On March 11, 2019, the Trump Administration released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget proposal outlining federal funding priorities. The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is concerned that the Administration is withdrawing essential support for critical discretionary programs.

“This marks the third year the Administration has introduced unprecedented cuts to domestic programs that ensure a highly-educated and diverse workforce, spur innovation, uphold our national security, and preserve the U.S.’s position as a leading global competitor.” said Suzanne T. Ortega, President of the Council of Graduate Schools.

The proposal significantly reduces funding for student aid programs that have longstanding success in promoting access to affordable higher education, particularly for low socio-economic and underrepresented students. The budget makes harsh cuts to Federal-Work Study and TRIO, and it would eliminate the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs. This poses a long-term risk to diversity and inclusiveness not just within academic institutions, but also within the future American workforce.

The proposal gouges funding streams for research entities includingthe National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy, all of which invest in discoveries that translate to new technologies and cures. In addition, the Fulbright-Hays International Education and Foreign Language Studies programs, which provide U.S. students opportunities to learn across international borders and foster cross-cultural understanding, would also be eliminated.

“CGS is committed to working with Congress in a bipartisan manner to ensure that a final spending package includes necessary investments that will allow universities to respond to the demand for a highly-skilled workforce, a competitive scientific enterprise, and future generations of global leaders.”

Nabila Hijazi, a doctoral student in English Language and Literature at the University of Maryland, College Park, came to the U.S. from Syria with her husband in 1989. As an 18-year-old just out of high school, Hijazi began her life as a homemaker and eventually a mother. College wasn’t something many women in Syrian culture pursued, but after years of investing in her family, Hijazi started taking business classes at a local community college. Years later, she now has a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in English Language and Literature, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D.

Hijazi’s background and passion for teaching others has driven her doctoral research. Her involvement with the Prince George’s Muslim Association (PGMA) led her to teach writing to multilingual students through coordination with Syrians and Iraqis living in the area. But to her surprise, the incentives of free transportation and childcare weren’t enough to entice students. “I kept wondering why throughout the course, enrollment was so low. Beyond some of the technical or logistical issues of the program, it was apparent there were other reasons for low enrollment and retention, and this became the focus of my dissertation. I decided to interview these women to understand how language programs can be created to attract/retain students,” says Hijazi.

Hijazi recently received the Dr. James W. Longest Memorial Award for Social Science Research from UMD last fall to support her doctoral dissertation research that potentially benefits small and/or disadvantaged communities. In addition, she has published several journal articles on teaching composition. To learn more about Nabila’s work visit the University of Maryland, College Park 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: Anna De Cheke Qualls, UMD

Alexandra Kralick, a doctoral student in anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, studies the growth and development of sex differences in great apes and humans. Kralick recently spent time examining orangutan bones in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s mammal collection to understand how orangutan growth and development differ from humans.

Kralick wrote an article published in The Atlantic last November, which has been featured in other online publications, including Pacific Standard and Slate. In her article, Is Gender Written Into Your Skeleton? Kralick argues that based on her research, our bodies are too complicated to fit a legal, binary definition of sex. “Skeletal studies, the field that I work in as a doctoral student in anthropology, and the history of this field show how assumptions about sex can lead to profound mistakes, and how acknowledging that things are not really as binary as they may seem can help resolve those errors.” She summarizes the recent history of the binary and outlines instances that have proven it does not exist.

Kralick is currently a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. She received her bachelor’s degree in biological anthropology from George Washington University, where she investigated the dental development in Virunga mountain gorillas in Rwanda. To learn more about Alexandra’s work visit the University of Pennsylvania website.

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

The Organization and Administration of Graduate Education has been revised and updated! This publication provides a picture of the structures, stakeholders, and challenges that define contemporary graduate education. The revised edition features expanded sections on program leadership and pressing issues; call-out boxes highlighting key insights; case studies from leading graduate programs addressing pressing issues; and guidance from CGS best practices projects.

You can purchase copies of the volume on the publications page. Free digital download of this volume is included as part of the CGS member benefits package. 

Megan Perkins, a doctoral candidate in neuroscience at the University of Vermont, received the 2018-2019 Rodney L. Parsons Anatomy and Neurobiology Award and plans to use the award for professional and career development opportunities. Perkins’ research examines a population of cells in the bladder called interstitial cells using biochemical processes to better understand “the role of interstitial cells in the sensitization of afferent nerves in bladder disorders, specifically interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.”

Perkins contributed to national Brain Awareness Week last March, participating in educational outreach to local elementary school students. In addition to her research, Perkins has served as the student coordinator for the Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) Student Journal Club, which provides graduate students the opportunity to gain experience with research presentations and critical reviews of literature in the neuroscience.

Perkins received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where she worked with a cognitive psychologist in the field of behavioral economics. After she completes her doctorate, she plans to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship and hopes to become more involved in scientific communication and advocacy. To learn more about Megan’s work visit the University of Vermont website.

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

The Role of Research Integrity in Promoting Excellence: Tools for College and University Leaders

May 22-23, 2019 at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL

This conference seeks to engage university and college leaders in lively discussions about strategies, resources, and tools for promoting research integrity for current and future scientists, and scholars at institutions nationwide. It was co-organized by the Council of Graduate Schools, Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Research Integrity, and Northwestern University. 

To learn more about this event, click here to visit the conference website. 

As members of the University of Missouri—Columbia Graduate Professional Council, Rachel Owen and Michael Hendricks recognized the impact of science policy on their doctoral research. Upon learning of a state science policy fellowships program in California, Owen (Ph.D. candidate, School of Natural Resources) and Hendricks (Ph.D. candidate, Department of Political Science) set out to start a similar program in Missouri. What developed are the Missouri Science & Technology (MOST) Policy Fellows, and Co-Directors Owen and Hendricks hope the program ensures legislators understand the benefits and consequences of their policies to the scientific community.

The proposed fellowship model will provide an opportunity for in-state doctoral graduate students who wish to work in science policy upon graduation to work in the state legislature in Jefferson City. Owen and Hendricks argue that retaining students within the state that invested in their training and education is in the state’s best interest. MOST is currently fundraising and hopes to have raised enough money to fund a fellowship for the 2021 legislative session.

“Just doing my science isn’t really enough,” Owen said. “That is enough for a lot of people, but I really want to be able to connect my science with society and make my science, or make other people’s science, more impactful.” To learn more about Rachel and Michael’s work visit the Missouri Science & Technology Policy Fellows website.

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

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

Master’s and Certificate Programs Remain Most Affected

Washington, DC —New data from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) reveal that for the second consecutive year, international graduate application and first-time enrollment rates declined at U.S. universities. For Fall 2018, the final application counts from prospective international students declined by 4%, while the first-time enrollment of international graduate students declined by 1%.

The overall decline is primarily driven by a 6% decrease in applications and a 2% decrease in first-time enrollment to master’s and certificate programs. In contrast, first-time international doctoral enrollment grew by 3%. The discrepancy by degree objective is notable given the proportion of first-time international graduate enrollment in master’s and certificate programs (77%) vs. doctoral programs (23%).

 “This is the first time we’ve seen declines across two consecutive years, and while we think it’s too soon to consider this a trend, it is troubling,” said CGS President Suzanne Ortega. “We continue to monitor issues, including changes in immigration and visa policy, with growing concern over the possible negative impact to the U.S.’s image as a welcoming destination for international students and scholars.”

Highlights by Country of Origin

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 experienced large decreases again (-12%, -2% respectively) during the Fall 2017 to Fall 2018 admission cycle. This is the second consecutive year the number of applications and first-time enrollment from India has declined.

Graduate applications from Middle Eastern & North African students to U.S. graduate schools fell by 14% between the Fall 2017 and Fall 2018 admission cycles. Graduate applications and first-time enrollment of Iranian (-27%, -8%) and Saudi Arabian (-6%, -21%) graduate students also decreased. Conversely, applications and first-time enrollment of Sub-Saharan African graduate students increased by 28% and 5% respectively.

Ortega noted that overall, 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.”

Highlights by Field of Study

Across broad fields of study, international graduate applications increased in health sciences (5%), mathematics and computer sciences (6%), and other fields (8%) between Fall 2017 to Fall 2018. By contrast, engineering (-16%), physical & earth sciences (-9%), and business (-8%) experienced decreases in international graduate applications during this period. Business (95%), public administration & services (86%), and mathematics & computer sciences (85%) had high concentrations of first-time international students in master’s and certificate programs in Fall 2018, while first-time doctoral students accounted for 77% of international graduate students in physical & earth sciences and 50% in biological & agricultural sciences.

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. As the only report of its kind to offer data on the current academic year, International Graduate Applications and Enrollment: Fall 2018 reports applications, admissions, and enrollments of international master’s, certificate, and doctoral students at U.S. colleges and universities. 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. 369 U.S. graduate institutions who are members of CGS or its regional affiliates responded to the 2018 survey.

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​We invite you to explore the electronic proceedings of the 2018 Global Summit, Supporting Diversity 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 2018 Summit were generously supported by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

On January 25, Congress and the White House reached agreement on a temporary, three-week funding extension to keep the federal government open through February 15. The shutdown- the longest in U.S. history- lasted for five weeks and caused certain federal agencies to suspend activities critical to education and research. CGS President Suzanne Ortega called for a solution to reopen the government, and the council maintains that it is essential that a final Fiscal Year 2019 spending deal is reached to prevent futher exacerbation of the damage already caused. CGS would like to know how the government shutdown has impacted our members. Please send stories, data, or other evidence from your campus to GovAffairs@cgs.nche.edu.

The following testimonials from CGS member institutions highlight the problems faced by students, faculty, and the programs, as well as the implications for the public who are affected by federally-funded research initiatives:

“I am a fifth year student and PhD candidate in Plant Biology. I am afraid that the shutdown will not only affect my access to credible research sources, but that it may also impact the day to day operations as we rely mostly on government grants to pay our lab technicians, purchase supplies such as microbiological media, filtration devices, pcr primers and other molecular biology supplies, DNA extraction kits, etc. I am unable to acquire seeds through the USDA GRIN database system to continue research at this time due to the shutdown. I use GRIN for wild type native hops seeds and live plants, with the latter only being made available to order in early January to February.  I may not be able to acquire live plants this year at all, and will have to rely on more expensive options for seed procurement. The pedigree or breeding history of the seed is very important for my project. There are also disease resistance traits that vary between cultivars, so properly documented seed source is necessary component of my research. I worry about the accessibility and maintenance of National Institutes of Health resources such as BLAST databases during the prolonged shutdown as well. This could impact research other than my own, like cancer research, which could potentially be set back years.” -Fifth year PhD candidate

“Two ways by which the work of my one remaining graduate student is impacted by the government shutdown are: a.) Communications with our United States Geological Survey government collaborators is turned off as they have no access to their e-mail accounts.  My student is in the process of submitting abstracts to several national and international conferences- all have deadlines for submission that need formal USGS review and approval.  b.) Submission of applications for support from various government agencies is halted and communication with program directors regarding existing awards, as is the case with the student, is blocked.”  -Microbiology faculty member

“I know my colleague and I are approaching critical situations about getting supplements to keep postdocs working for us. One student’s National Science Foundation supplement was approved but not yet "out the door," whereas mine was viewed favorably but needs all the paperwork and approvals to be done, once the government reopens. We have a month until the postdoc is unemployed.” -Physics faculty member

“I am a professor in the sociology department. Six months ago, I applied for a Fulbright research fellowship to Poland. I have now been officially notified that I am indeed a recipient of a 9-month research fellowship- a great honor. However, since Fulbright is a federal grant though the State Department, we won't know the amount of the fellowship. That means I am, at the moment, unable to bring this matter to the dean's office, delaying all arrangements to the unforeseeable future. The shutdown will have a number of other adverse consequences , especially with respect to our graduate student population, particularly foreign nationals accepted into our programs, who will likely face delays in the visa issuance process if the shutdown continues.” -Sociology faculty member 

“You can mark me down as somebody whose research is suffering because of the shutdown.  More particularly, if I am to meet the deadlines on my federal grants, I currently need data or data technical support from two federal agencies: National Agricultural Statistics Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service. In each case, the shutdown is slowing my progress on research being performed under a USDA grant. In addition, I have a small supplementary grant proposal pending at USDA.  Because of the shutdown and my lack of this money, the budgeting is about to get very complicated. It would not surprise me if I wound up losing this money just because of the nature of the calendar and the very unexpected fact of the shutdown.” -Agricultural Economics faculty member