Council of Graduate Schools

Our New Deans Institute and Summer Workshop will be held in Boston, Massachusetts this year, and early bird registration is now available through April 30! We have a great line-up of speakers for our plenary sessions, which we'll be introducing over the next week. Our first plenary speaker is Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Director of the Center for Technological Responsibility, Reimagination, and Redesign (CNTR) with the Data Science Institute at Brown University. He previously served as Assistant Director for Science and Justice in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he helped co-author the Blueprint for an AI BIll of Rights (https://lnkd.in/dnuanAnJ). Dr. Venkatasubramanian will be speaking on Graduate Education and the Promises of AI. His talk will cover the challenges and opportunities that AI poses for graduate education and research, as well as how it provides exciting new opportunities in research, pedagogy, and career preparation. Space is limited - register today! ➡ https://lnkd.in/eDqSF_bX

Happy Tuesday! Here are four things you need to know about higher education happenings in Washington: ⭐Department of Energy Hosts Monthly Fall Office Hours The Department of Energy’s Office of Science will hold a monthly virtual office hour starting in September to provide program information and answer questions, open to researchers and research administrators from all institutions. These sessions, scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month from 2:00-3:00 p.m. (ET), will include a brief presentation on a monthly topic followed by a Q&A, and a breakout session by program office. Link: https://lnkd.in/gBTMZ_8d ⭐NSF Requests Information on Merit Review Process The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests feedback from individuals and organizations on its Merit Review criteria, policies, and processes to inform an upcoming review. Responses are requested by September 18, 2024, to help improve the clarity and effectiveness of the NSF's merit review system and ensure it meets statutory goals and supports diverse research contributions. Link: https://lnkd.in/gjYrvbxf ⭐NSF Requests Feedback on Incorporating Research Ethics into Merit Review Process The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to gather input on incorporating ethical, social, safety, and security considerations into its merit review process, as directed by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. Feedback is sought from various stakeholders, including educational institutions, to help develop strategies for mitigating potential harms and enhancing the societal benefits of scientific research. Responses are requested by November 15, 2024. Link: https://lnkd.in/g72sh4Dt ⭐Department of Education Announces Beta Testing of Upcoming 2025-26 FASFA The U.S. Department of Education has released a framework for beta testing the 2025–26 FAFSA form, starting October 1, 2024, before the form's full release by December 1, 2024. The beta tests will involve community-based organizations, high schools, and colleges to identify and resolve potential issues. Link: https://lnkd.in/gNg5Vt3y CGS members can sign up for Washington Insights and Highlights, our full, member-exclusive newsletter, here: https://bit.ly/3LLeMIs

Many PhD recipients today do not go on to tenure-track positions, but rather pursue a variety of career paths outside of academia and in a wide range of sectors, including industry, non-profits, and governmental agencies. But how best to prepare PhD students for these diverse careers? At Boston University, #IGEHub awardees Sara Hokanson and Sasha Goldman are working to develop a competency-based microcredentialing program, incentivized through earnable digital badges. Their latest paper, published in Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, finds that tying a digital badging system to a competency-based professional development program significantly motivates PhD students to set professional development goals and invest time in building skills. Read the paper here: https://bit.ly/3T89BpN Learn more about their IGE grant: https://bit.ly/3ACXESS The #IGEHub is generously supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Happy Monday! Here are four things you need to know about higher education happenings in Washington: ⭐NEH Requests Nominations for National Humanities Medal The National Endowment for the Humanities is now requesting nominations for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the humanities that enrich public understanding and appreciation of history, literature, and cultural heritage. Nominations for the National Humanities Medal can be submitted before September 13, 2024. Link: https://bit.ly/3A5npe3 ⭐NIFA Announces $10.6 Million Investment in AFRI Predoctoral Fellowships In July, NIFA announced an investment of $10.6 million in Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Predoctoral Fellowships to help new scientists and professionals enter research, education, and/or extension fields within the food and agricultural sciences sector. NIFA is particularly focused on sustainable agricultural intensification, agricultural climate adaptation, food and nutrition translation, value-added innovation, and agricultural science policy leadership. Link: https://bit.ly/3LXV5Ni ⭐Department of Education Emails Borrowers About Possible Future Debt Relief The Biden Administration began notifying federal student loan borrowers about potential debt relief, with a deadline to opt out by August 30. The final rules, still pending, could have provided relief to over 30 million borrowers, targeting those with growing balances, those who have attended low-value programs, and graduate loan borrowers who have been in repayment for more than 25 years. Link: https://bit.ly/4driHWq ⭐Department of Education Released Campus Safety Crises Checklist The U.S. Department of Education has released a report, Free to Learn: Leading Inclusive Learning Environments in Higher Education, to foster safe and inclusive campuses through the Israel-Hamas conflict and beyond. This checklist is intended for leadership and staff of institutions of higher education when addressing crises. Link: https://bit.ly/3A5noXx Washington updates will be on hiatus until September. To stay up-to-date with all things happening in graduate education, subscribe to one of CGS's email newsletters: https://lnkd.in/eg-mm2qd

Happy Monday! Here are this week's three things you need to know about higher education happenings in Washington: ⭐NIH Seeks Feedback for Postdoctoral Program Changes The National Institutes for Health (NIH) is requesting feedback to implement specific changes to postdoctoral researchers. NIH seeks feedback on limiting postdoctoral support to five years, revising the K99/R00 mechanism to emphasize potential and ideas, and enhancing career development opportunities for postdocs and their mentors. Feedback is requested before October 23, 2024. Link: https://bit.ly/3zWqvkw ⭐Guidance Released on Graduate Program Reporting Requirements Under FVT/GE The U.S. Department of Education has released new guidance for graduate programs under the Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) regulations. The Department of Education addresses how to know if a program is a qualifying graduate program for reporting requirements, while the second guidance addresses programs with similar CIP codes. Link: https://bit.ly/3WIK7Sm ⭐New Research Security Requirements Announced The White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy has mandated that certain research and higher education institutions implement stronger cybersecurity programs to protect high-value targets. The new guidelines state that federal research agencies must now require specific institutions to establish and operate a research security program. Link: https://bit.ly/4dEWi8r CGS members can sign up for Washington Insights and Highlights, our full, member-exclusive newsletter, here: https://bit.ly/3LLeMIs

CGS is proud to endorse the Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act, to strengthen mentorship opportunities in higher education STEM programs. Mentorship is crucial to the success of students completing their STEM graduate degree, especially for first-generation and underrepresented students. “This bill will help faculty and program directors create positive mentorship environments, support evidence-based mentoring practice and help faculty and students understand mentorship expectations. Strengthening mentorship in graduate education will ensure a strong STEM pipeline that is career-ready for state and national workforce needs.” - Suzanne Ortega, President of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS). See the full press release: https://bit.ly/3YmtTzy

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has issued a request for information to help support the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation. Submissions must be submitted by August 2, 2024, for the anticipated five-year grant with a total estimated cost of around $5 million. USAID seeks partners from universities and higher education institutions with relevant programming in: 🔹 Marine spatial planning 🔹 Food security 🔹 Natural resource management 🔹 Oceanography and related marine sciences 🔹 Technological solutions to counter climate change USAID aims to catalyze collaboration between Atlantic Partnership countries to develop sustainable blue economies that conserve biodiversity and increase food security by creating and networking pan-Atlantic, university-based regional knowledge and outreach hubs. Learn More: https://lnkd.in/gSHAfPUd

July is #DisabilityPrideMonth, which makes it the perfect time to celebrate the contributions of disabled and neurodiverse graduate students to their programs, communities, and research across the country. While work has begun to make graduate education more accessible, much more needs to be done to ensure that students receive the accommodations that they need to thrive. One example of what that thriving can look like comes from an #IGEHub project at the University of Connecticut, which takes a strengths-based approach to neurodiversity to promote both inclusive programs and the incorporation of the unique skills that neurodiverse individuals can bring to STEM disciplines. You can read more about this here: https://lnkd.in/gmJj9xbz To learn more about Disability Pride and the meaning behind the flag posted below, check out this explanation from Columbia University's Columbia Climate School: https://lnkd.in/gixGKaJ6

Thank you to everyone who made our 2024 Summer Workshop possible! We hope that you had a safe trip home and have had plenty of time to reflect on new insights and new friendships. We want to extend a special thanks to our speakers, particularly our plenary speakers, and to our Summer Workshop breakfast sponsors ETS, ProQuest, and Risepoint for nourishing our bodies and minds with delicious food and insightful presentations. We can't wait to see you again for our Annual Meeting, held December 4-7, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri.

One more thing to know about! ⭐Title IX Future on Hold at Hundreds of Higher Education Institutions A federal judge has denied the Biden Administration's request to narrow or delay a recent court order temporarily blocking the U.S. Department of Education's new Title IX rule from taking effect on August 1. More than 670 institutions across 50 states and territories are covered by the temporary injunction. The regulations were already on hold in 15 states, while another 11 are still challenging the regulations in federal court. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gYWxFkjV