Professional Science Master’s Programs:

Federal Budget Strategy

April 4, 2008

Council of Graduate Schools

America COMPETES Act

H.R. 2272, the America COMPETES Act, signed into law in August 2007, contained authorization for a Professional Science Master’s clearinghouse and grants program at the National Science Foundation. The authorization language included the following provisions:

America COMPETES Act

A PSM clearinghouse at NSF to share program elements used in successful professional science master’s degree programs and other advanced degree programs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The NSF Director shall make the clearinghouse of programs available to institutions of higher education that are developing professional science master’s programs.

America COMPETES Act

A grant program at NSF for the purpose of making awards to institutions of higher education to facilitate the creation or improvement of PSM programs. Subject to the availability of funds, the Director shall award grants to a maximum of 200 4-year institutions. Grants will be for one 3-year term and may be renewed for a maximum of 2 additional years.

America COMPETES Act

The Director shall conduct an evaluation of each program assisted by grants from NSF and shall provide the evaluations 180 days after completion to Congress. The evaluation shall include recommendations for administrative and legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness of the program.

Authorized Funding

Funding amounts authorized: FY 08 - $10 million FY 09 - $12 million FY 10 - $15 million

FY 2008 Appropriations

The fiscal year 2008 federal appropriations process was completed. The National Science Foundation (NSF) received a total budget of $6 billion representing a 2.5% increase ($148 million) over last year’s amount. Unfortunately, funds were not appropriated for the establishment of the new PSM pilot program at NSF.

FY 2009 Appropriations

The Administration’s Budget Request for FY 2009 calls for an increase at NSF of 13.6% above the 2008 enacted level. The proposed $6.85 billion budget includes a 16% increase for Research and Related Activities and an 8.9% increase for Education and Human Resources. The House and Senate are now in the Appropriations process for FY 2009.

FY 2009 NSF Budget

In Congressional hearings concerning the FY 2009 NSF budget, Director Arden Bement has stressed that no new programs authorized in the America COMPETES Act have funding budgeted, but he has noted that he hopes to have enough budget flexibility to begin to fund some of the programs later in the year.

NSF Appropriations

Appropriations for this NSF program are critical to firmly establishing the PSM nationally. Achieving this investment is an important part of our national strategy to prepare the future scientific workforce.

What Next?

The Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate are responsible for appropriating budgeted federal dollars to the various federal agencies and programs that are within guidelines established by the Budget Committees in each house.

Action Needed

Contact your members of Congress as well as others who are on the Appropriations Committees and appropriate subcommittees to register support for the PSM and appropriations for the program at NSF in FY 09.

The Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies has jurisdiction over appropriations for NSF.

The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies has jurisdiction over appropriations for NSF as well.

Web Links

Links to these committees: http://appropriations.senate.gov/

members.cfm http://appropriations.senate.gov/

commerce.cfm http://appropriations.house.gov/

members110th.shtml http://appropriations.house.gov/

Subcommittees/sub_cjs.shtml