Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)

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

08/21/2026

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

📌 In June 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requested feedback from the biomedical community on a proposed approach to cap the number of Research Project Grants (RPGs) a researcher can be principal investigator on simultaneously. According to the feedback released from NIH, a majority of researchers who support the NIH proposal to cap simultaneous Research Project Grants (RPGs) prefer a relatively tight cap of two or three grants.

Respondents provided the following feedback to NIH:

🔹 Comments were focused on three major issues: whether a grant-count cap is the right way to optimize the distribution of NIH funding; how any limit should be structured; and possible unintended consequences of a cap.

🔹 Supporters generally favored a relatively tight cap of two or three grants, emphasizing broader distribution of NIH funding and increased opportunities for less-established investigators, while expressing concerns about potential circumvention through reassignment of PI roles.

🔹 Respondents with mixed views generally supported the goal of distributing funding more broadly but questioned the proposed approach, suggesting options such as partially counting multiple-PD/PI awards, exempting smaller exploratory grants, and considering limits based on total funding rather than grant counts.

🔹 Opponents questioned whether grant count accurately reflects research scale and raised concerns about impacts on productive laboratories, early-career researchers, mentoring, collaboration, and scientific ambition. Many favored strengthening existing overlap and budget review processes and maintaining scientific merit and peer review as the primary basis for funding decisions.

Link: https://grants.nih.gov/news-events/nih-extramural-nexus-news/2026/08/what-we-heard-from-you-regarding-the-proposed-cap-on-simultaneous-nih-research-project-grant-support-and-our-next-steps

📌 On August 17, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released 12 new notices of funding opportunity (NOFOs) providing over $1.5 billion for foundational research, including basic and use-inspired inquiry across the sciences and engineering. The funding opportunities place particular emphasis on bold, paradigm-challenging inquiry, foundational research that forges new connections across disciplines, and projects that harness artificial intelligence, advanced computation and automation to make qualitatively new science possible.

NSF noted that the new solicitations are shorter, fewer in number, and designed to be easier to navigate, with the goal of expanding access to NSF funding and reducing administrative burden. Early career researchers are especially encouraged to apply.

Link: https://www.nsf.gov/news/nsf-announces-15b-foundational-research-drive-scientific

As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH supports a variety of programs from grants and contracts to loan repayment. Learn about assistance programs, how to identify a potential funding organization, and past NIH funding.

08/20/2026

CGS is delighted to welcome the University of West Georgia and Matt Varga, Dean of the Graduate School, as our newest Regular Institutional member. Located in Carrollton, Georgia, the University of West Georgia is a doctoral-granting institution offering a robust portfolio of graduate education opportunities, including 32 graduate degree programs - 27 master's programs and 5 doctoral programs.

The University of West Georgia 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.

08/17/2026

Here is your weekly update from Capitol Hill:

📌 The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a slip opinion on August 12 stating that the National Science Foundation (NSF) can no longer administer the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) and Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) programs. The DOJ concluded that these programs “are unconstitutional in their entirety.” The DOJ also stated that while the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) can continue, “NSF can—and must—administer the GRFP without regard to an applicant’s race or s*x under the Constitution.”

The slip opinion was issued after NSF’s General Counsel asked the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in May 2026 to determine whether nine NSF STEM education programs that use race or s*x-based criteria could be administered with the Constitution’s equal protection guarantee. The opinion does not establish a specific termination date for AGEP or LSAMP but concludes that NSF may not continue to fund or administer the programs because their race-based criteria are unconstitutional and inseverable.
Link: https://bit.ly/4geGxrt

📌 On August 12, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a critical Broadcast Message (BCM Number: 2608-01) through the SEVP system reminding institutions and Designated School Officials (DSOs) of their legal responsibilities and personal liability regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations. In response to an observed rise in CPT authorizations that do not meet regulatory requirements, ICE said it would increase its scrutiny of CPT approvals to ensure compliance with federal regulations, particularly in cases where the training is not an integral part of an established curriculum. The message also emphasizes that DSOs certify, under penalty of perjury, that information submitted in connection with CPT authorizations is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.
Link: https://bit.ly/4gdRtpk

📌 On August 14, 2026, the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) opened applications for the National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) program. The program provides funding to support the training and degree completion of new graduate students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees in fields aligned with USDA’s mission and workforce needs. Applicants must be new graduate students and citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the U.S. Applications are due October 15, 2026.

Link: https://bit.ly/4qlLm6Z

08/17/2026

CGS is delighted to welcome Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Kendra Rumbaugh, Vice Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), as its newest Regular Institutional member. This doctoral granting university is in Lubbock, Texas. Their portfolio of graduate programs includes a variety of doctoral and master’s degree programs in biomedical sciences.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 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.

08/04/2026

Here is your midweek update from Washington, D.C.:

📌 U.S. Department of Education Calls on Universities to Adopt Policy Reforms
On August 3, Education Secretary Linda McMahon urged universities to publicly commit to a series of institutional reforms aligned with the Trump administration’s higher education priorities. In a letter to university presidents and governing boards, the Department of Education called on institutions to address grade inflation; improve cost transparency; incentivize rigor in the age of AI; commit to transparent admissions; protect free speech and intellectual diversity; and curb foreign influence in research and academic programs. Secretary McMahon requested that institutions publish statements on their websites by the end of 2026 outlining their commitments to rigorous teaching, research, affordability, transparency, and national service. Link:https://cgsnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/national-call-action-university-presidents-and-governing-boards-114351.pdf

📌 Senate CR Would Delay OMB Federal Grants Rule Affecting Research Funding
The Senate is moving towards a final vote on a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through December 11, which would temporarily delay implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed revisions to federal grant rules. The proposed changes would update requirements for managing federal grants and could increase federal oversight of how grant decisions are made. CGS submitted comments to OMB on July 2, 2026, raising concerns about potential impacts on federal research. The proposed delay would allow additional time for Congress and stakeholders to review the potential effects of the rule before implementation. Link: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/bill-text-continuing-appropriations-and-extensions-act-2027

📌 NSF Updates Title VI Regulations Governing Civil Rights Compliance for Federal Grant Recipients
The National Science Foundation (NSF) published a final rule on August 4, amending its Title VI civil rights regulations to remove provisions related to disparate impact discrimination and establish intentional discrimination as the basis for Title VI enforcement based on race, color, or national origin. The rule eliminates regulatory language addressing policies or practices that produce discriminatory effects, removes examples illustrating disparate impact liability, and rescinds provisions related to employment practices evaluated under a disparate impact framework. NSF stated that the revisions align its regulations with its interpretation of Title VI, relevant Supreme Court precedent, including Alexander v. Sandoval (2001), the Department of Justice’s 2025 Title VI regulatory changes, and Executive Order 14281. Link:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-04/pdf/2026-15778.pdf

United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

08/03/2026

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a $47 million, five-year investment to launch the Industry-Integrated Ph.D. Scholars Program, a pilot initiative designed to modernize doctoral education by integrating academic research with industry experience. Led by the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP), the program will initially support more than 250 doctoral students through partnerships involving nearly three dozen universities and industry partners. NSF Acting Director Brian Stone said, “By bringing universities and industry together, we are preparing doctoral students for the full range of careers where American innovation happens, advancing the administration's vision for a new Golden Age of American Science and strengthening U.S. leadership in science and technology."

Below are important details about the pilot program:
🔹The UIDP Industry-Integrated Ph.D. Scholars Program (UIDP I-PhD) is designed to enable students to complete their degrees within four years.
🔹Universities will provide funding for students’ first year, NSF will support subsequent years, and industry partners will provide matching commitments covering at least one year of dissertation research conducted at a company site.
🔹Participating students will remain enrolled at their home institutions and complete dissertation-based research that incorporates an industry research component.
🔹Students will complete a micro-credential program focused on competencies for industry and cross-sector research environments.

NSF will evaluate the pilot’s implementation, partnership quality, scalability, and sustainability through measures including dissertation progress, time-to-degree, research outputs, skill development, student perceptions of research environments and career pathways, and initial career placement; findings will inform future graduate education models, including potential approaches supported through programs such as the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) and Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN).

The UIDP I-PhD Scholars Program reflects the White House’s "Fiscal Year 2028 R&D Priorities Memorandum" and the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s "Science: A New Golden Age" report, which call for new funding models and stronger partnerships across academia, industry, government, and other sectors to support the next generation of researchers.

Links:
🔹 https://www.nsf.gov/news/nsf-partners-universities-industry-pilot-initiative-four
🔹 https://www.whitehouse.gov/science/
🔹https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/White-House-Fiscal-Year-2028-RD-Priorities-Memorandum.pdf

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a $47 million investment over five years, along with additional financial commitments from nearly three dozen universities and private industry...

07/30/2026

Many graduate institutions receive federal grants, but that funding actually disburses to those institutions throughout the fiscal year. With two months remaining before the end of FY2026, this stacked bar chart provides a snapshot of monthly federal funds disbursed to higher education institutions for new grants awarded during FY26, spanning from January through mid-July. Sourced from USASpending.gov, it tracks contributions from four key funding agencies: the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the DOE Office of Science.

Key Trends & Highlights:

🔹Overall Peak: Total monthly disbursements peaked in June at over $1.1 billion, driven predominantly by NIH funding ($714M) and NSF funding ($349M).
🔹NSF Growth: National Science Foundation funding demonstrated consistent month-over-month growth throughout the period, starting at $48M in January and steadily rising to a high of $407 million in mid-July.
🔹NIH Dominance: The National Institutes of Health accounted for the largest share of funding in almost every month from February to July, reaching its highest spending level in June ($714 million).
🔹USDA Front-Loading: The USDA recorded its highest outlay in January ($822M), representing the vast majority of all federal grant disbursements that month before tapering off in subsequent months.
🔹DOE Office of Science: Spending from the DOE Office of Science remained modest during the period, fluctuating between $1M and $12M per month (from March through mid-July).

Note: Data for July reflects spending only through July 17, representing a partial month compared to full-month totals from January through June.

07/29/2026

Here's your midweek update from Washington, D.C.:

📌 White House OSTP Issues Science Policy Recommendations
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a report titled Science: A New Golden Age along with a 20-page priorities memorandum. The report proposes shifting federal R&D toward physical sciences, commercial technologies like AI, quantum computing, fusion, space, semiconductors, and robotics, and large team awards focused on target challenges. It calls for alternative grant mechanisms, alternatives to traditional peer review, and cultivating new mission-driven research organizations alongside universities.

The report and accompanying FY 2028 R&D Priorities Memorandum place a greater emphasis on supporting graduate students and early-career researchers through expanded fellowship opportunities, portable funding that follows researchers across institutions, and long-term, investigator-driven awards. The memorandum also encourages agencies to reduce administrative barriers that limit graduate student and researcher mobility, strengthen pathways into the STEM workforce, and invest in developing the next generation of scientists and engineers to advance national research priorities.

Reports:https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Science-A-New-Golden-Age.pdf andhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/White-House-Fiscal-Year-2028-RD-Priorities-Memorandum.pdf

📌 Federal Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Blocking $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
On July 24, a federal appeals court rejected a ‌bid by the Trump administration to block a lower court ruling that vacated the $100,000 H-1B fee for highly skilled workers. The appeals court decision means that a temporary pause of the lower court order invalidating the $100,000 should be lifted, prohibiting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from assessing the fee on H-1B petitions. Prior to the proposed fee increase, employers generally paid between $2,000 and $5,000 in filing fees. The fee does not apply to visas granted to foreign citizens already in the U.S. on student visas. USCIS is expected to issue updated guidance and filing procedures in light of the ruling.
Court Ruling:https://cgsnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/gov.uscourts.ca1_.54417.00108481775.0.pdf

07/15/2026

The last day of the CGS Summer Workshop began with a breakfast and presentation supported by Risepoint on online graduate education and student expectations of AI integration. Attendees explored how institutions can design flexible programs that align with evolving student demand.

Thank you for attending and being a part of the ! Stay involved and up-to-date on new opportunities to connect and learn by subscribing to News Network, our biweekly newsletter on what's happening in graduate education: https://cgsnet.org/news-network-subscribe #/webform/news-network-subscribe