Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)

09/24/2026

Two items in your weekly update from Capitol Hill:

📌 Academic Innovation Engine: New Report Highlights $1.7 Trillion GDP Impact of Bayh-Dole
The Bayh-Dole Coalition released a report showing that university and nonprofit technology transfer enabled by the Bayh-Dole Act contributed up to $3.3 trillion in U.S. gross economic output, $1.7 trillion to GDP, and supported 7.6 million job-years between 1996 and 2025. The study also highlights that academic institutions now hold nearly 60 percent of federally funded patents, a 70-fold increase since 1980. This has resulted in over 19,000 startups launched and 17,000 new products introduced over the past 25 years.
Link:https://www.bayhdolecoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Economic-Impact-of-the-Bayh-Dole-Act-Report.pdf

📌 FSA Data Center Report: Defaulted Student Debt Reaches 14% of Federally Managed Portfolio
The U.S. Department of Education released updated data to the FSA Data Center showing that the cumulative number of recipients in default increased over the last quarter. Between April and June 2026, the cumulative number of recipients in default increased by approximately 400,000 to more than 9.3 million. Their outstanding federal student loans total $234 billion or approximately 14 percent of the total $1.64 trillion federally managed portfolio, as of June 2026.
Link: https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2026-09-22/federal-student-aid-posts-updated-reports-fsa-data-center

09/23/2026

CGS has submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education on the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Our letter states that the proposed rule expands federal oversight of the historically nongovernmental accreditation system, affects institutional autonomy, and expands the role of accrediting agencies in establishing and applying academic quality standards. CGS also signed on to comments submitted by the American Council on Education and other higher education associations.

In our comment letter, CGS recommended retaining a meaningful experience threshold for new accrediting agencies rather than eliminating the existing two-year requirement. We also raised concerns that requiring accreditors to establish their own institutional and program-level standards could create inconsistent requirements and interfere with institutional governance and academic policies.

We also recommended that program-level outcomes not be applied uniformly across graduate program types; that accreditor review of faculty policies and academic freedom not extend to specific staffing decisions or faculty viewpoints; that new accreditation requirements addressing research integrity, faculty staffing, and academic freedom complement, rather than duplicate or override, existing federal requirements and institutional policymaking authority; and that program length be evaluated based on learning outcomes and professional or licensure requirements rather than treating shorter completion time as a standalone measure of quality.

Read the full letter:https://cgsnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ED-2025-OPE-1042-0667_attachment_1.pdf

09/22/2026

On September 29 at 3pm ET, join CGS and ETS for a guided walkthrough of the 2026 Graduate Enrollment and Degrees survey cycle. Participants will learn how to navigate the newly streamlined survey format and new "No Data Available" feature, as well as how to enter and manage institutional data using the submission platform. The session will also provide an opportunity to review reporting requirements and receive answers to common questions.

This survey is the only source for data on both first-time and total graduate enrollment across all fields of master’s and research doctorate programs and on applications to graduate school by broad field of study, and your participation is essential. Whether you are a returning or first-time respondent, this webinar will help ensure a smooth and successful survey submission process. Register today:

September 29, 2026 3:00-4:00pm ET Join the CGS/ETS Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Training Webinar for a guided walkthrough of the 2026 survey cycle. Participants will learn how to navigate the submission system, enter and manage institutional data, and take advantage of key updates, including the....

09/21/2026

CGS is delighted to welcome the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Marta Filizola, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, as its newest Regular Institutional member. They are an international leader in biomedical research and medical and scientific training located in New York, New York.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai joins a network of institutions dedicated to advancing graduate education and research in the U.S. and globally.

Learn more about institutional membership here: https://cgsnet.org/membership/institutional-membership

View all CGS institutional members here: https://cgsnet.org/membership/institutional-membership/all-institutional-members

United States and Canadian institutions of higher education that are significantly engaged in graduate education, research and scholarship, and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees are eligible for Institutional membership.

09/18/2026

A few more updates from Washington, D.C. to close out your week:

📌Effective September 1, 2026, a single study permit applicant outside Quebec must demonstrate access to at least CAD $23,448 (USD $16,981) in financial resources, excluding tuition and travel costs. This represents a 2.6% increase from the previous requirement of CAD $22,895, or an additional CAD $553. The new threshold remains below comparable requirements in Australia (USD $21,415) and London, UK (USD $18,630). For international students applying to institutions within Quebec, applicants must demonstrate at least CAD $24,617 in funds for first-year living expenses. The U.S. does not set a single nationwide proof-of-funds threshold for student visas, instead individual institutions determine financial requirements based on tuition, fees, and living expenses.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also provided additional guidance on acceptable documentation for demonstrating proof of funds, following evidence that insufficient financial documentation was the most common reason for study permit refusals. Recent analysis found that 47% of study permit refusals in June 2026 were attributed to insufficient financial documentation.
Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents/financial-support.html

📌As part of the Trump Administration’s broad effort to change how federal grants are awarded or canceled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to reduce or eliminate several formula-based agricultural research grants, including Hatch Act and Smith-Lever funding, while increasing funding for competitive grants. Formula grants support basic and long-term agricultural research and extension activities and provide institutions with a foundation to pursue more competitive research grant opportunities. The administration’s FY2027 budget request would eliminate Hatch Act funding, reduce Smith-Lever funding from $325 million to $175 million, and reduce other forestry-related formula grants to states. The administration made the same request for FY2026, which was rejected by Congress, instead providing the program with $265 million. At the same time, the administration proposed adding more than $298 million to the main competitive grant program, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) in FY2027. Colleges and universities have been pressing lawmakers to reject the administration's FY2027 proposals.

Congress has so far declined to adopt the administration’s proposed cuts to USDA formula grants, including through a recent stopgap funding bill that maintains funding at current levels through Fall 2026. House appropriators have recommended level funding for USDA’s formula grants for the rest of FY2027, while Senate budget-writers have yet to release their appropriations bill.
Link: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-agriculture/2026/09/14/the-farm-bills-existential-crisis-01073905

Get the right documents to study in Canada.

09/15/2026

Here is your weekly update from Capitol Hill:

📌On September 14, a group of Democratic Senators from the Senate Judiciary Committee, including Democratic Whip Durbin (D-IL) and Ranking Member Blumenthal (D-CT), introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final rule, “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media.” Representatives Jayapal (D-WA) and Raskin (D-MD) are leading the House companion.

The resolution would use the Congressional Review Act to seek disapproval of the rule, which replaces Duration of Status with fixed periods of admission of up to four years for F-1 and J-1 visa holders and imposes additional restrictions on extensions, transfers, and changes to educational objectives.

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has endorsed the CRA resolution of disapproval.
Link:https://www.durbin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/cra_on_student_visa_rule.pdf

📌On the same day, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction postponing the effective date of DHS’s final Duration of Status rule. The court also preliminarily enjoined DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement from taking further action to implement the rule while the litigation proceeds. The court did not vacate the rule or grant summary judgment to the plaintiffs; those requests were denied without prejudice, meaning they may be renewed as the case proceeds.

As a result, the final rule is not taking effect on September 15, 2026, as originally scheduled, and DHS may not implement its new fixed admission periods or related requirements unless the court later lifts or modifies the injunction or the litigation is otherwise resolved.
Link:https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.305059/gov.uscourts.mad.305059.51.0.pdf

📌The Department of Education released a new 2027–28 College Financing Plan, a standardized financial aid offer tool that includes a specific form for graduate and professional programs. The common award letter is designed to help prospective graduate students compare costs, financial aid, and net price across institutions, providing graduate deans with a standardized framework for communicating student aid offers.
Link: https://www.ed.gov/higher-education/paying-college/college-financing-plan

📌Senators McCormick (R-PA) and Hickenlooper (D-CO) announced the formation of the Senate Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus to highlight American scientific research and the application of those discoveries to promote innovation. The Caucus plans to host briefings and roundtables on existing and new policies and provide a venue for discussion of legislation to strengthen American scientific research and the STEM workforce.
Link: https://www.mccormick.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mccormick-hickenlooper-announce-formation-of-senate-bipartisan-science-and-innovation-caucus/

09/14/2026

With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), CGS is testing strategies for helping students succeed in doctoral program through clear, consistently applied expectations and rules. The first brief from the project finds that while the majority of surveyed students felt that they received consistent information and feedback, fewer students felt that there were supports available to get them back on track if they began to fall behind.

The brief examines clarity of program policies, consistency of degree requirements, and availability of program supports, providing recommendations for institutions for each area. Links to additional resources are also provided.

Read the brief here: https://cgsnet.org/research-brief/stem-doctoral-students-perceptions-of-program-policies-degree-requirements-and-available-supports

09/11/2026

Following the changes to Duration of Status and F student visa processes?

On August 31, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) hosted a webinar providing an overview of the final rule establishing a fixed period of admission and an extension-of-stay process for F students, exchange visitors, and foreign media representatives. SEVP representatives reviewed key regulatory changes and addressed frequently asked questions about implementation of the final rule. The webinar recording and presentation slides are now publicly available.

Link:

The SEVP Webinar: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for F Students Final Rule aired on Aug. 31, 2026, from 2 to 3 p.m. EDT.

09/10/2026

Here is your weekly update from Capitol Hill:

📌 The Department of Defense (DOD) has entered into a financial agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that could allow DOD to access billions of dollars in funding originally appropriated to NIH. Under the interagency agreement, DOD would be able to use funding provided to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for military biodefense programs. NIH is currently identifying projects that could be transferred to DOD and aims to finalize the agreement by the end of the month.
Link: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6070508-pentagon-nih-diverts-funds-democrats-statement/

📌 On September 4, the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), “Racial Nondiscrimination in Private Schools (REG-119986-25).” Under the proposed regulation, private schools and universities would not qualify for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) if they adopt, maintain, or enforce policies or practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin in connection with educational policies, admissions, scholarship and loan programs, or other school-administered or school-supported programs. The proposal would also apply to scholarship or loan programs that use race, color, or national or ethnic origin as an eligibility or selection criterion.
If finalized as proposed, the rule would apply to taxable years beginning after May 31, 2027. Comments are due Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/04/2026-18127/racial-nondiscrimination-in-private-schools

📌 The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science will host a virtual town hall to discuss innovative approaches for preparing U.S. doctoral students for science and technology careers through the Genesis Mission. Input from participants will inform the development of an anticipated Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship Pilot Program. The DOE Office of Science is specifically inviting university representatives to provide input on several discussion questions. The virtual town hall will take place on September 24, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET.
Link: https://web.cvent.com/event/8313b07c-aabb-4eae-96dd-cd2d4eb01612/summary

The Pentagon is attempting to divert billions of dollars from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to bolster the agency’s budget, according to the top Democrat on the House Appropria…

08/25/2026

Here is your weekly update from Capitol Hill:

📌 The Department of Education released a proposed rule, Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), that would make broad administrative and procedural changes governing federal education grants, including how funding opportunities are announced, how discretionary grant applications are evaluated, continuing how awards are handled, and how evidence and merit are incorporated into grant competitions. The proposal would also give the Department of Education greater discretion to terminate discretionary grants “for convenience,” review information from grant applications and previous grantee activity, and issue partial awards, and delay the release of funds. The proposed rule is similar to the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance. Comments are due on September 23, 2026.
Link:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-24/pdf/2026-17239.pdf

📌 The Department of Education released its Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on August 20, proposing changes to federal regulations governing accreditation and institutional eligibility. Of particular concern for graduate education is section 602.17, which would require accrediting agencies to assess student achievement at both the institutional and program levels, including retention and completion rates, post completion employment and continued education, standardized assessments related to admission to higher level degrees, and educational and economic returns relative to the total cost of attendance. The proposal would also require agencies to evaluate faculty qualifications and performance, academic freedom and intellectual diversity, research integrity and misconduct policies, and institutional cost benefit analyses. The Department of Education also proposes that accreditors reduce unnecessary barriers to practices that improve access, accelerate degree completion, or support innovative models, including changes to program length. Comments are due on September 21, 2026.
Link:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-20/pdf/2026-17001.pdf

📌 On August 18, the Administration released a document establishing a National Security Science and Technology Strategy (NSSTS) to support and implement the 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS). The document includes important recommendations for the higher education community, including the prioritization of critical national security S&T fields of study. Specifically, the document recommends that graduate curricula broaden students’ exposure to quantum information sciences. The document also recommends that export control policies be updated to address emerging risks and evolving technologies.
Link:https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NSSTS-082026.pdf