A new report from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) argues that now is the time to fully develop our domestic talent pool, in particular those from traditionally underrepresented groups, in order to create the highly-skilled workforce necessary to compete in the 21st century economy.

The report, Broadening Participation in Graduate Education was released yesterday at a forum held at the Library of Congress, during which Members of Congress, industry leaders, graduate deans and alumni of programs that successfully increased diversity in graduate schools shared their perspectives on the role of graduate education as a key component of a national talent development strategy.

U.S. graduate education is widely considered the best in the world, attracting top domestic and international students to our nation's colleges and universities, says the CGS. But there is a leak in the domestic pipeline, particularly in science and engineering. At a time when the need has never been greater for professionals with the advanced, interdisciplinary training required to solve complex problems, some groups remain highly underrepresented in graduate schools, even as our nation becomes increasingly diverse.

The report urges that the U.S. cultivate talent wherever it exists, with particular emphasis on identifying those from traditionally underrepresented groups. It provides statistics on demographic population trends and their implications for higher education, and for graduate education in particular. It highlights examples of campus, federal, and private initiatives that have had success in broadening participation in graduate education. The report also offers policy recommendations to increase the number of students prepared to enter graduate school, especially in the critical areas of science and engineering.

"This report addresses why our nation must develop our domestic talent pool now to prepare the next generation of leaders, knowledge creators, and experts in a wide spectrum of fields," said Debra W. Stewart, CGS president. "Increasing diversity and enhancing inclusiveness efforts are essential as we work to make graduate education a viable option for a growing number of Americans."

By Darrill Anderson
NASFAA Associate Director of Communications

Posted 04/24/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.