Strategic Consultations
The Council of Graduate Schools provides strategic consultations to member and nonmember institutions, boards, and state agencies to offer guidance as they make tactical decisions about the administration of graduate education. Our consultations draw upon extensive best practice and benchmarking research as well as the insights of experienced graduate deans from around the country.
Topics of CGS Expertise Include:
- Organization & Administration of Graduate Education
- Enrollment Management
- Program Review, Assessment, Signature Programs
- Professional Development and Related Student Services
- Financial Assessment and Student Funding
- Marketing, Recruitment, & Demand Analysis
- Graduate Admissions Structures and Processes
- Preparing for and Responding to Accreditation
- Completion and Attrition
CGS provides on-site consultations and custom data reports to member and non-member institutions. Depending upon your strategic consultation topic, you may choose to combine services.
On-Site Consultations
To help institutions gain expert recommendations about structure, staffing, operations, or programs, CGS arranges for a one-to-three-person review team to develop detailed recommendations in response to a specific charge. Consultants are experts on those topics and bring extensive experience from peer institutions. Based upon background material you provide and the on-site visit and interviews, findings and recommendations are delivered in an executive summary and detailed written report.
Custom Data Reports
CGS provides tailored data reports to help institutional leaders inform their strategic decision-making processes. Using in-house best practice and benchmarking data, as well as national surveys and comprehensive datasets, CGS provides the client with a written report that includes data tables, charts, etc., as appropriate.
Strategic Consultations Fee Structure:
| Member Rate (2018) | Non-Member Rate (2018) | |
| Mini-Consultation One Day/One Consultant | ||
| Consultant Fee (Includes report) | $1,250 | $2,000 |
| Travel/Meals/Accommodations | Actual expenses | Actual expenses |
| Administrative Costs | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Two Days/Two Consultants | ||
| Consultant Fee (Includes report) | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| Travel/Meals/Accommodations | Actual expenses | Actual expenses |
| Administrative Costs | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Three Days/Three Consultants | ||
| Consultant Fee (Includes report) | $3,700 | $6,000 |
| Travel/Meals/Accommodations | Actual expenses | Actual expenses |
| Administrative Costs | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| International Consultations | ||
| Fee per Consultant (Includes report) | $1,250/day | $2,000/day |
| Travel/Meals/Accommodations | Actual expenses | Actual expenses |
| Administrative Costs | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Custom Data Reports | ||
| Data Analysis | $200/hour | $400/hour |
| Data Retrieval Costs | Actual expenses | Actual expenses |
For more information on strategic consultations, please contact Robert Augustine, senior vice president.
CGS is the leading source of information, data analysis, and trends in graduate education. Our benchmarking data help member institutions to assess performance in key areas, make informed decisions, and develop plans that are suited to their goals.
CGS Best Practice initiatives address common challenges in graduate education by supporting institutional innovations and sharing effective practices with the graduate community. Our programs have provided millions of dollars of support for improvement and innovation projects at member institutions.
As the national advocate for graduate education, CGS serves as a resource for policymakers and others on issues concerning graduate education, research, and scholarship. CGS members receive regular updates of legislative and regulatory proposals impacting graduate education and are provided resources to use in advocacy efforts on their campuses and with policymakers and other constituents.
CGS is an authority on global trends in graduate education and a leader in the international graduate community. Our resources and meetings on global issues help members internationalize their campuses, develop sustainable collaborations, and prepare their students for a global future.
