Statement from the Council of Graduate Schools on the 2024 Presidential Election
CGS Contact: Kelley Karnes
602-791-8278 / kkarnes@cgs.nche.edu
PDF version of press release.
Washington, DC — Now that the 2024 presidential election is behind us, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) would like to congratulate President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance on their election win. CGS and our membership of over 400 graduate schools look forward to working with the new administration to advance graduate education and research in the United States.
U.S. graduate education is an important reason for the overall success of the nation’s economic growth, the strength of our workforce, and the dynamism of our scientific research enterprise. Graduate schools are not only places where cutting-edge scientific research is conducted by domestic and international students; they are also places where master’s and doctoral students are educated and trained to become essential and contributing members of the American workforce. Graduate degrees are increasingly required to enter or advance in many professional careers in the United States. Many of these jobs, such as schoolteachers, family therapists and counselors, nurses, social workers, law enforcement, cybersecurity experts, and many others, are crucial to the overall well-being and success of local communities.
Investments in graduate education and research have made the nation’s graduate schools and their research facilities consistently ranked among the best in the world. This standing has made the United States a crucial player in global economic leadership. However, the United States cannot rest on its laurels. The nation must keep pace with global competitors and continue to make robust investments in higher education, particularly graduate education and research, so we can continue to solve global challenges and remain the world leader in scientific discoveries and innovation.
In the coming weeks, CGS will be sending our transition document that outlines the goals and priorities of our member institutions and what policies can help improve access to graduate education. CGS looks forward to connecting with the Trump transition team and the new administration to discuss these policy priorities. Together, we can strengthen our workforce pipeline and our nation by supporting a graduate education system that is accessible to prospective and current students.
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The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is an organization of approximately 460 institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada, and 25 international institutions, engaged in graduate education, research, and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees. The organization’s mission is to improve and advance graduate education, which it accomplishes through advocacy in the federal policy arena, research, and the development and dissemination of best practices.