Department of Education

GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Page

Appropriations Language ........................................................................................................ L-1

Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes....................................................................... L-2

Appropriation, Adjustments and Transfers .............................................................................. L-3

Authorizing Legislation............................................................................................................ L-4

Appropriations History............................................................................................................. L-5

Activity:

Gallaudet University......................................................................................................... L-6
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Appropriations Language

For the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, the Model Secondary School for the 

Deaf, and the partial support of Gallaudet University under titles I and II of the Education of the 

Deaf Act of 1986, $121,275,000: Provided, That from the total amount available, the University 

may at its discretion use funds for the endowment program as authorized under section 207 of 

such Act.

1

 (Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2016.)

NOTE

Each language provision that is followed by a footnote reference is explained in the Analysis of Language 

Provisions and Changes document which follows the appropriation language.

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Analysis of Language Provisions and Changes

Language Provision Explanation

1

... Provided, That from the total amount 

available, the University may at its discretion 

use funds for the endowment program as 

authorized under section 207 of such Act.

This language provides authority for the 

University to use funds from the general 

appropriation for the Endowment Grant 

program.

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Appropriation, Adjustments and Transfers

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation/Adjustments/Transfers 2015 2016 2017

Discretionary:

Discretionar y Appropriation............................................................ $120,275 $121,275 $121,275

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity 2016

Authorized

2016

Estimate

2017

Authorized

2017

Request

University programs (EDA l-A) Indefinite $121,275 To be determined1 $121,275

Elementary and Secondary Education programs (EDA I-A) Indefinite (2) To be determined1 (2)

Construction (EDA l-103) Indefinite 0 To be determined1 0

Endowment grant (EDA ll-207) Indefinite (2) To be determined1 (2)

Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (EDA II-205) Indefinite 0 To be determined1 0

Total appropriation 121,275 121,275

Portion of the request subject to reauthorization 121,275

_______________________________

1 The GEPA extension expired September 30, 2015. Reauthorizing legislation is sought for fiscal year 2017. 2 Funding for the Elementary and Secondary Education programs and Endowment Grant program is provided together with funding for operations through a 

single appropriations amount. The University determines the split between the University programs, Elementary and Secondary Education programs, and the 

Endowment Grant program.

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Appropriations History 

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Foot

-

note

Senate 

Allowance Foot

-

note Appropriation Foot

-

note

2008 $106,998 $109,952 $111,000 $113,384

2009 119,384 119,3841 124,0001 124,000

2010 120,000 120,000 126,0002 123,000

2011 118,000 123,0003 128,0002 122,7544

2012 118,000 122,7545 125,7545 125,516

2013 117,541 125,5166 125,0006 118,951

2014 117,541 N/A7 118,5412 119,000

2015 119,000 N/A7 121,5508 120,275

2016 120,275 121,2759 120,2759 121,275

2017 121,275 ___________________________

1 The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular 2009 appropriations bill, which 

proceeded in the 110th Congress only through the House Subcommittee and the Senate Committee. 2 The level for the Senate allowance reflects Committee action only. 3 The level for the House allowance reflects the House-passed full-year continuing resolution. 4 The level for the appropriation reflects the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act 

(P.L. 112-10) passed April 15, 2011. 5 The level for the House allowance reflects an introduced bill; the level for the Senate allowance reflects Senate 

Committee action only. 6 The level for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2013 appropriations bill, 

which proceeded in the 112th Congress only through the House Subcommittee and the Senate Committee. 7 The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action. 8 The level for the Senate allowance reflects Senate Subcommittee action only.

9 The levels for House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2016 appropriations bill, which 

proceeded in the 114th Congress only through the House Committee and Senate Committee.

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Gallaudet University

(Education of the Deaf Act, Title I, Part A and Section 207)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2017 Authorization: To be determined1

Budget Authority:

2016 2017 Change

$121,275 $121,275 0

1 The GEPA extension expired September 30, 2015; reauthorizing legislation is sought for FY 2017.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Gallaudet University (University) is a private, nonprofit institution of higher education (IHE) 

located in Washington, DC. The University received its Federal charter in 1864, and since has 

sought to provide high-quality, bilingual (American Sign Language and English) undergraduate, 

graduate, and continuing education programs for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, 

and for hearing students wishing to pursue careers in fields related to deafness. 

The University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). 

Deaf and hard of hearing undergraduate students can choose from more than 40 areas of study 

leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Recently developed programs—

i.e., pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-architecture, and pre-business—are designed to increase the 

numbers of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing who enter these professions. Graduate 

programs are open to deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students and include Master of Arts 

and Master of Science degrees, specialist degrees, certificates, and doctoral degrees. Many of 

the University’s programs are accredited by the respective professional accrediting bodies: the 

American Psychological Association; the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s 

Council on Academic Accreditation; the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and 

Programs; the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs; the Council on 

Social Work Education; the Council on the Education of the Deaf; and the National Council for 

the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). To increase the effectiveness of its 

instructional programs, the University offers communications training, counseling, and other 

support services for the campus community. 

Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center

Gallaudet University also operates the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center (Clerc 

Center), which includes two accredited demonstration schools serving deaf and hard of hearing 

elementary and secondary students: the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (KDES) and 

the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD). The Clerc Center maintains and operates 

KDES and MSSD for the primary purpose of improving the quality of education afforded to deaf 

and hard of hearing students by developing, evaluating, and disseminating innovative curricula, 

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

instructional techniques and strategies, and other materials that can be used in a variety of 

educational environments. Through its National Mission programs, the Clerc Center is 

responsible for conducting research related to deaf education and for the provision of training 

and technical assistance to professionals and families around the country. 

To help ensure the materials developed by the Clerc Center are relevant to potential users, the 

Education of the Deaf Act (EDA) requires KDES and MSSD to serve students preparing for 

college, other postsecondary opportunities, or the workplace; as well as those with a broad 

spectrum of needs, including students who are lower achieving academically, come from nonEnglish speaking homes, have secondary disabilities, are members of minority groups, or are 

from rural areas. For students placed in KDES or MSSD by a local educational agency (LEA), 

the LEA is responsible for ensuring that special education and related services are provided to 

those students in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Part B of the Individuals 

with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). For students who are enrolled by their parents, the EDA 

requires the University to ensure that any special education and related services are provided in 

accordance with Part B of IDEA. The EDA also makes specific requirements and procedural 

safeguards from the IDEA applicable to parentally placed children at KDES or MSSD that would 

not otherwise apply because they are not placed by their LEAs. 

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) amended the EDA to require the 

University, in administering the Clerc Center, to select challenging academic content standards, 

academic achievement standards, and academic assessments of a State and adopt them 

pursuant to specified requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. 

The HEOA further required the Clerc Center to implement these standards and assessments no 

later than the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. After contacting a wide range of States, 

the Clerc Center initially selected Ohio as the State it would work with to meet the requirements. 

The Center implemented the requirements in school year 2008-2009 and continued through 

school year 2014-2015.

In fall 2015, the Clerc Center entered into a new partnership with the Maryland State 

Department of Education (MSDE) to focus on the continued provision of state-level, standardsbased instruction and assessments for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Like the Clerc 

Center’s prior state partner, Ohio, Maryland adopted the Common Core State Standards 

(CCSS) in 2010. The partnership with MSDE will allow the Clerc Center to ensure KDES 

students in grades three through eight and high school students at MSSD take the required 

assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics, and allow the Clerc Center to 

publically report assessment results as well as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) determination, 

as required by the EDA.

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

Fiscal Year 2012.............................................................................$125,516 1

Fiscal Year 2013...............................................................................118,951 2

Fiscal Year 2014...............................................................................119,000

Fiscal Year 2015...............................................................................120,275

Fiscal Year 2016...............................................................................121,275

1 Includes $7.98 million for construction. 2 Includes $7.56 million for construction.

FY 2017 BUDGET REQUEST

The Administration requests $121.3 million in fiscal year 2017 for Gallaudet University 

(University) to help strengthen educational and employment opportunities for persons who are 

deaf or hard of hearing through support for University programs and the Clerc Center. The 

request for the University is the same as the fiscal year 2016 appropriation. The funds will be 

used to maintain a wide range of operations and programs, serving the 1,670 undergraduate 

and graduate students enrolled at the University and the 272 elementary and secondary 

education students enrolled in Clerc Center programs. 

Program Operations

In 2015, the Federal Government provided $120.3 million to Gallaudet for the operation of the 

University and the Clerc Center. The Federal appropriation represented approximately 

67 percent of the total revenue for the University. Gallaudet allocated $89.3 million of the 

Federal appropriation for university-level instructional, research, and outreach programs and 

$31 million for Clerc Center activities. The university-level allocation of the Federal 

appropriation constituted approximately 60 percent of total estimated funding for university-level 

activities while the Clerc Center allocation represented nearly 100 percent of total estimated 

funding for KDES and MSSD operations. 

These figures understate the true percentage of funding that comes from the Federal 

Government, because the figure the University uses for non-Federal revenue includes interest 

from the Federal Endowment Grant program – approximately $43,000 in fiscal year 2015 – and 

$3.4 million in revenue from Federal grants and contracts. Additionally, in fiscal year 2015, 

Gallaudet students received $10.4 million from Federal student aid programs and $10.4 million 

from Federal vocational rehabilitation programs. 

In addition, since 2008, the University has undertaken a long-term reduction in its total number 

of employees. Gallaudet had 991 employees at the end of fiscal year 2009, but currently 

employs 925 employees, and expects to reduce that level to 910 full-time employees by the end 

of fiscal year 2016. Given these factors, the request provides sufficient funds to maintain all 

operations and programs 

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Enrollment trends

Gallaudet University 

Between fiscal years 2010 and 2016, the appropriation for Gallaudet’s program operations 

increased by approximately 3 percent. During the same period, total postsecondary enrollment 

declined by 11 percent, from 1,870 to 1,670. The Administration acknowledges the cost of 

educating students at Gallaudet has increased over this period, stemming, in part, from the 

increased costs associated with providing the interpreting services required by internship 

placements and the increasing numbers of newly enrolled students who require communication 

access services in the classroom. However, the per student cost increase is partially offset by 

the continued declining enrollment at the University. 

Total postsecondary enrollment at Gallaudet (which includes full- and part-time degree-seeking 

and non-degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students) decreased slightly between 

fiscal years 2015 and 2016, from 1,691 to 1,670. Full-time degree-seeking undergraduate 

enrollment at Gallaudet increased slightly between 2015 (951) and 2016 (959). However, this 

level represents an overall 4.3 percent decrease from fiscal year 2010. During this time, the 

enrollment of degree-seeking graduate students (both full- and part-time) increased 8.8 percent, 

from 408 in fiscal year 2010 to 443 in fiscal year 2016. 

Gallaudet implemented the Hearing Undergraduate Students (HUGS) pilot program in 2000 to 

enroll a limited number of hearing students into its undergraduate program. The Department 

conducted a review of the program in fiscal year 2006 and formally approved a policy of 

allowing the use of Federal funds to support students who are hearing, but stipulated that 

incoming hearing students may not exceed 5 percent of each year’s total number of newly 

enrolled undergraduate students at Gallaudet. The Department also established annual 

reporting requirements for the program related to the number of hearing students admitted and 

enrolled, and the persistence (i.e., the first-year retention rate measured as the percentage of 

first-year students who had persisted in or completed their educational program a year later) 

and graduation rates, majors, and post-school outcomes for these students. In January 2013, 

the Department approved a request from the University to increase the cap to 8 percent and to 

exempt the University’s online programs from the cap for a 5-year period. The approval was 

contingent on the University seeking input from the student and alumni community. The 

University satisfied this contingency and as of the beginning of the fall 2015 semester, currently 

enrolls HUGS at a level of 6% of the new undergraduate student population. A total of 

97 hearing students are currently enrolled in undergraduate programs: HUGS (66); Bachelors 

of Interpretation (27); and Adult Degree Completion Programs (4).

Clerc Center 

In fiscal year 2016, the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and Kendall Demonstration 

Elementary School enrolled a combined total of 272 students, which represents an 8 percent 

increase from the fiscal year 2015 enrollment of 252 students. However, current combined 

enrollment at the Clerc Center falls significantly short of the fiscal year 2006 count of 367. 

Fiscal year 2006 was the last year both schools met or exceeded their target enrollments. The 

fiscal year 2016 number represents a decrease in Clerc Center enrollment of nearly 26 percent 

over the last ten fiscal years.

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Construction

Between fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2013, Congress appropriated $35.5 million in 

construction funds for Gallaudet. The University used $6.8 million to stabilize the soil beneath 

the MSSD dormitories and to demolish dormitories that had been rendered uninhabitable. The 

University is using the remaining $28.7 million to support the construction of a new 200-bed 

dormitory to house all MSSD residential students. The University began construction on this 

facility in the fall of 2014 with a target occupancy date in the fall semester of 2016. No 

additional funds are needed for this project. 

Federal Endowment Grant Program

The Federal Endowment Grant Program is designed to assist in meeting the future needs of 

Gallaudet University by producing a growing independent source of revenue for the University. 

No portion of the Federal endowment fund corpus may be withdrawn, except with the 

Department's approval and only due to a financial emergency or life-threatening situation. The 

Department makes matching payments to the endowment program equal to sums contributed to 

the fund from non-Federal sources. The EDA permits the University to retain up to 50 percent 

of the income generated from the fund for expenses necessary to the operation of the University 

such as personnel, construction and renovation, community and student services, technical 

assistance, and research. The other 50 percent of the interest returns to the corpus. The 

University has the discretion to determine the amount of funds to be designated for use under 

the Federal Endowment Grant Program, subject to the availability of appropriations. As of 

September 30, 2015, the value of the Federal Endowment Grant program corpus, including 

Federal, private, and reinvested funds, was $73.6 million. The University has not indicated that 

it intends to use any of its appropriation to match Endowment Grant funds in fiscal year 2017. 

Other Revenue

Besides the direct Federal appropriation, which provided 67 percent of the institution’s revenue 

in fiscal year 2015, Gallaudet receives the remaining funds from student tuition and fees, 

auxiliary enterprises revenues, grants and contracts, donations, investment income, and a small 

amount from miscellaneous sources. During academic year 2014-2015, Gallaudet students 

received approximately $10.4 million in vocational rehabilitation payments and $10.4 million in 

Federal student financial aid, including $2.6 million in Pell Grants. The University received 

approximately $3.4 million in grants and contracts in fiscal year 2015 and anticipates receiving 

the same amount in fiscal years 2016 and 2017. 

Research

Gallaudet University values research as a key component of the institution’s mission and 

includes research as one of five goals of the Gallaudet Strategic Plan. The University is 

committed to conducting a wide variety of basic and applied research on the history, language, 

and culture of people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as to providing public service 

programs for individuals with hearing loss and professionals working in these areas. Research 

occurs across the University, including at the Gallaudet Research Institute, the Rehabilitation 

Engineering Research Center on Hearing Enhancement, the Science of Learning Center on 

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Visual Language and Visual Learning and its affiliated Brain and Language Laboratory, the 

Office of Institutional Research, and the Technology Access Program.

PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES 

Output Measures: 2015 20161 20171

Total revenues (dollars in 

thousands):

Total revenues ( doll ars i n thousands): University programs $149,371 $145,041 $142,989

Total revenues ( doll ars i n thousands): Clerc Center programs 30,979 30,319 30,069

Total revenues ( doll ars i n thousands): Total 180,350 175,360 173,058

Annual tuition and fees (in whole 

dollars):

Annual tuiti on and fees (in whole dollars): Base Tuition $14,498 $15,078 $15,530

Annual tuiti on and fees (in whole dollars): Room 7,080 7,080 7,220

Annual tuiti on and fees (in whole dollars): Board 5,280 5,550 5,830

Annual tuiti on and fees (in whole dollars): Fees 526 526 526

Annual tuiti on and fees (in whole dollars): Total 27,384 28,234 29,106

International student surcharge, 

non-developing country 14,498 15,078 15,530

International student surcharge, 

developing country 7,249 7,539 7,765

Graduate student surcharge 1,458 1,518 1,564

Additional surcharge for 

international graduate students, 

non-developing country

2,916 3,036 3,128

Additional surcharge for 

international graduate students, 

developing country

1,458 1,518 1,564

Federal appropriation as a percent 

of total revenues 67%2 70%2 70%2

Estimated average cost per student $60,794 3 $63,4053 $63,8383

1 Estimates based on data provided by the University. 2 The revenue base includes unrestricted income from all sources, including research grants and indirect 

payments such as Federal student financial aid and vocational rehabilitation payments. Amounts from the 

appropriation that Gallaudet sets aside for the Federal Endowment Grant program are excluded from the revenue 

calculation. Appropriations for construction are also excluded. 3 These amounts are based on total estimated expenditures, excluding the categories of sponsored and other 

research, public services, and auxiliary enterprises. The net amounts are divided by the total estimated enrollment 

for fiscal years 2014, 2015, 2016. The University does not differentiate between full and part-time students in 

calculating these figures, so part-time students are treated as full-time for the purpose of this calculation. 

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES 

Output Measures: 2015 2016120171

Program enrollment:

gram enroll ment: Number of full-time degreeseeking undergraduates 951 959 960

Program enroll ment: Number of non-degree & parttime undergraduate students 2972 2672 2802

Program enroll ment: Number of full-time and part-time 

graduate students 443 444 444

Program enroll ment:Total 1,691 1,670 1,684

International students (in degree 

and non-degree programs) 110 105 111

International student percentage 6.5% 6.3% 6.6%

Hearing undergraduate students 84 97 99

Model Secondary School for the 

Deaf (MSSD) students 165 166 165

Kendall Demonstration Elementary 

School (KDES) students 87 106 100

Research:

Sponsored research funding 

(dollars in thousands) $3,474 $4,000 $4,000

Appropriated research (dollars in 

thousands) 2,923 2,500 2,500

Gallaudet research publications 75 75 75

Student/faculty ratios:

udent/faculty r ati os: University 9.2:1 9.1:1 9.2:1

udent/faculty r ati os: MSSD 6:3:1 5:9:1 5.9:1

udent/faculty r ati os: KDES 4:1 5:1 4.8:1

Number of employees:

Number of empl oyee s:Permanent positions 920 911 866

Number of empl oyees: Temporary 5 7 5

Number of empl oyees: Grant or revenue supported 8 11 39

1 Estimates based on data provided by the University. 2 This category includes all students not counted in IPEDS, including full- and part-time students enrolled in 

continuing education, the English Language Institute, and online courses, and non-degree seeking students.

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

This section presents selected program performance information, including, for example, GPRA 

goals, objectives, measures, and performance targets and data; and an assessment of the 

progress made toward achieving program results. Achievement of program results is based on 

the cumulative effect of the resources provided in previous years and those requested in fiscal 

year 2017 and future years, and the resources and efforts invested by those served by this

program.

Goal: To challenge students who are deaf, graduate students who are deaf, and graduate 

students who are hearing, to achieve their academic goals and obtain productive 

employment, provide leadership in setting the national standard for best practices in 

education of the deaf and hard of hearing, and establish a sustainable resource base.

Objective: The University Programs and the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and the 

Kendall Demonstration Elementary School will optimize the number of students completing 

programs of study.

Measure: The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students who 

were in their first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the 

current year; and the percentage of all graduate students eligible to return for the following 

academic year who are enrolled in that year.

Year Undergraduate 

Target

Undergraduate 

Actual Graduate Target Graduate Actual

2012 72% 77% 77% 81%

2013 73 69 77 83

2014 74 67 77 79

2015 75 67 80 84

2016 75 80

2017 75 80

Additional information: The calculation of this measure is based on the persistence of firsttime, full-time freshmen students from one fall semester to the next fall semester and is 

consistent with the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) methodology. 

Other 4-year public colleges have an average persistence rate of 73 percent. 

The methodology for the graduate measure uses a cohort formula and limits the calculation to 

Master’s level students because the expected period of enrollment for Master’s level students is 

consistent across programs, whereas the expected period of enrollment for students in other 

graduate programs can vary significantly. This method of calculating the graduate persistence 

rate is comparable to the method of calculating the undergraduate persistence rate.

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Measure: The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking baccalaureate students who 

graduate within 6 years of enrollment.

Year Target Actual

2012 32% 33%

2013 35 47

2014 39 46

2015 40 46

2016 42

2017 45

Additional information: This measure is consistent with the standard IPEDS methodology that 

uses a six-year cohort graduation rate, based on the same entering cohort as the IPEDS firstyear persistence indicator; that is the percentage of all incoming first-time, full-time freshmen 

students in one semester who have graduated by the end of six years after entry. An IPEDS 

analysis of IHEs shows that four-year public colleges have an average graduation rate of 

45 percent, and four-year private colleges have an average graduation rate of 53 percent. The 

University’s 2010-2015 Strategic Plan originally identified a goal for improving the graduation 

rate of undergraduate students to 50 percent by fiscal year 2015. In an effort to get closer to 

this goal rate, targets for fiscal years 2013 through 2017 were raised. 

Measure: The graduation rate for Master’s students. 

Year Target Actual

2012 74% 72%

2013 74 75

2014 74 81

2015 74 83

2016 74

2017 74

Additional information: IPEDS does not collect graduation rate data for graduate students so 

it is not possible to make comparisons to other institutions. The University calculates this 

measure using a cohort approach that counts students as graduates if they successfully 

complete a Master’s program within 3 years of enrolling. Doctoral candidates and part-time 

students are excluded from the calculation.

Measure: The graduation rate for MSSD students. 

Year Target Actual

2012

2013

2014 65% 72%

2015 65 73

2016 65

2017 65

Additional information: The Center, with the Department’s approval, has recently decided to 

replace the 2-year cumulative senior graduation rate with a 4-year adjusted cohort graduation 

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rate (ACGR), based on first-time 9th grade cohorts, including students who transfer in and 

subtracting students who transfer out, which is consistent with the Department’s changes to the 

requirements outlined in the regulations governing programs administered under Part A of Title I 

of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 on October 29, 2008 (34 CFR 200.19). 

Using this methodology, the graduation rate for MSSD was 73 percent in 2015. The University 

calculated graduation rates for prior years but found that data quality issues make these data 

points invalid and unreliable. The Department consulted data from the National Center for 

Education Statistics (NCES) to establish new targets for this measure. According to NCES 

data, the national graduation rate for students with disabilities in 2012 was 61 percent. Using 

this data point as a reference for target setting, the Department has identified targets 

accordingly through 2017. 

Objective: Curriculum and extracurricular activities prepare students to meet the skill 

requirements of the workplace or to continue their studies.

Measure: The percentage of Gallaudet University graduates with baccalaureate degrees who 

are employed, in advanced education or training, or are neither employed nor enrolled in 

advanced education or training during their first year after graduation.

Year Students 

Employed 

Target

Students 

Employed 

Actual

Students in 

Advanced 

Education 

or Training 

Target

Students in 

Advanced 

Education 

or Training 

Actual

Not 

Engaged in 

Either 

Activity 

Target

Not 

Engaged in 

Either 

Activity 

Actual

2012 50% 63% 45% 35% 5% 2%

2013 50 59 45 38 5 3

2014 50 77 45 19 5 4

2015 53 45 2

2016 53 45 2

2017 53 45 2

Additional information: The “Students Employed” category includes both full- and part-time 

employment. Advanced education or training includes students enrolled full- or part-time in a 

master's or Ph.D. program, a vocational or technical program, or another type of program, e.g., 

law school or medical school. In fiscal year 2011, the University and the Department agreed to 

count each alumnus only once in his or her primary category, with employment given the 

highest ranking. Thus, those graduates who were employed and in advanced education or 

training 1 year after graduation are categorized only once—in the “Students employed” 

category. 

Data for these measures are reported to the Department 1 year following graduation. The source of 

the data is an annual survey sent to students who have graduated from the University within the 

previous year.

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Measure: The percentage of MSSD graduates who are employed or in postsecondary 

education or training, or are neither employed nor enrolled in postsecondary education or 

training during their first year after graduation.

 Year

Students in 

Postsecondary 

Education or 

Training or 

Employed Target

Students in 

Postsecondary 

Education or 

Training or 

Employed Actual

Not Engaged in 

Either Activity 

Target

Not Engaged in 

Either Activity 

Actual

2012 100% 93% 0 7%

2013 100 76 0 24

2014 100 93 0 7

2015 100 0

2016 100 0

2017 100 0

Additional information: Gallaudet previously provided data to the Department on the 

percentage of MSSD graduates who are (1) employed, (2) in postsecondary education or 

training, and (3) not engaged in either activity. With the Department’s approval, Gallaudet has 

decided to report on the percentage of students who are either (1) employed or enrolled in 

postsecondary education or (2) not engaged in either activity. For 2014, the data indicate that 

within 1 year of graduation, 93 percent of MSSD graduates were either employed, enrolled in 

postsecondary education, or both, while 7 percent of MSSD graduates were not engaged in 

either activity. 

The data on employment and postsecondary education or training is derived from an annual 

survey of students who graduated from MSSD during the previous year. Unfortunately, the 

small number of MSSD graduates annually and the small response rate limit the usefulness of 

this data. Specifically, the number of responding 2013 graduates was 29 of 37, a rate of 

78 percent. Of the 45 graduates of 2014, 30 responded—a rate of 67 percent. Consequently, 

small changes can have significant impacts on the confidence level and margin of error of the 

data reported.

Objective: Gallaudet works in partnership with others to develop and disseminate educational 

programs and materials for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Measure: The number of programs and/or institutions adopting Model/Kendall innovative 

strategies/curricula or modifying their strategies as a result of Model and Kendall’s leadership.

Year Target Actual

2012 55 181

2013 55 113

2014 55 187

2015 120 77

2016 120

2017 140

Additional information: Gallaudet has noted that the number of programs adopting 

innovations from year to year will vary based on the number and type of strategies and curricula 

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GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

being disseminated by the Clerc Center at a given point in time, the changing needs of 

programs serving students who are deaf, and the financial and personnel resources available 

within these programs for training and implementation activities. The Department is working 

with Gallaudet on developing more valid, reliable and meaningful measures related to the 

national mission activities of the Clerc Center as alternatives to this measure. The goal is to 

identify alternatives that would assess the impact of evidence-based research projects, other 

scholarly activities, and demonstration and program development activities on improving 

educational outcomes for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. In the interim, the 

Department has increased the 2017 and 2018 targets for the existing measure to make them 

more ambitious. 

Efficiency Measures 

Objective: To improve the efficiency of operations at Gallaudet, as defined by the cost per 

successful student outcome, where the successful outcome is defined as graduation. 

Measure: Federal cost per Gallaudet graduate.

Year Target Actual

2012 $248,554 $241,894

2013 253,277 232,117

2014 258,343 222,140

2015 263,768

2016 269,307

2017 269,307

Additional information: This measure provides information on the average Federal cost per 

successful outcome. This measure looks at how the ultimate outcome of the Federal 

investment relates to the appropriation for Gallaudet. The Federal cost is calculated by 

averaging the appropriation amounts, excluding funds allocated to the Clerc Center, for the year 

the students graduated and for the prior 5 years, and dividing this average by the number of 

graduates in the graduation year. This approximates the IPEDS indicator length of 6 years to 

graduation. Graduates include students receiving bachelor’s degrees, graduate certificates, 

master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees. Federal student financial aid, vocational rehabilitation 

payments, other Federal support for students, Federal grants and contracts, appropriations for 

construction, and the Federal Endowment Grant program are not included in this calculation. 

The fiscal year 2014 data on the Federal cost per graduate, as reported by Gallaudet University, 

is based on an average of the cost per graduate from fiscal year 2009 to 2014. Gallaudet’s 

Federal cost per graduate decreased 16 percent between 2009 and 2014. The improvement on 

this measure is a function of the increasing number of graduates each year during this period. 

Specifically, between 2009 and 2014, the number of undergraduate and graduate completions 

increased 26 percent. 

Gallaudet proposed to establish targets that account for future inflation by using the Consumer 

Price Index (CPI), with the goal of limiting increases on the Federal cost per graduate to less 

than those of the CPI. Gallaudet and the Department determined that the Consumer Price 

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Index for All Urban Consumers (CPIU) represents the most reasonable basis for calculating 

inflation. The Department set an initial target for fiscal year 2010, which was increased by the 

estimated rate of inflation for fiscal years 2011 through 2016. The Department maintained the 

2016 target in 2017. As updated information becomes available regarding the projected 

inflation rate for the next fiscal year and outlying years, the targets will be adjusted accordingly. 

2015 data will be available in March 2016.

Measure: Total educational cost per Gallaudet graduate.

Year Target Actual

2012 $296,702 $276,785

2013 302,339 263,927

2014 308,386 250,882

2015 314,862

2016 321,474

2017 321,474

Additional information: Total educational cost per Gallaudet graduate is calculated by dividing 

the average of the current year’s and the previous 5 years’ total student expenditures by the 

number of undergraduate and graduate students awarded degrees during a given fiscal year. 

The cost is composed of the total program budget excluding IPEDS expenditure categories 

associated with research, public services, auxiliary enterprises, and construction, plus the 

Endowment Grant program. This approximates the IPEDS indicator length of 6 years to 

graduation. This figure is then divided by the number of graduates in that school year. The 

measure looks at the total cost of educating a student at Gallaudet as an indication of how 

efficiently the University operates. The measure uses existing cost data reported to the 

Department as part of the University’s budget submission. The fiscal year 2014 data on the 

Federal cost per graduate, as reported by Gallaudet University, is based on an average of the 

cost per graduate from fiscal year 2009 to 2014. As noted above, Gallaudet has steadily 

improved its performance on this measure since 2009 by graduating an increasing number of 

students each year.

Gallaudet proposed to establish targets that account for future inflation by using the CPI, with 

the goal of limiting increases on the total cost per graduate to less than those of the CPI. 

Gallaudet and the Department determined that the CPIU represents the most reasonable basis 

for calculating inflation. The Department set an initial target for the total educational cost 

measure for fiscal year 2010, which was increased by the estimated rate of inflation for fiscal 

years 2011 through 2016. The Department maintained the 2016 target in 2017. As updated 

information becomes available regarding the projected inflation rate for the next fiscal year and 

outlying years, the targets will be adjusted accordingly. Fiscal year 2015 data will be available 

in March 2016.

Other Performance Information

The Department conducted a monitoring visit of the Gallaudet University programs in June 

2014. The visit focused on Gallaudet’s implementation of its Strategic Plan 2010-2015, the 

institution’s efforts in the following areas: increasing undergraduate enrollment, with a special 

focus on emerging signers, traditionally underrepresented students, and online students; 

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addressing needs of emerging signers and students who are deaf-blind; assessing the impact of 

the University’s Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program, and implementing the University’s 

2012-2022 Campus Master Plan. The Department transmitted a letter to the University in 

October 2014, summarizing the results of the monitoring visit. The next on-site monitoring visit 

will take place in spring 2016 to review the following: compliance with applicable requirements; 

use of Federal funds; quality of GPRA and other program data; and performance of selected 

programs within the institution.

The Department plans to conduct a formal on-site monitoring visit of the Clerc Center in fall 

2016 on compliance with relevant provisions of the IDEA and on progress made toward 

achieving educational results and functional outcomes for its students. The Clerc Center will 

also need to implement requirements of the recently signed Every Student Succeeds Act 

(ESSA), the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

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