An update on the work of the Council of Graduate Schools

Patricia McAllisterNortheastern Association of

Graduate SchoolsApril 10, 2008New York, NY

Pressing Issues Survey

Overview of Activities and Projects

Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education

Initiative to Promote the Value of Graduate Education

Early Preview from Pressing Issues Survey

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Dealing with Budget Cuts (85%)

Graduate Student Funding (59%)

Graduate student Funding (52%)

Graduate Student Funding (43%)

Graduate Student Funding (57%)

Graduate Student Funding (75%)

International Students (50%)

Enrollment Management (50%)

Enrollment Management/ Recruitment (38%)

Enrollment Management/Student Recruitment (49%)

Graduate School Management (49%)

Enrollment Management (41%)

Graduate School Management (50%)

Student Services/Diversity (29%)

Graduate School Management (43%)

International Students (40%)

Graduate School Mgt (21%)

International Students (40%)

Budget Cuts/Grad Program Financing (27%)

Budget Cuts/Program Financing (32%)

Program Review (33%)

Student Services/ Diversity/Budget Cuts (19%)

Student Services/Diversity/Graduate Student Culture (31%)

Graduate School Management (24%)

Student Services/ Diversity (23%)

Results for 2008 CGS Pressing Issues Survey by

NAGS Membership*Pressing Issue %

Responding

Graduate Student Financial Support 64

Enrollment Management/Student Recruitment 45

Student Services/Diversity 39

Graduate School Management 30

Budget Cuts/Program Financing 27

Program Review 24

International Students 15

Other 24

*36 NAGS members responded to the survey by 3/8/08; 33 listed pressing issues

Overview of Activities and Projects

Government Relations and External Affairs

Best Practices

Research and Policy Analysis

Summer Workshop

U.S. House Diversity and Innovation Caucus

Leaders:G. K. Butterfield (NC)

Ruben Hinojosa (TX)Michael Honda (CA)Bernice Johnson (TX)Zoe Lofgren (CA)Silvestre Reyes (TX)

High School Sophomore Degree Expectations by

SES*Master’s or Higher

Total 39.7%

Lowest SES Quartile 28.0

Middle SES Quartiles 37.2

Highest SES Quartile 55.5

*Dept. of Ed., Educational Longitudinal Survey, 2002.

College Freshmen Degree Expectations by Income

Level*Below Bachelors/

None Bachelors

Master’s Certificate

Doctorate/First

Professional

Total 15.2% 31.5% 36.1% 17.2%

Lower Income Quartile

20.3 33.0 31.7 15.0

Middle Income Quartiles

15.9 32.6 34.9 16.6

Highest Income Quartile

8.8 27.7 42.8 20.6*2004 Beginning Postsecondary Students Survey. Published 2007

Majority/Minority Graduate Degree Attendance

There are large gaps in graduate degree attendance and attainment rates between majority and minority communities:• These gaps occur early in educational careers—

African Americans and Latinos high school students are less likely to aspire to graduate degrees and less likely to graduate from high school.

• Gaps appear to be intergenerational (minority parents also much less likely to have graduate degrees).

• Even among minorities who enter college, there is less of a chance of achieving bachelor’s and graduate degrees, and minorities appear to take longer to complete their degree programs.

Possible Reasons for the Gaps in Graduate School Attendance and

Degree Attainment Research has found that low-income and

minority students are less likely to participate in undergraduate and graduate education due to lack of information and distrust of the information provided:• Families from the lowest income groups have

the least amount of information about higher education opportunities (Harris Interactive Survey, 2002)

• The more information prospective students receive about higher education—and the earlier they get it—the more likely they are to attend (Harris Interactive Survey, 2002)

Initiative to Promote the Value of Graduate

Education Promoting the value of graduate education to underrepresented minorities

Purpose: Increase awareness of the value of graduate education and to motivate and inspire the Gen-Y generation to pursue fields that align with their desire to achieve success while giving back to the greater good. Intended to reach minorities in particular.

DRAFT ETS PR Campaign

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DRAFT ETS PR Campaign

*Developed by ETS

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DRAFT ETS PR Campaign

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For Further Information

Contact:pmcallister@cgs.nche.eduwww.cgsnet.org