Council of Graduate Schools

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The Council of Graduate Schools would like to congratulate President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance on their election win. CGS and our membership of over 400 graduate schools look forward to working with the new administration to advance graduate education and research in the United States. U.S. graduate education is an important reason for the overall success of the nation’s economic growth, the strength of our workforce, and the dynamism of our scientific research enterprise. Graduate schools are not only places where cutting-edge scientific research is conducted by domestic and international students; they are also places where master’s and doctoral students are educated and trained to become essential and contributing members of the American workforce. In the coming weeks, CGS will be sending our transition document that outlines the goals and priorities of our member institutions and what policies can help improve access to graduate education. CGS looks forward to connecting with the Trump transition team and the new administration to discuss these policy priorities. Together, we can strengthen our workforce pipeline and our nation by supporting a graduate education system that is accessible to prospective and current students. Read the full statement: https://lnkd.in/eJBCcbsd

Happy Monday! Here are three things you need to know about higher education happenings in Washington: ⭐ Department of Education Awards $19 Million to Hispanic Serving Institutions U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona joined President Biden to celebrate Executive Order 14214, which launches the first White House Initiative on advancing educational equity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). They announced nearly $19 million in funding for five HSIs as part of a larger $49 million investment in research infrastructure for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). This initiative aims to enhance research capacity and promote diversity in higher education, ensuring these institutions are competitive in innovation and student success. Link: https://lnkd.in/gVZhtEAy ⭐ NSF Names New I-Corp Hubs The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the addition of three new NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) Hubs to enhance the National Innovation Network (NIN), which aims to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into societal and economic benefits. Each Hub is eligible to receive up to $3 million annually for five years and includes alliances of at least eight universities, bringing the total to 13 Hubs across 48 states. The I-Corps Hubs provide experiential entrepreneurial training to researchers, fostering innovation and commercial potential in science and engineering, ultimately supporting job creation and economic growth. Link: https://lnkd.in/gyFC5tZu ⭐ Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship The U.S. Department of Education has issued a notice inviting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program. The Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program provides opportunities for doctoral students to engage in dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to contribute to the development and improvement of the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United States. Applications are due January 15, 2025. Link: https://lnkd.in/gcyd7ypq CGS members can sign up for Washington Insights and Highlights, our full, member-exclusive newsletter, here: https://bit.ly/3LLeMIs

The Graduate School at Hood College is #hoodproud of our IT master’s student Prashanthi Akuthota who was highlighted in the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) national publication. Read about Prashanthi’s experience as an international student studying at Hood College! https://lnkd.in/gZUetsYQ #hoodproud #internationalstudents #CGS

Happy Tuesday! Here are three things you need to know about higher education happenings in Washington: 🔹 Biden Administration Approach to Harnessing Artificial Intelligence The Biden administration has issued the first National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing its significant implications for national security and foreign policy. The NSM aims to ensure that the U.S. leads in the development of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI, while also utilizing these technologies to enhance national security efforts and promote democratic values. Fact Sheet: https://lnkd.in/eNG56Y_G 🔹 Biden Administration Proposes Debt Relief for Borrowers Experiencing Hardship The U.S. Department of Education has released proposed rules aimed at providing student debt relief to approximately 8 million borrowers facing financial hardships including for medical costs, childcare, or natural disasters. If finalized, these rules would allow the Secretary of Education to waive the entire outstanding balance of eligible individuals. The proposal outlines two pathways for relief: one that grants automatic forgiveness based on predictive assessments of default risk, and another that requires a holistic application process for borrowers to demonstrate their hardships. Once the regulations are published, the public will have 30 days to issue comments. Link: https://lnkd.in/ezuEKJrh 🔹 Applications for Department of Energy's Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Program The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is now accepting applications for the Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) program, which offers a $45,000 annual stipend to U.S. students pursuing doctoral degrees in fields that utilize high-performance computing to tackle complex scientific and engineering challenges. CSGF supports a diverse range of disciplines, including applied mathematics, computer science, and computational science, with a focus on the application of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. In addition to the stipend, fellows receive full tuition coverage, an annual academic allowance, and a three-month practicum at a DOE laboratory. Applications are due by January 16, 2025. Link: https://lnkd.in/e9sXhHTT CGS members can sign up for Washington Insights and Highlights, our full, member-exclusive newsletter, here: https://bit.ly/3LLeMIs

🎥 Enrollment Trends for Leadership in Graduate Education 🗓 October 30th ⏰ 2 - 3:00 p.m. ET In collaboration with the Council of Graduate Schools, this panel discussion offers the opportunity to learn the latest trends and best practices for strategic graduate enrollment management. Designed for all graduate education leaders interested in understanding key aspects of today's enrollment landscape and actionable takeaways for their institutions, this webinar will cover topics such as: Featuring: 🗣 Stephen Taylor 🗣 Julie Masterson, Ph.D. 🗣 Kenneth Games, Ph.D. 🗣 Dr. Ericka Covington, D.B.A. Register today ⤵️ https://hubs.ly/Q02VHFWW0

Congratulations! Very well deserved.

Happy Tuesday! Here are three things you need to know about higher education happenings in Washington: ⭐ DHS Issues Public Notice on Work Authorization for F-1 Visa Students from Lebanon The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced measures to provide temporary immigration relief for eligible Lebanese nationals in the U.S., including a new 18-month Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation due to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. Provisions of the notice include allowing eligible Lebanese F-1 nonimmigrant students to work more hours and reduce their course load while maintaining their status. The notice covers eligible students from July 26, 2024, to January 25, 2026. Additionally, DHS is facilitating Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for Lebanese nationals covered by President Biden's earlier Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) grant. Federal Notice: https://lnkd.in/egvph8qg DHS Press Release: https://lnkd.in/eQ9r2Zv9 ⭐NIH Releases Final Scientific Integrity Policy The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is issuing a final NIH Scientific Integrity Policy to promote a continuing culture of scientific integrity at the biomedical research agency. This policy codifies NIH’s longstanding expectations to preserve scientific integrity throughout all NIH activities, establishes key roles and responsibilities for those who will lead the agency’s scientific integrity program, and, as appropriate, establishes relevant reporting, communicating, managing and evaluation mechanisms. The final policy goes into effect on December 30, 2024. Link: 2024-24225.pdf (govinfo.gov) ⭐Higher Education Sends Letter to Congress on the NDAA Recently, CGS and other higher education associations sent a letter to Congress addressing the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The letter expresses concern over Section 220, which could restrict research grants for institutions that violate civil rights laws, arguing that it duplicates existing regulations and may weaken Title VI enforcement by the U.S. Department of Education. The letter also urges the removal of Sections 225, 226, and 1077, as these could impose unnecessary restrictions on international collaborations, potentially hindering research initiatives. Link to letter: https://lnkd.in/eDRtyYu5 CGS members can sign up for Washington Insights and Highlights, our full, member-exclusive newsletter, here: https://bit.ly/3LLeMIs

With Suzanne Ortega at the 2024 Strategic Leaders Global Summit Transdisciplinary & Transnational Research to Solve Global Grand Challenges Council of Graduate Schools Consejo Mexicano de Estudios de Posgrado COMEPO

As we conclude #HispanicHeritageMonth, it's essential to recognize the accomplishments of Hispanic and Latine graduate-educated individuals, but also to name the barriers that many Hispanic and Latine people face to getting there. CGS's 2023 Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Report (available at https://lnkd.in/etXP2pn6) found that between Fall 2021 and Fall 2022, first-time graduate enrollment decreased by 5.7% for Latine students. Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) are a vital pathway to graduate education, but institutions of all types have a role to play. In order to ensure that Latine students reap the benefits of a graduate education - and that their communities experience the insights they offer - it is crucial to re-examine the traditional student pipeline and identify areas where Latine students are not being supported. In a 2020 report spearheaded by then-Dean-in-Residence JoAnn Canales, CGS identified seven broad categories to help close this gap. These categories, as well as diagnostic tools and an implementation plan, are available on the CGS website: https://lnkd.in/ef8Rrw4N