Founded in 1961, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is a nonprofit member association of approximately 500 U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities, along with 27 international institutions. Member universities vary in the size, scope, and format of graduate programs. CGS is dedicated to the advancement of graduate education and research. It accomplishes its mission through advocacy and advancement of equitable policies, research, as well as the development and dissemination of best practices.
CGS also acts as a convening authority, organizing major events that bring together graduate deans and other stakeholders to discuss and act on a broad range of issues affecting graduate education today.
CGS addresses key issues in graduate education through initiatives in several areas:
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusiveness – oversees the McNair Scholarship and the National Name Exchange, and maintains a library of best practices for serving underrepresented learners and combating racism in higher education.
- Admissions, Enrollment, and Completion – completes research on every step of a student’s experience in these areas, providing insights from the collected data.
- International Engagement – provides insights on global trends and issues, helping members prepare students to be global leaders.
- Graduate Wellness – ensures research helps members address graduate mental health and wellbeing, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and access to institution and learner-facing resources on financial success.
- Graduate Professional Development – assists members in preparing students for transition to professional careers, including collaborating with the Humanities Coalition.
- Career Pathways – partners with members to research diverse and specialized skills that translate to meaningful careers.
- Microcredentials – is conducting a new research project into how microcredentials are changing the graduate education landscape.
Resources
Research & Resources
Events
Data Insights
Institutional Members
