior admission cycle (-5%). However, first-time graduate enrollment declined at a slower rate (-5%) compared to the prior year (-11%). Iran and Saudi Arabia historically represent the largest share of international graduate students from the Middle East and North Africa region, and applications from the two countries dropped by 18% and 21% respectively.

China and India continue to represent the largest shares of international graduate applications, first-time international graduate enrollment, and total international graduate enrollment. However, the final application and first-time graduate enrollment of Indian students decreased (-15%, -13% respectively) during the Fall 2016 to Fall 2017 admission cycle. This is the first decline in applications from India since Fall 2012.

Application counts for prospective European graduate students to U.S. institutions grew by 18%. However, first-time enrollment of European graduate students at U.S. institutions in Fall 2017 only increased by 1%. In Fall 2016, first-time enrollment rates for European graduate students rose by 8%.

The report also includes data trends by field of study. By total application and first-time enrollment counts, the most popular fields of study continue to be Business (15% and 19% respectively), Engineering (28% and 26% respectively), and Mathematics and Computer Sciences (22% and 19% respectively). By contrast, U.S. institutions that participated in the study reported a 10% decline in graduate applications and first-time enrollment to engineering programs.

As the only report of its kind to offer data on the current academic year, International Graduate Applications and Enrollment: Fall 2017 reports applications, admissions, and enrollments of international master’s, certificate, and doctoral students at U.S. colleges and universities.

About the survey and report

Conducted since 2004, the CGS International Graduate Admissions Survey tracks the applications and enrollments of international students seeking U.S. master’s and doctoral degrees. In Fall 2016 the survey was redesigned to collect data by degree objective (master’s and graduate certificate vs. doctorate), and for all seven regions of origin, eight countries of origin, and all eleven broad fields of study, yielding the only degree-level data currently available for graduate admissions and enrollments. 377 U.S. graduate institutions who are members of CGS or its regional affiliates responded to the 2017 survey.

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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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