The Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. PFF was the first Best Practice grants initiative in the Council of Graduate Schools’ portfolio, so it is worth noting that 2013 also marks the 20th anniversary of a CGS Best Practices grants program supporting reforms and improvement in graduate education.

Data from the recently released 2011-12 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:12) indicate that 69% of master’s students and 83% of research doctoral students received financial aid in the 2011-12 academic year. More than four out of ten (46%) students at the master’s level financed their education with loans in 2011-12, and three in ten (32%) financed their education with grants.

Renee Akbar is the Chair, Division of Education at Xavier University of Louisiana. She replaces Judith Miranti.
John Baur is the Interim Associate Vice President sfor Graduate Studies at Illinois State University. He replaces Darrell P. Kruger.
Joanne Berger-Sweeney is the Interim Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. She replaces Lynne Pepall.
David Berkowitz is the Dean, Graduate Studies at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He replaces Rhonda Gaede.