An update on the work of the Council of Graduate Schools Patricia McAllister Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools April 10, 2008 New 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 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 Support64 Enrollment Management/Student Recruitment45 Student Services/Diversity39 Graduate School Management30 Budget Cuts/Program Financing27 Program Review24 International Students15 Other24 *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 Total39.7% Lowest SES Quartile28.0 Middle SES Quartiles37.2 Highest SES Quartile55.5 *Dept. of Ed., Educational Longitudinal Survey, 2002.

College Freshmen Degree Expectations by Income Level* Below Bachelors/ None Bachelors Master’s Certificate Doctorate/First Professional Total15.2%31.5%36.1%17.2% Lower Income Quartile Middle Income Quartiles Highest Income Quartile *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 *Developed by ETS *

DRAFT ETS PR Campaign *Developed by ETS *

DRAFT ETS PR Campaign *Developed by ETS *

DRAFT ETS PR Campaign * *Developed by ETS

For Further Information Contact: