Dear Commons Colleagues,

Over the past year, we have read about the need for opening up community college opportunities for students in order for the United States to remain globally competitive.  Initiatives by the Obama administration and the Gates Foundation have put community college completion in the education spotlight.  Here is a  recently released report that calls for a major new initiative for graduate education to maintain U.S. competitiveness and innovation. The report concludes that the country must adopt a national strategy to increase degree completion and broaden participation in graduate education, or risk losing its position as the world leader in cutting-edge research and innovation.

The Path Forward: The Future of Graduate Education in the United States calls on the federal government, universities and industry to work together to ensure that U.S. graduate schools remain preeminent and that a growing number of U.S. citizens begin and complete graduate degree programs. The Commission on the Future of Graduate Education is a joint effort of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and Educational Testing Service (ETS). The 18-member Commission includes university and industry leaders.

Tony