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CGS Joins Community Letter to Agencies on Value of International Students
Thursday, April 30, 2020
CGS Joins Community Letter to Agencies on Value of International Students (4/30/20)
On April 30, 2020, CGS joined 61 additional higher education associations on a letter to the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Labor expressing the value international students bring to the United States. This letter follows President Trump’s executive order to temporarily suspend immigration.
Advocacy Ambassadors Network
Friday, April 30, 2021
CGS’s Advocacy Ambassadors Network (AAN) is comprised of volunteer members focused on enacting change through strategic and meaningful advocacy. A r ...
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CGS Joins Community Letters to House and Senate Requesting Relief for Student Loan Borrowers
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
CGS Joins Community Letters to House and Senate Requesting Relief for Student Loan Borrowers (4/20/2020)
On April 20, CGS joined the higher education community on letters to the House and Senate requesting relief for student loan borrowers. The letters urge relief for borrowers until June 30, 2021, or until the unemployment rates remain below 8 percent for three consecutive months. Among the proposals include requests to continue the zero-interest deferred payments for borrowers and the suspension of collection activities for borrowers who have defaulted on any type of federal loan provided under the CARES Act and to extend the post-graduation grace period for students leaving school.
CGS’s Requests for Future COVID-19 Legislation
Friday, April 17, 2020
On April 17, CGS sent letters to House and Senate leadership outlining policy recommendations and requests to be adopted in future legislation addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the association requests $46.6 billion to assist students and institutions, additional funding for federal research grants and extensions, suspending taxation on student grant aid and scholarship, making federal student loan and repayment terms more feasible, and outlining concerns related to the international graduate student community.
CGS Joins Higher Ed Community Letters to House and Senate with Requests for next COVID-19 Package
Thursday, April 16, 2020
CGS Joins Higher Ed Community Letters to House and Senate with Requests for next COVID-19 Package (4/9/2020)
On April 9, CGS joined the higher education community on letters to the House and Senate requesting an additional $46.6 billion in emergency aid to institutions and students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic
CGS is providing information, networks, and a resource hub for member institutions as they work to support their students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. A list of CGS resources for navigating the pandemic can be seen below. New resources and opportunities to connect with your colleagues and CGS leadership will be added, so check this page frequently.
- The Graduate Community’s Response to COVID-19: A Conversation with Graduate Deans
- President Suzanne Ortega’s Office Hours
- Dean’s Discussion Board
- April 15 Resolution
Institutional Initiatives and Examples
CGS members have responded to the COVID-19 by creating new resources and initiatives to support graduate students. Click here for a list of CGS member initiatives and examples submitted by the graduate education community.
Federal Regulatory and Legislative Updates for Institutional Operations
The linked page includes resources and summaries on federal legislative and regulatory actions related to COVID-19 as well as CGS-supported requests to Congress and the Administration.
- Department of Education page on COVID-19
- UPDATED Guidance for interruptions of study related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) (May 15, 2020) provides information that expands on the Department's March 5, 2020 and April 3, 2020 guidance.
- UPDATED Additional Learning Information: Department’s final rules for Distance Learning and Innovation.
- Office for Civil Rights posts Questions and Answers for Postsecondary Institutions Regarding the COVID-19 National Emergency including technical assistance for postsecondary institutions in meeting Federal civil rights laws.
- UPDATED Department of Education publishes third FAQ guidance on the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
- Office of Postsecondary Education publishes revised public reporting requirements for Higher Education Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides updated guidance and communication resources for Colleges and Universities to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to the coronavirus disease.
- UPDATED Centers of Disease Control and Prevention guidance on Testing, Screening, and Outbreak Response for Institutions of Higher Education
- White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memo allowing federal funding agencies, including NIH, to provide continued flexibilities to research grant recipients impacted by COVID-19. The flexibilities allow grant money to cover operational and salary costs.
- White House issues precautions for all individuals, including those on college campuses.
International Students
International graduate students are among those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. From issues with standardized testing to visas, the situation for international graduate students is continually evolving. Below is a list of resources to support international students as they navigate these challenging times:
- NAFSA covers who is and is not affected by the Trump Administration's April 22, 2020 proclamation limiting certain immigrants from entering the United States during the designated 60 day period. The original White House proclamation can be found here
- NAFSA maintains a hub of news and information on education abroad, international students and scholars, and regulatory information.
- Educational Testing Service (click here for GRE and here for TOEFL), Cambridge English, IELTS maintain web pages with updates to information for international English and GRE test takers.
- Department of Homeland Security provides FAQs for SEVP Stakeholders about the effects of COVID-19 and any additional SEVP adaptations in response to the pandemic for SEVP-certified schools and F and M students.
- USCIS updated Public Charge information to encourage all individuals, including immigrants seeking green card status, with symptoms that resemble COVID-19 to seek necessary medical treatment or preventive services. Such treatment or services will not negatively affect one’s future Public Charge analysis.
- Congressional Research Service published a report, Recovery Rebates and Unemployment Compensation under the CARES Act: Immigration-Related Eligibility Criteria
- U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Financial Aid
Graduate student financial support remains a top priority for CGS and its members. Below is a list of resources on graduate student financial aid.
- IRS published FAQs: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund and Emergency Financial Aid Grants under the CARES Act covering how higher education institutions are to use Education Department funds to support students and institutions with expenses and financial needs related to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Century Foundation outlines how students can leverage the CARES Act Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through the Department of Labor summarizing how PUA differs from the traditional unemployment assistance program, what benefits are available, and which students qualify.
- Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education clarifies Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting- Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students, the information institutions must report on their use of HEERF grants as mandated in the CARES Act.
- UPDATED Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid provides updated Coronavirus and Forbearance Info for Students, Borrowers, and Parents including Q&A on student loan payments, loan increases, distance learning, and agency and federal government responses.
- Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education clarifies Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting- Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students, the information institutions must report on their use of HEERF grants as mandated in the CARES Act.
- Department of Education guidance on the CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Federal Register posted the interim final rule on 6/17/20. Comments close 7/17/20.
- COVID-19 Title IV Frequently Asked Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Institutional Portion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students
- Department of Labor posted a press release on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) maintains information related to COVID-19 on their Today’s News page.
- Department of Education reopens the application period for institutions to apply for aid through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) through September 30.
- Department of Labor published a news release answering questions about eligibility for paid leave and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
Funding Opportunities
Research opportunities are of key importance to CGS and its members. Compiled below are resources on grant funding for federal and COVID-19 related research grants.
- National Institutes of Health provides information for NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding.
- National Endowment of the Humanities awards $40.3 million in new CARES Act grants to support operations and preserve jobs at museums, archives, historic sites, and colleges and universities across the U.S. A complete list of all 317 new NEH CARES grants is available here.
- A coalition of arts grantmakers launched Artist Relief, unrestricted grants to help artists in need of financial support due to COVID-19.
- National Science Foundation is accepting proposals to conduct non-medical, non-clinical-care research that can be used to understand the spread of COVID-19.
- National Endowment for the Humanities announced new grant guidelines designed to rapidly distribute CARES Act funding to cultural nonprofits affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
- National Science Foundation announced the Impact on Existing Deadline Dates and extends deadline dates for the solicitations or Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs).
- Institute of Museum and Library Services announced New Stimulus Funding for Communities Across America to award the first $30 million of $50 million appropriated to the agency in the CARES Act. The grants will be distributed to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, and the Freely Associated States based on population.
- Council on Governmental Relations created FAQs and Resources on COVID-19's Impact to Federal Awards and continues to update a host of resources.
- Department of Education announces Formula Grants to Outlying Areas from the Education Stabilization Fund through the CARES Act for use in response to coronavirus. Outlying Areas of the United States refers to the US Virgin Islands (VI), Guam (GU), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and American Samoa (AS).
State-level Information and Resources
- National Conference of State Legislatures: NCSL Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for States, including education.
Tax
- NACUBO offers COVID-19 Employer and Tax Resources summarizing tax credits and deferral programs, SBA low-interest loans for small employers including Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans, and other tax relief including options for international students.
CGS Joins Higher Ed Community with Tax Policy Requests for Phase 4
Thursday, April 9, 2020
CGS Joins Higher Ed Community with Tax Policy Requests for Phase 4 (4/9/2020)
On April 9, CGS joined over 30 other higher education associations on a letter to House and Senate leadership with tax policy requests for the next COVID-19 stimulus bill.
Information for CGS Members on Coronavirus
This page is designed to provide information on COVID-19 that may be relevant to your graduate programs and students. As this public health situation evolves, CGS may begin adding links to CGS member resources and communications.
April 15 Statement
Federal Agency Guidance (please note these are subject to updates/changes)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Institutions of Higher Education
Department of Homeland Security:
COVID-19: Guidance for SEVP Stakeholders
USCIS Temporarily Suspends Routine In-Person Services
Department of Education:
COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel
National Science Foundation:
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Interim Guidance for Travel, Merit Review Panels, and NSF-Sponsored Meetings
RAPID Research on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
NSF Supporting Research to Address Coronavirus Disease blog
National Institutes of Health:
University Responses
- APLU offers general guidance as well as a list of responses from its member institutions to the virus.
Additional Resources on International Issues
- NAFSA maintains a hub of news and information on education abroad, international students and scholars, and regulatory information.
- Educational Testing Service (click here for GRE and here for TOEFL), Cambridge English, IELTS maintain web pages with updates to information for international English and GRE test takers.
Additional Resources on Student Financial Aid Issues
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) maintains information related to COVID-19 on their Today’s News page.
CGS COVID-19 Legislative and Regulatory Updates
This resource hub includes resources on federal legislative and regulatory actions related to COVID-19, in addition to highlighting letters CGS has signed requesting specific actions to Congress and the Administration.
- Summary of higher education and research provisions in the CARES Act
- Table of individual legislative proposals to address COVID-19
To submit a resource for consideration, please email Matthew Linton.
CGS Submits FY 2021 Written Testimony on NEH
Friday, March 6, 2020
On March 6, CGS submitted written testimony for the record to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies requesting “at least $170 million” for the National Endowment for the Humanities in FY 2021.
FY 2022 Appropriations Advocacy
Friday, June 4, 2021
This webpage serves as a hub to view CGS’s communications and resources related to Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 advocacy. CGS will continue to keep its members apprised of the appropriations process as the President's proposed budget is released and respective congressional committees begin their work.
(Updated June 4) CGS FY 2022 Appropriations Chart
Latest Action: President Biden's Full FY22 Budget Request
On May 28, the White House released President Biden’s full budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2022. The request seeks to increase funding for most federal agencies and includes provisions first shared in the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. Notably, the Department of Education would receive $102.8 billion, a 40 percent increase in funding compared to the enacted FY21 levels. Themes of promoting diversity, bolstering U.S. research and development, and streamlining immigration services are interwoven throughout the request.
On April 9, President Biden released his preliminary budget request for FY22, including top-line, discretionary funding levels for the federal agencies in the new fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2021. The proposal builds upon appropriations funding allocated in the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed into law on March 11.
- Member resource: CGS summary of graduate education and research provisions included in the April discretionary funding request.
CGS Appropriations Advocacy in the 117th Congress
Coalition Letter on Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations (1/24/22)
The Task Force on American Innovation, of which CGS is a member, sent a letter to appropriations leadership regarding the importance of federally funded research in the physical sciences and engineering. Given the urgent need to recommit our nation to prioritizing science and technology research and the increasing global competition we face in emerging technologies, we strongly encourage Congress to complete the FY22 appropriations process in a timely manner.
CGS Joins Coalition Letter to Biden Administration Regarding National Science Foundation Funding (11/9/21)
On November 5, the Coalition for National Science Funding sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy regarding increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Fiscal Year 2023. NSF plays a critical role in advancing our nation’s competitiveness and addressing research and education challenges related to many Biden Administration priorities.
On November 2, members of the Coalition for National Science Funding sent a letter to appropriators regarding support for National Science Foundation (NSF) funding in Fiscal Year 2022. NSF investments are key to bolstering U.S. innovation and competitiveness by funding highly meritorious curiosity-driven research; building and fostering U.S. STEM education and workforce programs; supporting cutting-edge facilities that enable the work of scientists and engineers; and addressing the most pressing issues of our time.
CGS Joins Letter of Support for the House Appropriations FY22 Labor-HHS-Education Bill (07/14/21)
On July 14, CGS joined a community letter supporting the House Appropriations Committee's legislation that provides FY 2022 funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
CGS Joins Letter of Support for International and Foreign Language Studies (06/28/21)
On June 28, CGS joined the Coalition for International Education on a letter to the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee recommending Fiscal Year 2022 funding for HEA-Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs.
CGS Joins Community Requests for FY22 Appropriations to Fund Higher Education Programs (06/11/21)
On June 11, CGS joined the higher education community on a letter to House Appropriators requesting fiscal year (FY) 2022 funding for programs of interest to graduate education and research, including $35 million for Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need.
CGS Joins Letter of Support for International Education and Foreign Language Studies (05/12/21)
On May 12, CGS joined the Coalition for International Education on a letter to the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee supporting Fiscal Year 2022 funding for HEA-Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs.
CGS Joins Request for $1.51B for HRSA in FY22
On March 31, CGS joined a community letter urging Congress to provide $1.51 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs for FY 2022.
CGS Joins Request $35 Million for GAANN in FY 2022 Appropriations (3/17/21)
On March 17, CGS joined the Student Aid Alliance on a FY 2022 appropriations request letter to Congress, including $35 million for the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program.
Advocacy Opportunity: Send a FY22 Appropriations Request to Your Member of Congress
This resource is available to assist CGS members in submitting appropriations requests to their Members of Congress for programs of importance to graduate education and research. Supplemental resources, including a guide to submitting a request form and a sample form letter, are available here.
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