FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Washington, DC — Today the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) announced a partnership with the University of Maryland’s PERVADE: Pervasive Data Ethics to identify ways to enhance and influence the training graduate students receive when using big data methods in their research. The project, which will convene thought leaders from the big data ethics community and graduate deans from research-intensive institutions, has received funding support from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and Elsevier.

An increasing number of research disciplines and industry leaders embrace big data approaches as they pursue important research questions and product development. However, the methods used to assemble large datasets, and their applications in decision-making contexts, challenge existing ethical paradigms for data management, data integrity, human subject protections, and data use. Unfortunately, current attempts to identify and address these challenges are often focused within specific disciplines or corporate settings and offer little opportunity to integrate these evolving ethical concerns within master’s and doctoral programs.

“Graduate deans often oversee professional development and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training curricula and are uniquely positioned to present the ethical concerns of big data research to their university communities and to bridge potential silos that impede the sharing of best practices to address these evolving challenges,” said CGS President Suzanne T. Ortega.

CGS has long been interested in scholarly integrity in graduate education, including training graduate students in the ethical use of big data. The CGS 2015 Global Summit (“Implications of ‘Big Data’ for Graduate Education”) brought together policy experts from 15 countries to discuss the implications of big data in research but did not develop specific strategies to train graduate students in the ethical issues arising from its use to study human behaviors and activities. The 1.5-day workshop, which will take place in June 2020, will address a critical gap in our training of graduate students and future researchers: understanding the unique ethical challenges of data ownership and data management within the context of big data research.

Workshop goals include identifying specific ethical challenges that arise from the use of big data resources in graduate student research, critiquing existing resources for training, identifying potential levers for change, and formulating strategies for deploying and embedding resources for big data ethics within the RCR training curriculum. This conversation will empower graduate deans to expand our current training paradigms for scholarly integrity to address the evolving ethical challenges presented by big data.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  

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

While overall rates are up, some universities continue to see declines

Washington, DC —The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has published new data showing that international graduate application and first-time enrollment rates have increased at U.S. universities for the first time since Fall 2016. For Fall 2019, the final application counts from prospective international students increased by 3%, and the first-time enrollment of international graduate students increased by 4%. The proportion of first-time international graduate enrollment in master’s and certificate programs (75%) vs. doctoral programs (25%) has remained roughly the same.

The growth is driven primarily by increases in applications (3%) and first-time enrollment (4%) to master’s and certificate programs. While the overall increases are welcome news, some institutions did not see more student interest. For Doctoral Universities with Highest Research Activity (R1) and Master’s Colleges and Universities and Other Institutions (M1-3), applications and first-time enrollment increased across the board. However, for Doctoral Universities with Higher or Moderate Research Activity (R2 & R3), first-time enrollment declined in doctoral programs (-6%) and stagnated in master’s and certificate programs (-1%).

“We are pleased to see that the overall application and first-time enrollment numbers for international graduate students are on the rise. Our member universities work hard to ensure a welcoming environment for students and scholars from across the globe,” said CGS President Suzanne Ortega. “We remain vigilant, however, in monitoring obstacles, including the latest Executive Order “travel ban” and other changes in immigration and visa policy, that may negatively impact our ability to attract talented students from around the world.”

Highlights by Country of Origin

China and India continue to represent the largest shares of international graduate applications, first-time international graduate enrollments, and total international graduate enrollments. Between Fall 2018 and Fall 2019, the number of graduate applications and first-time graduate enrollments for Chinese nationals increased by 3%.

This is the second consecutive year of strong growth in graduate applications (11%) and first-time enrollments (22%) from sub-Saharan African students to U.S. graduate schools. While after two years of decline, applications (4%) and first-time enrollments (10%) from Mexican nationals rose.

Highlights by Field of Study

Across broad fields of study, international graduate applications increased in arts and humanities (6%), health sciences (7%), mathematics and computer sciences (7%), and biological and agricultural sciences (14%) between Fall 2018 and Fall 2019. By contrast, applications in engineering (-2%) and business (-3%), two of the largest broad fields of study, decreased. The largest one-year increases in first-time international graduate enrollment by broad field of study were in mathematics and computer sciences (11%), social and behavioral sciences (11%), and biological and agricultural sciences (10%).

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 2019 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. 403 U.S. graduate institutions who are members of CGS or its regional affiliates responded to the 2019 survey.

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On February 10, the Trump Administration released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget proposal outlining federal funding priorities. “We are troubled by the direction the Administration’s budget takes with respect to certain programs that support graduate education, research, and scholarship,” said Suzanne T. Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools. “The national agenda requires strengthened investments that will propel the country’s academic and innovative success. Unfortunately, the proposal calls for scaling back or complete elimination of federal support that promotes access to graduate education, bolsters the research enterprise, and augments scholarship for a variety of disciplines within STEM and the arts and humanities.”

The budget would eliminate the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need, the Fulbright-Hays program, and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. It would also eliminate the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Additionally, new annual and lifetime limits would be placed on graduate student borrowing, which has the potential to disenfranchise some students from being able to finance their education.  Cuts to several agencies that provide research grants to CGS institutions, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, and others, would stymie innovations that impact technology, public health, and national security.

CGS is committed to working in a bipartisan fashion with House and Senate appropriators in the coming months to ensure that graduate education and research receive strong investments in FY 2021.

On January 31, the Trump Administration announced that it would be placing travel restrictions on six additional countries. This presidential proclamation expands upon the administration’s 2017 “travel ban” to now include Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, and Tanzania. Executive Order 13780 will impose restrictions on immigrants from these countries traveling to the United States effective February 21, 2020. It should be noted that the scope of the restrictions is country specific. Non-immigrant visas, including student visas and H-1B worker visas are not expected to be restricted, however CGS is concerned about the consequences a policy of this nature creates. 

“While the U.S. must remain diligent in safeguarding national security, instituting a policy such as the expanded travel ban undoubtedly challenges our ability as a nation to provide a welcoming environment that embraces our international graduate student community,” said Suzanne T. Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools. “Talented individuals from across the globe are significant contributors to our country’s intellectual and economic success, and it is imperative that their contributions are recognized and valued. We should provide a stable and supportive environment, not one in which the goal posts may move in an untoward direction with little notice.”

According to CGS data, there were over 84,000 international first-time enrollees in graduate programs at CGS member institutions in Fall of 2018. CGS issued a statement in January 2017 in response to the White House’s issuance of the travel ban and in March 2017 following a revision to the Executive Order.

Many CGS member institutions are responding to events surrounding the recent Coronavirus outbreak, which may impact both international students coming to the U.S. as well as domestic students studying abroad. CGS members can find regularly updated information about the virus and travel precautions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of State. CGS members are also encouraged to engage in dialogue with other members on CGS’s Dean’s Discussion Board on this topic, where members can share what their campuses are doing to address challenges related to restricted travel and administering entrance exams, for example.

On January 28, CGS submitted comments to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in response to a Request for Information (RFI) regarding actions federal agencies can take to maximize the quality and effectiveness of the American research environment. CGS addressed several major themes related to graduate education that were outlined in the RFI, including research rigor and integrity, coordinating administrative requirements for research, research security, and safe and inclusive research environments.

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), an association of nearly 500 universities that grant graduate
degrees, recognizes that diversity, equity, access, and inclusion are critical to the excellence of graduate
education.

Supporting diversity and inclusion in graduate education is both an economic and a moral imperative.
For a nation to prosper, drive innovation, ensure sustainability and maximize impact, its universities
must draw from a broad pool of students with the ability, curiosity, and motivation to complete a
graduate degree. In the United States, as in many countries, the progress we are making toward this
goal is steady, but slow. In order to accelerate progress, universities, funding bodies, and policymakers
must work together to develop policies and practices that help attract, retain, and support the success
of all students, and especially those from populations historically underrepresented in graduate
education.

As we pursue this goal, it is important to recognize that opportunities to learn and work in diverse
environments are essential to the preparation of all students. As countries and economies become
increasingly connected, it is imperative that all students have an equitable opportunity to think,
communicate, and collaborate both locally and globally. Given the compelling evidence that diverse
teams produce better innovations and results,¹ diverse communities will be best positioned to solve
problems of local and global scope.

Excellence depends on not only access, but the creation of communities that are inclusive – valuing
difference and promoting a sense of belonging. Toward this end, graduate schools and graduate
programs must clearly state their commitments to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion,
making it clear that these values support the achievement and engagement of all students. Graduate
programs, graduate schools, and the universities of which they are a part must closely examine evidence
of what is measured, valued, and rewarded. Along with funders of graduate education, they must also
invest time and resources in better understanding the policies and practices that favor diversity and
inclusion.

By upholding these four broad principles—diversity, equity, access, and inclusion—all graduate
students, as well as their programs, communities, and nations stand to benefit.

On December 19, the Senate passed a pair of spending bills that cleared the House of Representatives two days prior. Totaling approximately $1.4 trillion, the bills are the result of negotiations between House and Senate leadership at the cusp of an impending continuing resolution (CR) deadline. The current CR expires on December 20, giving President Trump a narrow window to sign the spending deal into law. H.R. 1865, which encompasses eight of the twelve appropriations bills, provides funding for major domestic programs, including higher education, research, and scholarship. Its counterpart, H.R. 1158, includes support for other programs and agencies of interest, particularly with regard to federal research funding streams.

“CGS commends both the House and Senate for reaching this agreement, which would not have been possible without bipartisan efforts in both chambers of Congress. The proposed increases for student financial aid for both graduate and undergraduate students is paramount. Equally critical are the increases to several agencies that provide funding for research conducted at our member institutions.” said Suzanne T. Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools.

Visit CGS’s FY 2020 Appropriations Funding Chart to view proposed levels for individual programs. Please note this is updated as information becomes available. Subscribe to CGS’s Washington Insights & Highlights to receive more information about this and other pressing issues.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

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

Washington, DC – The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) Board of Directors has announced its officers for the 2020 term. CGS is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors drawn from member institutions. Board members serve for set terms.

Dr. Sally Pratt, vice provost for graduate programs at the University of Southern California, was announced as the 2020 Board Chair at the conclusion of the 2019 CGS Annual Meeting. Appointed vice provost in 2010, Pratt is also a professor in the department of Slavic languages and literatures. She has served as dean of Academic Programs in USC Dornsife College and president of the College Faculty Council and the Academic Senate. Under Pratt’s leadership, a system of PhD Program Progress Data was implemented, and she established a group called Friends of the Graduate School comprised of representatives from academic departments, financial aid, campus security, health services, and other offices. She is interested in a variety of topics, including student wellness, increasing diversity in graduate study, academic professional development, ways of addressing sexual misconduct, and the nature and use of the PhD degree.

“CGS is honored to have Dr. Pratt’s expertise during this important time in graduate education. She has provided exceptional leadership during her tenure at USC and her expertise, particularly in PhD career pathways and student mental health and wellbeing, will help advance CGS’ mission to meet the evolving needs of our member institutions,” said CGS President Suzanne T. Ortega.

The new Chair-elect, Dr. Andrew G. Campbell serves as the dean of the Graduate School at Brown University. Appointed to his role in 2016, Campbell is also professor of Medical Science in the Division of Biology & Medicine at Brown. He has taught and advised Brown undergraduate and graduate students since his faculty appointment began in 1994. He has received many honors, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, American Foundations for AIDS Research Investigator Award, and Brown’s Presidential Award for Excellence in Faculty Governance. Campbell is PI and Co-PI for two National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and leads the NIH-funded Initiative to Maximize Student Development in Brown’s Division of Biology and Medicine, a program to improve recruiting and performance of URM students in doctoral programs.

Beginning their three-year terms on the board on January 1, 2020, are Dr. Suzanne Barbour, dean of The Graduate School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. H. Dele Davies, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean for graduate studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; and Dr. Thomas Jeitschko, dean of the Graduate School and associate provost for graduate education at Michigan State University.

Dr. Christopher Sindt, provost and dean of the Graduate School at Lewis University, will remain on CGS’s Executive Committee for one year as immediate past chair.

“Dr. Sindt has provided exceptional leadership during his term as CGS Board Chair,” Ortega said. “He has contributed greatly to the success of graduate students at his own institution and to graduate education more broadly in his efforts to improve career and professional development and student success.”

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Barbara A. Knuth Receives Debra W. Stewart Award for Outstanding Leadership in Graduate Education

The Board of Directors of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has announced that Dr. Barbara A. Knuth, dean of The Graduate School at Cornell University, is the 2019 recipient of the Debra W. Stewart Award for Outstanding Leadership in Graduate Education.

Judith Stoddart Wins Assistant and Associate Deans Leadership Award

The Board of Directors of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has announced that Dr. Judith Stoddart, senior associate dean, The Graduate School at Michigan State University (MSU), is the 2019 Winner of the Assistant and Associate Deans Leadership Award.

Wayne State University Receives ETS/CGS Award for Innovation in Promoting Success in Graduate Education

Today the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and Educational Testing Service (ETS) presented Wayne State University (WSU) with the 2019 ETS/CGS Award for Innovation in Promoting Success in Graduate Education: From Admission through Completion. Dr. Ingrid Guerra-Lopez, dean of the Graduate School, accepted the co-sponsored award on Wayne State’s behalf during the award ceremony at CGS’s 59^th Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN.

Nasser Mufti Receives 2019 Arlt Award in the Humanities

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has awarded the 2019 Gustave O. Arlt Award in the Humanities to Dr. Nasser Mufti, associate professor of English at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Winners of 2019 CGS/ProQuest® Distinguished Dissertation Awards Announced

The Council of Graduate Schools / ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards, the nation’s most prestigious honors for doctoral dissertations, were presented to Kishauna E. Soljour and Brian M. Sweis during the Council’s award ceremony at the 59th Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN. Dr. Soljour received her PhD in May 2019 at Syracuse University in history, and Dr. Sweis completed his PhD in 2018 from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in neuroscience.