Graduate Education 2020 was launched in 2006 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the CGS/GRE Enrollment and Degrees Survey. The program supports a major international conversation, to evolve over a decade, on the future of graduate education. An annual symposium conducted in concurrence with the CGS meeting in December each year brings in leading thinkers and strategists with expertise on topics including demographics, global trends in higher education, the economy, technology, and social transformation. Please see below for CGS publications on the project.

 

Graduate Education 2020 Publications

 

Graduate Education 2020 (2009)

The Graduate Education 2020 symposium series, a partnership between CGS and ETS, promotes strategic reflection on trends that promise to shape the future of graduate education. This first volume includes a framing essay by CGS staff and contributions on a range of topics from three speakers at the 2006 and 2007 CGS "Graduate Education 2020" symposia: Anthony Carnevale, Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, and Chris Dede.

 

Graduate Students in 2020: New Perspectives (PDF) (CGS Communicator, July 2006, Volume 39, Number 6)

 

Graduate Education 2020: CGS Launches Annual Research Symposium on the Future of Graduate Education (PDF) (CGS Communicator, January/February 2006, Volume 39,  Number 1)

The Council of Graduate Schools provides benchmarking and consultation services to assist member and nonmember institutions, boards, and state agencies in making strategic decisions about the administration of graduate education. CGS’ benchmarking and consultation services draw upon its deep best practice and benchmarking research as well as the insights of experienced graduate deans from around the country.

 

Prior benchmarking and consultation services have addressed such topics as: 

• Effective organization of the graduate school
• Building an inclusive graduate community
• Administration of graduate fellowship and assistantship programs
• Organizing effective program review systems
• Graduate enrollment and degrees at peer institutions
• New graduate program development
• Preparing for and responding to accreditation
• Integrating research administration with the graduate school
• Developing responsible conduct of research guidelines
• Organizing efficient graduate admissions process
• Ph.D. completion and attrition management
• Preparing Future Faculty

 

Strategic Consultation

To help institutions gain expert recommendations about structure, staffing, operations, or programs, CGS arranges for a one to three person review team to develop detailed recommendations in response to a particular charge. The reviewers are experts in the consultation topic and have experience in institutions that are peers of the requesting institution.  The findings and recommendations are based upon background material provided by the client and interviews undertaken during the on-site visit and are delivered as a written report.

 

Strategic Benchmarking

To help institutions compare aspects of graduate education on their campus to other institutions, CGS provides customized benchmarking data to inform strategic decision-making processes. Using in-house best practice and benchmarking data sources, as well as national surveys and comprehensive datasets, CGS provides the client with a written report which includes data tables, charts, etc., as appropriate, in response to a particular charge.  

 

For more information on strategic benchmarking, please contact Jeff Allum, Director of Research and Policy Analysis at (202) 223-3791.

 

The benchmarking and consultation services fee schedule is as follows:

 

	Member Rate	Non-Member Rate
Consultation Fees
Per consultant, including report	$1,250/day on site	$2,000/day on site
Travel/meals/accommodations	Actual expenses	Actual expenses
Administrative fees	$2,000	$5,000
Benchmarking Fees
Hourly rates	$200/hour	$400/hour
Data retrieval costs	Actual expenses	Actual expenses

 

 

Letters and statements from the 114th Congress

Letter to the Education Department on New Experimental Sites (07/19/2016)

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) sent a letter to the Department of Education (ED) offering suggestions for the agency to consider before ED unveils a pilot program that would let colleges and universities experiment with requiring additional loan counseling beyond what is already mandated by federal law. In the letter, CGS encouraged ED to consider the unique financial information needs of master’s and doctoral students when making awards to experimental sites.

 

Letter to House Education and the Workforce Committee Concerning H.R. 3179 (06/21/2016)

On June 21, CGS President Suzanne Ortega sent a letter to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding H.R.3179, the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act. The letter emphasizes that while CGS appreciates the Committee’s interest in helping students and families make informed decisions regarding financing their education, policymakers should also consider the unique financial information needs of master’s and doctoral students, as have different financial needs and circumstances than those of undergraduates.

 

Comments Sent to CFPB on Student Loan Payback Playbooks (06/03/2016)

On June 3, CGS  submitted comments and feedback to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regarding the agency’s Student Loan Payback Playbooks, a digital tool designed to assist borrowers better understand available repayment options for paying off student debt. CGS urged the Bureau to be mindful of the information needs of graduate borrowers, which may be different from those of undergraduate borrowers, and offered modifications to the tool to better serve graduate students.

 

Letter Sent to Treasury Department Supporting Financial Education (05/11/2016)

On May 11, CGS sent a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department in response to the agency’s feedback solicitation on its national strategy to promote financial success. The Financial Literary and Education Commission is updating the national strategy document, which was last updated in 2011. In the response, CGS highlighted the Enhancing Student Financial Education project and encouraged the Commission to consider graduate schools as a part of broader financial education infrastructure.

 

Response to Department of Education’s Comment Request on IPEDS Modifications (04/08/2016)

On April 8, CGS sent a letter in response to the Department of Education’s request for comments regarding changes to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). CGS encouraged the Department to disaggregate enrollment data of graduate students by degree objectives (e.g., master’s degree, doctor’s degree-research/scholarship, etc.). Having such data available would offer more meaningful insight into the state of graduate education in the U.S.

Community Letter to the Departments of Treasury, Labor and Health & Human Services (9/6/2016)

CGS joined six other higher education associations on a letter to the Departments of Treasury, Labor and Health & Human Services regarding graduate students SHIPs. The letter follows up on a letter sent earlier this summer by 17 senators.  It urges the departments to issue guidance that will allow universities to continue to provide subsidized health insurance coverage to graduate students.

 

Community Letter to Senator Richard Burr, R-NC (5/12/2016)

On May 12, the Council of Graduate Schools signed onto a community letter endorsing S. 2869, the Boost Savings for College Act, which would expand 529 education savings accounts by offering a saver’s tax credit for annual contributions by low- and moderate-income families. Specifically, the bill would provide tax credits of up to $1,000 for 529 plan contributions by an individual earning less than $30,750, and up to $2,000 for a couple earning less than $61,500. The proposal also would provide a tax credit for employers of up to $1,000 to cover matching contributions to a 529 plan for an employee or his spouse or child. The letter was sent to the bill’s sponsors, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).

 

Community Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee (4/16/2016)
On April 16, CGS signed onto a community letter sent to both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees regarding Pell funding in the FY17 appropriations process. The letter expressed opposition to any effort to use funding taken from the Pell Grant Program for any other purpose in the FY 2017 education spending bill under consideration by the subcommittees.

 

Community Letter to Congress (3/21/2016)

On March 21, 2016 the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), of which CGS is a member, sent a letter Congress recommending $8 billion for federal funding in Fiscal Year 2017 for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The letter also requests that Congress allow the NSF to support research across all science and engineering disciplines, to use its world-renowned peer review system to identify the best science, and to maintain flexibility to take advantage of unanticipated discoveries and insights.

 

Letter Sent to Senate Supporting America COMPETES Reauthorization (10/8/2015)

On October 8, 2015, CGS President Dr. Suzanne Ortega sent comments to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s innovation and competitiveness working group offering suggestions on how the federal government can best build a STEM workforce. The working group is requesting stakeholder input as the Committee looks to reauthorize the America COMPETES law which is one of the federal government’s most critical investments in STEM education and innovation.

 

Letter in Support of America COMPETES Reauthorization (8/21/2015)

On August 21, 2015, CGS President Dr. Suzanne Ortega sent comments on current federal research and development (R&D) policy priorities to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s innovation and competitiveness working group. The working group is requesting stakeholder input as the Committee looks to reauthorize the America COMPETES law which is one of the federal government’s most critical investments in STEM education and innovation. 

 

Comments to the Department of Education on Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Income-based Repayment Program (8/7/2015)

CGS submitted comments to the Department regarding the proposed changes to the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) income-based repayment program, referred to as Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE). As background, the negotiated rulemaking panel reached consensus in April on REPAYE and the public comment period closed on August 10, 2015. CGS expressed concerns that the final proposal may result in increasing the debt burden of graduate student borrowers, not based on any factor other than pursuit of an advanced degree. This is yet another example of a policy that creates an artificial distinction between undergraduate and graduate students, and has the potential to increase graduate student debt. CGS comments submitted were based on CGS’ original concerns when the rule was first proposed.

 

Response to Senate HELP Committee Hearing, Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: The Role of Consumer Information in College Choice (5/12/2015)

On May 12, CGS President Dr. Suzanne Ortega sent a letter to the Senate HELP Committee calling to their attention the CGS developed online resource, GradSense.org. During a hearing on this issue, the need for a debt-to-income tool similar to GradSense.org was mentioned.

 

Response to Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander’s HEA Whitepapers (4/29/2015)

On April 29, 2015, CGS President Dr. Suzanne Ortega sent comments to the Committee in response to the whitepaper titled, Risk Sharing: Concepts and Proposals. CGS called for focusing on incentives to implement best practices, rather than on penalties.  

 

Welcome Letter to 114th Congress (1/29/2015)

 

Community Letter to House & Senate in Support of Perkins Loan Program (11/20/2015)

On November 20, CGS signed onto a community letter along with 53 higher education organizations and 535 institutions of higher education to Senate and House Leadership Offices, as well as the Appropriations Committees. The letter urged Congressional leaders to support a one-year extension of the Perkins Loan Program. The program, which makes low-cost loans available to college students with demonstrated financial need, is strongly supported across the full continuum of American higher education sectors.

 

Community Letter to Department of Homeland Security (11/18/2015)

On November 18, CGS, along with 11 education associations, signed onto a community letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offering comments to the proposed regulation amending its F-1 nonimmigrant student visa regulations on optional practical training (OPT) for certain students with degrees in STEM fields from U.S. institutions of higher education.

 

Community Letter to House & Senate Appropriations Committees in Support of FY2016 Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill (11/16/2015)
On November 16, CGS signed onto a community letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting that the Committees include higher education policy provisions within the FY2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bills. The letter mentions that both Committees previously passed legislation which included language prohibiting the Department of Education from taking any further action in FY2016 on several regulatory efforts. The higher education community prefers that any action taken on these issues be done through the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA).

 

CGS Joins Amicus Brief on University of Texas-Austin's Case for Affirmative Action Admissions Practices (11/02/2015)
For the second time, the higher education community has filed an amicus brief supporting diversity in a landmark case before the Supreme Court of the United States.

 

Community Letter to Senate in Support of Perkins Loan Program (9/28/2015)

On September 28, CGS signed onto a community letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions encouraging the Committee to consider legislation extending the Perkins Loans Program which is set to expire on October 1, 2015. The letter suggested the Committee put forward a bill similar to pending legislation in the House of Representatives that would extend the program’s authority for one year, which would provide policymakers additional time to evaluate student federal financial aid programs.

 

Community Letter to House in Support of Perkins Loan Program (9/28/2015)

On September 28, CGS signed onto a community letter to the House of Representatives in support of H.R. 3594, a measure that would extend the Perkins Loan Program authority for one year. The program is set to expire on October 1, 2015. Additionally, the legislation extends authority for the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) and the Student Financial Aid Advisory Committee.

 

Community Comment Letter to the Department of Labor (9/4/2015)

On September 4, CGS along with16 higher education organizations submitted comments to the Department of Labor in response to recent proposed changes to overtime pay requirements for certain "white collar" employees, including postdocs. The letter was led by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). CGS has concerns with the regulation, including whether postdocs would continue to be exempt employees under the new regulation.

 

Community Letter in Support of America COMPETES Reauthorization (8/12/2015)

On August 12, 2015 the Task Force on American Innovation (TFAI), of which CGS is a member, sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s innovation and competitiveness working group expressing support for federally funded research. The Senate working group requested stakeholder input as the Committee looks to reauthorize the America COMPETES law which is one of the federal government’s most critical investments in STEM education and innovation. 

 

Community Thank You Letter to Senate Finance Committee (7/22/2015)

CGS signed onto a community letter on July 22 to thank the Senate Finance Committee for including two year extensions of the above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses (tuition deduction) and the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Charitable Rollover in the final tax extenders package.

 

Community Letter in Support of Tax Extenders Package (7/17/2015)

CGS signed onto a community letter on July 17, encouraging policymakers to extend both the tuition deduction and IRA provisions which expired in 2014. A two year extension of the above-the-line tuition deduction would restore benefits to students and families, providing another tool to help reduce the cost of college. An extension of the IRA Charitable Rollover would provide colleges and universities with better predictability and a longer window of time to use this incentive to raise new or increased contributions at a time when private giving has becoming increasingly important to helping maintain access to higher education.

 

Community Letter to U.S. Congress Calling for Policies and Investments to Drive Innovation (7/16/2015)

CGS signed on to the community statement “Innovation: An American Imperative,” led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and released June 23, 2015. The statement, which included signatures of over 250 industry, science, and higher education organizations, is a call to action urging Congress to enact policies that make investments to ensure that the United States remains a global innovation leader.

 

Community Letter to U.S. House Appropriations Committee in Support of FY2016 Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill (6/23/2015)

On June 23, 2015, CGS signed onto a community letter to the House of Representative’s Appropriations Committee offering support for the FY2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill for its emphasis on higher education. The letter was delivered prior to the full Appropriations Committee consideration of the bill on June 24, 2015. Community concerns with the bill are mentioned as well, including the $4 million decrease in funding for the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program, one of the few remaining federal programs that assists graduate students. The letter requests the Committee increase funding for GAANN as budget negotiations continue.

 

Community Letter to U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees (5/19/2015)

On May 19, 2015 the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), of which CGS is a member, sent a letter to the Senate and House appropriators expressing concern with the House FY2016 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. The science community is concerned with the report language accompanying the bill which requires NSF to dedicate 70 percent of its funding to only four research directorates, forcing the agency to reduce over $250 million, 16 percent of the combined budget, from the remaining two directorates: Geosciences and the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. Such reductions would have a negative impact on the disciplinary and interdisciplinary research supported by these two directorates, impacting research as diverse as disaster prediction and recovery, prediction of extreme weather events, weak links in cybersecurity, children’s learning, and big data.

 

Community Letter to U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Working Group on Business Income Tax (4/15/2015)

On April 15, 2015 CGS joined a community letter lead by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) regarding the importance of the tax-exempt status of colleges and universities. Without this exemption, colleges and universities would be subject to taxes on gifts received.

 

Community Letter to U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce (2/23/2015)

On February 23, 2015 CGS joined a community letter that was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.R. 970, Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act. The legislation repeals three federal regulations that restrict choice and opportunity in higher education: the gainful employment regulation, the state authorization regulation, and the federal credit hour regulation. CGS heard from graduate deans that these three regulations could have a negative impact on the programs they offer.

 

Community Letter to Department of Education (2/2/2015)

On February 2, CGS along with 30 education associations, signed onto a community letter to the Department of Education offering comments to the proposed teacher preparation quality regulations. 

 

Letter to Sponsors of the Immigration Innovation Act of 2015 (1/22/2015)

On January 22, 2015 CGS joined a community letter organized by the American Council on Education and sent to the U.S. Senate in support of the Immigration Innovation Act of 2015 (“I-Squared bill”), recently introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT). The legislation increases the H-1B cap for temporary work visas for programmers, engineers, and high-skilled workers. It also lifts the existing cap on the advanced degree exemption.

 

Selected letters, statements, and testimony from the 113th Congress

 

Response to Census Bureau's Comment Request on ACS 'Field of Study' Proposed Data Collection (12/15/2014)

On December 15, CGS sent written comments in response to the Census Bureau’s Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; The American Community Survey Content Review Results. CGS urged the Department of Commerce to retain Person Question 12 (Undergraduate Field of Degree), where respondents are asked to provide specific major(s) of any bachelor’s degrees received by the person with the highest degree in each household.

 

Letter to Chairman Ryan (9/4/2014)
Response to discussion draft legislation titled "Expanding Opportunity in America" released by the House Budget Committee in July 2014.

 

The Council of Graduate Schools' comments on Senator Harkin's (D-IA) Higher Education Affordability Act discussion draft. (August 2014)

 

Testimony submitted by CGS for June 24, 2014 hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance (6/27/2014)

Information on graduate student finances, tuition remissions and waivers, student loan interest deductibiilty, and the Lifetime Learning Credit. Submitted for the Senate Committee on Finances' hearing, "Less Student Debt from the Start: What Role should the Tax System Play?”

 

Letter to Senator Alexander (6/12/2014)
Response to June 8, 2014 statement by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

 

Letter to Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Alexander (3/31/2014)
Response to the March 27, 2014 hearing, "Strengthening the Federal Student Loan Program for Borrowers," Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

 

CGS Statement on the 2014 State of the Union Address (1/31/2014)
The Council of Graduate Schools responds to the administration's higher education plans outlined in the annual address to the nation.

 

Welcome Letter to 113th Congress (1/22/2014)

 

CGS Comments on Policies and Amendments for Inclusion in the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (8/2/2013)

 

The Future of Graduate Education is the Future of America: A Call to Action (7/1/2013)
CGS developed a position statement amid debate on student loan interest rate policies in 2013. CGS continues working for a longer term solution that meets the needs of graduate student loan borrowers.

 

CGS Statement on the Supreme Court Ruling in Fisher v. UT Austin (6/26/2013)
The Council of Graduate Schools released the following statement in response to the ruling by the Supreme Court RE: Fisher v. UT Austin.

 

CGS Statement on the President's 2013 State of the Union Address (2/14/2013)
The Council of Graduate Schools responds to the administration's higher education plans outlined in the annual address to the nation.

 

Letter to Department of Commerce on ACS 'Field of Degree' Data Collection (12/16/2014)

On December 16th CGS signed onto a community letter in conjunction with twenty-five higher education associations in response to the Census Bureau’s Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; The American Community Survey Content Review Results (FR Doc. 2014-25912). The letter urges the Census Bureau to retain Person Question No. 12 (Undergraduate Field of Degree) in the American Community Survey (ACS).

 

Community Letter to Senate-Labor-HHS Committee (11/24/2014)
On November 24, CGS signed onto a community letter to the Senate Labor-H subcommittee staff regarding Pell funding in the FY15 appropriations process. The letter expressed opposition to any effort to use funding taken from the Pell Grant Program for any other purpose in the FY 2015 education spending bill under consideration by the subcommittee.

 

TFAI Letter to Congress on FY15 Appropriations (11/17/2014)
On November 17, CGS signed onto a community letter along with 132 national organizations, requesting Congress pass a full-year FY15 omnibus appropriations bill with strong funding for research and higher education to help close the innovation deficit.

 

Selected letters and statements from the 112th Congress

 

Office of Personnel Management Pathways Programs: Request for Comments (10/4/11)
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.

 

Statement on S.365, the Budget Control Act of 2011 (8/3/11)

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.

 

Statement on the proposed elimination of the in-school interest subsidy for graduate and professional students (7/28/11)
CGS and a number of other higher education stakeholders sent a statement to Congressional members highlighting the importance of retaining the in-school interest subsidy on federal Stafford loans for graduate and professional students. The subsidy's elimination is included in the debt ceiling increase measures proposed by both House Speaker Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Reid. The statement urges Congress to retain the subsidy.

 

Letter to Deficit Reduction Group Members (6/22/11)
CGS continues to work with a coalition of organizations to urge retention of the in-school interest subsidy on federal Stafford loans for needy graduate and professional students. The coalition sent a letter to the six Congressional Members of the deficit reduction group led by Vice President Biden.

 

Letter to Senate HELP Committee and House Education and The Workforce Committee Leadership (6/13/11)
A coalition of organizations, of which CGS is a member, sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the leaders of the House Education and The Workforce Committee urging them to retain the in-school interest subsidy on Federal Stafford loans for graduate and professional students as they negotiate FY 2012 funding legislation.

 

Letter to Senate and House Leadership (4/14/11)
A coalition of organizations, of which CGS is a member, sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging them to retain the in-school interest subsidy on Federal Stafford loans for graduate and professional students as they negotiate FY 2011 and FY 2012 funding legislation.

 

Letter to Senate and House Leaders re. Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations (2/24/11)
CGS sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging them to consider the important federal role in supporting graduate education as they work to complete final Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations legislation.

 

Statement on the Reauthorization of H.R. 5116, the “America COMPETES Act” (1/12/11)
CGS issued a statement applauding Congress and the President for their work in reauthorizing the America COMPETES Act. The bill, which contains several provisions that recognize the role that graduate education plays in our nation's ability to maintain a highly-skilled workforce, was signed into law on January 4, 2011.

 

Selected letters and statements from the 111th Congress

 

Letter to House Leadership re. America COMPETES Act Reauthorization (12/20/10)
CGS sent a letter to House leadership urging support for passage of the America COMPETES bill this week. The Senate passed an amended version of the bill last week.

 

Letter from the Higher Education Community re. Gainful Employment (9/9/10)
Letter from the higher education community responding to Dept. of Education's 7-26-10 set of proposed rules on "gainful employment" provisions.

 

Joint CGS-ETS Statement on Administration Goal re. College Completion (8/11/10)
CGS issued a joint statement with ETS applauding President Obama's call for the U.S. to have the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020, noting that pursuing this goal would greatly increase the number of Americans on a potential pathway to graduate school.

 

Letter from the Higher Education Community re. Program Integrity (8/2/10)
Letter from the higher education community responding to Dept. of Education's proposed rules on "program integrity" issues.

 

Office of Science and Technology Policy Grand Challenges of the 21st Century: Request for Information (4/13/10)
Response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy's Request for Information on responding to "grand challenges" of the 21st century.

 

Letter from the Higher Education Community re. Budget Reconciliation Bill (3/19/10)
Letter from the higher education community expressing support for the higher education provisions in the budget reconciliation bill under House consideration.

 

Letter from the Higher Education Community re. Income-Based Repayment (2/24/10)
Letter from the higher education community expressing support for the Administration's proposal to expand the Income-Based Repayment option for student loans.

 

CGS Statement on the President’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget proposal (2/4/10)
Statement on the President's Fiscal Year 2011 budget proposal.

 

Letter to House Education & Labor Committee Leadership re. Stafford Loan Subsidy (7/16/09)
Letter to leadership of House Education & Labor Committee, expressing concern about a legislative proposal to eliminate subsidized federal loans for graduate students.

 

Letter to Members of Congress re. National Academies Study (6/25/09)
Letter to four Members of Congress thanking them for requesting the National Academies undertake a study of research universities.

 

Letter to Senate Energy & Water Appropriators re. Re-ENERGYSE program (6/24/09)
Letter to Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee leaders urging them to provide Fiscal Year 2010 funding for the Deparment of Energy's proposed Re-ENERGYSE program. A similar letter was sent to the House.

 

Letter from Higher Education Community re. MSIs (6/19/09)
CGS signed onto a letter from the higher education community requesting continued funding for federal programs that support Minority-Serving Institutions. Letters were sent to Senate and House education and appropriations committee leadership.

 

Statement from Higher Education Community re. Visa concerns (6/10/09)
CGS was a signatory of a statement from the higher education, scientific, and medical communities on "Visa Problems Harming America’s Scientific, Economic, and Security Interests."

 

Letter to Senate and House Appropriators re. McNair Program funding (5/29/09)
Letter to Senate and House Appropriations LHHS Subcommittees urging them to increase Fiscal Year 2010 funding for the McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program.

 

Letter to Appropriators re. FY 10 GAANN and Javits funding (5/19/09)
Letter to Senate and House Appropriations leaders urging them to increase Fiscal Year 2010 funding for the GAANN and Javits Fellowships programs.

 

Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research Requirement: Request for Comment (3/31/09)
Comments submitted to the National Science Foundation on its new Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research requirement for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows supported by NSF grants.

 

Letter from stakeholders re. Roosevelt Scholars Act (2/18/09)
CGS signed onto a letter supporting the reintroduction of the Roosevelt Scholars Act, which would create scholarships for graduate students who commit to working for the federal government.

 

Letter to House and Senate conferees re. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2/11/09)
Letter to House and Senate conferees on the economic recovery legislation, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Writing for the Carpe Careers blog at Inside Higher Ed, senior research associate at Harvard Law School, Melanie Sinche, discusses the 'undeniable' need for comprehensive data on PhD career pathways. CGS's Best Practice project in this area is uniquely poised to address this need, Sinche notes.

Dear Members of the 113th Congress:

 

As you return for the second session of the 113th Congress, you will be considering a number of issues that are key to the future of American job growth, innovation and productivity. To meet these priorities, the U.S. will need to recognize the critical role of graduate education in producing the highly skilled individuals that fule innovation and top-level research activities. The U.S. cannot afford to lose its place as a producer of, and magnet for, top talent in today's global economy, especially as many countries compete to attract master's and doctoral degree holders.

 

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) represents over 500 universities and is the only national organization dedicated solely to the advancement of graduate education and research. CGS member institutions award more than 92 percent of all U.S. doctorates and nearly 80 percent of all U.S. master's degrees. The nation's graduate schools are the epicenters of discovery, innovation, and application, leading to advancements that affect every American. Every day graduate school faculty and students are conducting leading-edge research, creating and sharing knowledge, and teaching the next generation of our leaders, scholars, scientists, and professionals.

 

Among the many issues that may receive congressional consideration this year are the reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and America COMPETES, along with immigration reform. Each of these has implications for graduate students and graduate education. I urge you to consider the following issues:

 

• With respect to federal student loans, talented Americans must not be disadvantaged for pursuing graduate study. Because of recent congressional actions, graduate students are paying more for their student loans, a disparity that has been particularly hard-hitting for underrepresented minorities and master's degree students.
• With respect to America COMPETES, graduate students at all levels need broader career options and pathways to jobs in government, non-profit organizations and businesses. Six recent reports on graduate education reform support this goal and form the basis for suggested changes to the Twenty-First Century Graduate Education section in current law.
• Immigration reform is critical to ensuring that the U.S. can continue to attract top talent. Our economy would greatly benefit from allowing international students who have received advanced degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to earn green cards and work in jobs related to their fields of study.

 

Please take into account the needs of those obtaining master's degrees and doctoral degrees and the programs that support them as you work on legislation this year. Our research, data and best practices reports can be a resource for you as issues related to graduate education and research are considered over the coming months.

 

I would welcome an opportunity to discuss these and other issues affecting graduate education with you and your staff. Please do not hesitate to contact us at (202) 223-3791, we we look forward to working with you on these important issues.

 

Sincerely,

Debra W. Stewart

Testimony submitted by CGS for June 24, 2014 hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance (6/27/2014)

Information on graduate student finances, tuition remissions and waivers, student loan interest deductibiilty, and the Lifetime Learning Credit. Submitted for the Senate Committee on Finances' hearing, "Less Student Debt from the Start: What Role should the Tax System Play?”

 

 

2013 Annual Meeting Program

Selected PowerPoint presentations from the 2013 CGS 53rd Annual Meeting are below. Presentations are in chronological order by each category. Presentations are offered as Adobe Acrobat PDF files. The file size is indicated after the name of each presenter.

 

Pre-Meeting Workshop Presentations

 

Fundraising as a Critical Instrument for Improving Graduate Education
Steven Matson (766 KB)
Lisa Tedesco and Katie Busch (1.25 MB)

 

Assessment and Review of Graduate Programs-Doctoral
Nancy Busch (161 KB)
Barbara Knuth (1.62 MB)
Henning Schroeder (474 KB)

 

Assessment and Review of Graduate Programs-Master's
Robert Augustine (4.40 MB)
Maria Di Stefano (1.40 MB)
Susan Pocotte (745 KB)

 

Technology Solutions for Tracking Student Progress
Nancy Marcus (910 KB)
William Russel (860 KB)

 

Engaging Social Medial to Improve Graduate School Services
Karen DePauw (1.70 MB)
Karen Klomparens (694 KB)

 

Addressing Challenging Graduate Student Situations: Comprehensive Approaches and Techniques
Lee Bird and Sheryl Tucker (722 KB)

 

Legal Issues
Daniel Park (978 KB)

 

Fostering Career and Professional Development: Mentoring Across the Student, Faculty, and Institutional Divides
Henry Campa and Judith Stoddart (722 KB)

 

Graduate School's Role in Financial Aid
Charles Caramello (4.67 MB)
Paul Gemperline (120 KB)
Carol Hartupee (1.26 MB)

 

Achieving Diversity, Inclusiveness, and Excellence: Approaches that Work
Alycia Mosley-Austin (1 MB)
 

Advocating on Behalf of Graduate Education
Maureen Grasso (795 KB)
Julie Shroyer (1.19 MB)
Pamela Stacks (95 KB)

 

Concurrent Sessions Presentations

 

Supporting Inclusiveness in Graduate Education
Brenda McComb (534 KB)
Lisa Tedesco (164 KB)

 

The Professional Science Master's: Retrospective and Prospective
Carol Lynch, James Sterling and David King (877 KB)

 

Structuring Interdisciplinary Programs
Maura Borrego (725 KB)
Jeffery Gibeling (1.05 MB)
Vivek Venkatesh (819 MB)

 

Challenges of Innovation in Doctoral Education
David Olan (90 KB)

 

Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Graduate Schools: Guidance on How ACA's Employer Mandate and Reporting Provisions Impact Your School
Charles Hinkle (815 KB)

 

Marketing Master's Programs in Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions
Gerardo Gonzalez (996 KB)
Kathleen Kitto (2.92 MB)
Amanda Thomas (425 MB)

 

Increasing the Success of Underrepresented STEM PhD Students
Karen Butler-Purry (502 KB)
Frances Leslie (760 KB)
Lakshmi Reddi (559 KB)
Peter Weber (165 KB)

 

Transforming the EdD: Making it the Degree of Choice for Professional Practitioners
Jill A. Perry (4.73 MB)

 

Streamlining Administrative Functions at Master's Institutions
Jennifer Keane-Dawes (510 KB)
Gerald Pogatshnik (146 KB)

 

The Future of U.S. Science and Engineering: Graduate Education for Tomorrow
Charles Taber (350 KB)

 

Completion and Attrition in STEM Master's Programs
R. William Ayres and Jerry Weinberg (693 KB)

 

Recent Studies on Career Outcomes for Graduate Students
Lesley Wilson (347 KB)

 

Preparing Graduate Students to Assess Student Learning
Laura Chesak (491 KB)
Christopher Kello (779 KB)

 

Plenary Sessions Presentation

 

Social Networking: Its Power and Limitations for Serving Graduate Education
James Fowler (3.8 MB)

 

Sponsored Breakfast Presentation

 

Presentation from Educational Testing Service Breakfast
David Payne and Eileen Tyson (1.41 MB)

 

Tax Reform

• CGS Tax Reform Scenarios
• Policy Related Facts: Tuition and Fees

 

Student Financial Assistance & Student Debt

• Master's Degree Requirements and the U.S. Workforce
• Important Differences Among Master's, Doctoral and Professional Degree Recipients
• Grad PLUS Loan Information
• Graduate Debt Fact Sheet
• Understanding Graduate Student Debt
• Graduate Debt Q&A (login required)

General Advocacy Tools (login required)
Materials members can customize to develop basic advocacy strategies.

 

Issue Briefs
More information regarding CGS positions on public policy issues relevant to graduate education and research.

 

State Snapshots: Select Data on Graduate Education
Fact sheets with state-specific data that can be used to talk with policymakers and constituents about the scope and impact of graduate education in each state.

 

Making the Case For...
These are CGS resource materials that are used in meetings with policy makers. The information can be used to develop talking points that include specific campus-based examples for stakeholder meetings.

 

Presentation Slides on Graduate Education Statistics (login required)
Slides that contain information on graduate education prepared for use in presentations to a wide variety of audiences.

CGS members have access to a special online report, Graduate Enrollment and Degrees by Fine Field: 2003 to 2013.

 

This report includes data tables on first-time and total graduate enrollment data by field of study (chemistry, history, philosophy, etc.), gender, citizenship, and race/ethnicity, and also includes, for the first time, data on graduate degrees awarded by field of study, degree level (master's vs. doctoral), and gender.

 

Data for 2013 are presented, along with one-, five-, and ten-year trends.

 

You must be logged in to access the report online.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Jeff Allum