CGS issued a statement in response to the passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (S. 365). The statement highlights the added burden needy graduate and professional students will now face due to the elimination of the in-school interest subsidy on federal Stafford loans. CGS urges Congress and the Administration to recognize and support graduate education as a strategic national asset.

CGS sent a letter to the Joint Select Committee (or Super Committee) urging them to maintain support for graduate education programs as they work to draft a deficit reduction package for Congressional consideration by November 23.

Draft legislation released by the House Appropriations Committee's Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee leadership would eliminate funding for the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship program at the Department of Education in FY 12. CGS sent a letter highlighting the importance of the program and urging that funding be maintained.

CGS commented on the new Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Pathways Programs. The comments highlight the inclusion of graduate students and recent graduates in the Pathways programs.

by Eleanor L. Babco, M. Nancy Vincent, and Donald N. Langenberg

The American Physical Society's APS News May issue included a profile of physics PSM graduates who have found success in nonacademic careers, written by leaders of CGS's PSM Initiative.

Contact:
Belle Woods
bwoods@cgs.nche.edu
(202) 223-3791

Lisa Tedesco of Emory University became the 2012 Chair of the Council of Graduate Schools’ (CGS) Board of Directors at CGS’s 51^st Annual Meeting last week.  Since 2006, Dr. Tedesco has served as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs  ̶  Graduate Studies and Dean of the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies.  She is a professor in the Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education.  Dr. Tedesco began her service on the CGS Board of Directors in 2010. 

Prior to joining Emory University, Dr. Tedesco spent fourteen years at the University of Michigan, first as professor and associate dean in the School of Dentistry and later served as vice president and secretary of the university, and in 2001 as interim provost. Throughout her academic and administrative career, Dr. Tedesco has been involved with programs to increase student and faculty diversity on campus, with emphasis on minority youth access to and preparation for careers in the health care professions.  She earned her doctorate in educational psychology from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York.

“Dr. Tedesco has a deep commitment to ensuring graduate schools, employers, and policymakers work together to enhance U.S. graduate education and maintain its status as the gold standard around the world,” said CGS President Debra W. Stewart.  “CGS is honored to have her as our board chair.”

The new Chair-elect is Robert Augustine, Dean of the Graduate School, Research and International Programs at Eastern Illinois University. He is also a professor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences.

Beginning three-year terms on the board are Maureen Grasso of the University of Georgia, Mark J. T. Smith of Purdue University, and Pamela C. Stacks of San Jose State University.  Barbara A. Knuth of Cornell University was elected for a two-year term and Ramona Mellott, of Northern Arizona University was elected for a one-year term.

CGS is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors drawn from member institutions.  Board members are nominated and elected by the full membership for set terms.  Patrick Osmer of The Ohio State University will remain on CGS’s Executive Committee for one year as immediate past chair.

Contact:
Belle Woods, Council of Graduate Schools
bwoods@cgs.nche.edu
(202) 223-3791

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

Scottsdale, AZ  – The Council of Graduate Schools / ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards, the nation’s most prestigious honor for doctoral dissertations, were presented to Nathaniel Adam Sowa and Kirsten A. Weld at an awards ceremony during the CGS 51^st Annual Meeting.  Dr. Sowa completed his Ph.D. in Neurobiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill last year.  Dr. Weld earned her doctorate in History from Yale University in 2010. 

Bestowed annually since 1982, the awards recognize recent doctoral recipients who have already made unusually significant and original contributions to their fields.  ProQuest, the world’s premier dissertation publisher, 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 $2000 honorarium, and travel to the awards ceremony.

“ProQuest is proud to join CGS in honoring these two graduates,” said Austin McLean, ProQuest Director of Scholarly Publishing and Dissertations.  “Their works show the important contribution dissertations make to the advancement of scholarly research.  We’re particularly impressed with the creative approaches they each took in completing and presenting their research.” 

The 2011 Award in Biological and Life Sciences was presented to Dr. Sowa for “Characterization of Ectonucleotidases in Nociceptive Circuits.”  His dissertation describes his identification and characterization of two new proteins (ectonucleotidases) that inhibit pain signaling and offer new areas for research in pain therapy as well as the potential to affect other health conditions such as stroke and sleep disorders.  Dr. Sowa is currently a student at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

Dr. Weld received the 2011 Award in Humanities and Fine Arts for her dissertation, “Reading the Politics of History in Guatemala’s National Police Archives.”  Her research uses the discovery of long-hidden police records in an examination of Guatemala’s postwar politics and seeks to illuminate the impact of historical knowledge, such as that documented in archives, on people’s lives.  Dr. Weld is currently the Florence Levy Kay Fellow in Latin American History at Brandeis University. 

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

Contact:
Belle Woods
bwoods@cgs.nche.edu
(202) 223-3791

Tom Ewing, ETS     
tewing@ets.org
(609) 683-2058

Scottsdale, AZ – The third annual “ETS/CGS Award for Innovation in Promoting Success in Graduate Education: From Admission through Completion” was presented to Eastern Illinois University during the 51^st Annual Meeting of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).  The award is sponsored by CGS and Educational Testing Service (ETS).  Dr. Robert Augustine, Dean of the Graduate School, accepted the award on behalf of Eastern Illinois University (EIU).

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

The winning proposal from Eastern Illinois University, “The Integrative Graduate Studies Institute” will offer a full-range of services designed to promote success in graduate education, including five integrative graduate mentoring programs.  The programs will focus on distinct audiences, both undergraduate and graduate students, and will be evaluated on outcomes related to diversity, retention and completion rates, and other metrics.

“From pre-admission through to degree completion graduate students face many challenges and hurdles to success,” says David G. Payne, Vice President and COO of ETS’s Higher Education Division. “Eastern Illinois’ comprehensive proposal specifically addresses these challenges in a positive way and we congratulate them for their efforts on behalf of students.”

“Eastern Illinois University was the best of a very strong set of proposals, all of which showed the commitment that graduate schools have to promote student success in graduate programs through creative approaches” said Debra W. Stewart, CGS President.  “CGS is exceptionally grateful for ETS’s continued support for graduate education as exemplified by this award.”

Steps Taken on the Path Forward (PDF)
2011, Policy Paper
This paper reviews the impact of The Path Forward report one year later and outlines issues and challenges confronting graduate education now and into the future.

The Path Forward: The Future of Graduate Education in the United States (PDF)
2010, Policy Paper
This landmark report was released by the Commission on the Future of Graduate Education, a joint initiative between CGS and Educational Testing Service.

Broadening Participation in Graduate Education
2009, Policy Paper
This report addresses the need to strengthen and expand diversity and inclusiveness in graduate education.

Graduate Education and the Public Good
2008, Policy Paper
This report demonstrates the value of graduate education to the U.S. economy and quality of life by showcasing graduates who have made significant contributions to our nation.

Graduate Education: The Backbone of American Competitiveness and Innovation
2007, Policy Paper
This report calls for a renewed commitment to American graduate education, recognizing its critical role in enhancing economic competitiveness and innovation.  A press release (PDF) and hard copies in the CGS Online Store are available.

Resolutions

Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees, and Assistants (PDF)
Resolution renewed 10/2019
In 2019, the Council of Graduate Schools reaffirmed their support of what is known as the “April 15th Resolution.”

Resolution on Building an Inclusive Graduate Community (PDF)
Resolution last updated and reaffirmed 3/24/09
In 2009, the Council of Graduate Schools reaffirmed its belief that seeking students from groups historically underrepresented in graduate education and encouraging these individuals to pursue advanced degrees serves the best interests of higher education and the nation at large.

CGS presented three awards during its 2010 Annual Meeting (12/9/10)

CGS presented three awards during its 2010 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.: the 2010 Arlt Award in the Humanities, (press release), the 2010 CGS/UMI Distinguished Dissertation Awards (press release), and Michigan State University won the ETS/CGS Award for Innovation in Promoting Success in Graduate Education (press release).

Osmer of The Ohio State University to Serve as Chair of CGS Board (12/9/10)

CGS announces that Patrick S. Osmer, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School at The Ohio State University, has become Chair of its Board of Directors. Lisa Tedesco of Emory University is now Chair-elect. Elected to the CGS Board were graduate deans Joseph N. Benoit of the University of North Dakota, James C. Wimbush of Indiana University, Jo Rae Wright of Duke University, Harry Richards of the University of New Hampshire, and Maureen Grasso of the University of Georgia.

Graduate Education Leaders Discuss Potential to Collaborate on Preparing Future Faculty to Assess Student Learning (11/22/10)

CGS hosted a meeting of assessment experts and graduate deans to explore how universities across the country can work together to better prepare graduate students who aspire to faculty positions with the skills they will need to assess student learning.

First-Time International Graduate Student Enrollment up 3% (11/9/10)

A new CGS survey on international graduate admissions trends has found fall 2010 international first-time graduate student enrollment grew 3%, a positive trend following the lack of growth in first-time international enrollment last year. Declines slowed for students from South Korea and India, while China’s first-time enrollment numbers grew 20% and the Middle East increased 7%.

Graduate Education Leaders Share Best Practices and Identify National Needs in Research and Scholarly Integrity (11/1/10)

CGS shares results of a recent meeting of senior university leaders, researchers, and federal funders of science where they discussed future directions for graduate student education in research integrity.

Completion and Attrition in STEM Master’s Programs Project Launched (10/20/10)

CGS has been awarded a grant to collect and analyze data on master's degree completion and attrition in STEM fields.

Graduate Education Leaders Issue Global Statement on Quality (9/15/10)

Representatives of 17 countries agreed to principles for assessing the quality of graduate education, at a Global Summit co-hosted by CGS.

Graduate Enrollment Continues Strong Growth in 2009 (9/14/10)

CGS' annual Graduate Enrollment and Degrees report shows that women earned the majority of doctorates awarded in 2008-09, for the first time.

Number of Universities Offering PSM Programs Surpasses 100 (9/7/10)

The number of universities offering Professional Science Master's (PSM) programs surpassed 100, and the number of programs doubled in barely 2 years, to over 200.

International Graduate Admissions Up 3%, Reversing Last Year’s Decline (8/19/10)

Offers of admission to prospective international graduate students rose 3% in 2010, reversing last year's 1% decline, a CGS survey found.

Two New Books Address the Promise and Challenges of International Graduate Collaborations (7/8/10)

CGS released two publications that address the promise and challenges of international graduate collaborations.

CGS Applauds First Historically Black University to Establish PSM Program (5/13/10)

CGS applauded the University of the District of Columbia, the first HBCU to establish a PSM program.

CGS Launches Project to Prepare Future Faculty to Assess Student Learning (5/17/10)

CGS received a grant to examine the preparation of graduate students to assess student learning outcomes.

Landmark Study Confirms Graduate Education’s Role in Maintaining U.S. Global Competitiveness and Innovation (4/29/10)

The Commission on the Future of Graduate Education, a joint initiative between CGS and ETS, released its landmark report.

CGS Names 2010-11 Dean in Residence (4/8/10)

CGS has announced that Marquette University dean William Wiener will be its 2010-11 Dean-in-Residence.

International Graduate Applications Rise 7% (4/6/10)

Applications from prospective international students to U.S. graduate schools have increased 7% in 2010, the largest increase in 3 years, a CGS survey has found.

Project Transforming Organizational Culture in Doctoral Education (3/31/10)

A new publication from the Ph.D. Completion Project highlights promising practices that universities have implemented to reduce attrition from doctoral programs.