Department of Education

GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Page

Appropriations Language.............................................................................................................. 1

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

Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers................................................................................... 3

Summary of Changes ................................................................................................................... 4

Authorizing Legislation.................................................................................................................. 5

Appropriations History................................................................................................................... 6

Activity:

Gallaudet University................................................................................................................ 8
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

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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, $165,361,000, of which up to $15,000,000, to remain available until 

expended, shall be for construction, as defined by section 201(2) of such Act: 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 (Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2023.)

 

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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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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Appropriation, Adjustments, and Transfers

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation/Adjustments/Transfers 2022 2023 2024

Discretionary:

Discretionary budget authority: Appropriation $146,361 $165,361 $165,361

Discretionary budget authority: Total, discretionary appropriation 146,361 165,361 165,361
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Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

2023 $165,361

2024 165,361 

Net change 0
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Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2023

Authorized 2023 Appropriation

2024

Authorized

2024

Request

University programs (EDA l-A) $01 $165,361 To be determined1 $165,361

Elementary and Secondary Education programs (EDA 

I-A) (2) (2) To be determined1 (2)

Construction (EDA l-103) 01 03 To be determined1 0 (3)

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

Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (EDA II-205) 01 0 To be determined1 0

Total annual appropriation 165,361 165,361

Portion of the request subject to reauthorization 165,361

1 The GEPA extension expired September 30, 2015. Reauthorization for FY 2024 is expected through appropriations action. 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.

3 The University may use up to $15 million of the $165 million made available, for construction.
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Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote AppropriationFootnote

20141 $117,541 N/A $118,541 $119,000

20152 119,000 N/A 121,550 120,275

20163 120,275 $121,275 120,275 121,275

20174 121,275 121,275 121,275 121,275

20185 120,451 128,000 121,275 128,000

20196 121,275 134,361 133,000 134,361

20207 121,275 138,361 136,361 137,361

2020 Supplemental, CARES 

Act (P.L. 116-136)8

0 0 0 7,000

20219 137,361 139,861 140,361 140,361

2021 Supplemental, CRRSA 

Act (P.L. 116-260)10

0 0 0 11,000

1 The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action. The level for the Senate 

allowance reflects Senate Subcommittee action only.

2 The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action. The level for the Senate 

allowance reflects Senate Subcommittee action only. 3 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.

4 The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect Committee action on the regular annual 2017 appropriations 

bill.

5 The level for the House allowance reflects floor action on the Omnibus appropriations bill; the Senate allowance 

reflects Committee action on the regular annual 2018 appropriations bill; the Appropriation reflects the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141). 6 The levels for House and Senate allowances reflect Committee action on the regular annual 2019 appropriations bill; 

the Appropriation reflects enactment of the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and 

Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 115-245). 7 The Senate allowance reflects the Chairman’s mark; the Appropriation reflects the Further Consolidated Appropriation 

Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94). 8 The Appropriation reflects the supplemental funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 

116-136). 9 The level for the Senate Allowance reflects the Chairman’s mark; the Appropriation reflects Division H of the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260). 10 The Appropriation reflects supplemental funds from Division M of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 

116-260).
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Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote AppropriationFootnote

2021 Mandatory Supplemental, 

ARP Act (P.L. 117-02)1

0 0 0 $19,250

20222 $143,361 $143,361 $164,361 146,361

20233 143,361 156,361 180,361 165,361

2024 165,361

1 The Appropriation reflects the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-02). 2 The House allowance reflects floor action on the FY 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act; the Senate allowance 

reflects the Chairman’s mark; and the Appropriation reflects H.R. 2471 / Public Law 117-103 Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2022.

3 The House allowance reflects floor action on the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act; the Senate allowance 

reflects the Chairman’s mark; and the Appropriation reflects H.R. 2617 / Public Law 117-328 Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2023.
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Gallaudet University

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

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2024 Authorization: To be determined1

Budget Authority:

2023 Appropriation 2024 Request Change 

$165,361 $165,361 0

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 deaf and hard of hearing individuals, 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. 

Undergraduate students can choose from more than 31 areas of study leading to a Bachelor of 

Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Program offerings, including pre-law, pre-medicine, prearchitecture, and pre-business, are designed to increase the number of deaf and hard of 

hearing individuals who enter these professions. Graduate programs are open to deaf, hard of 

hearing, and hearing students and include programs leading to Master of Arts and Master of 

Science degrees, specialist degrees, certificates, and doctoral degrees. To increase the 

effectiveness of its instructional programs, the University also offers communications training, 

counseling, and other support services for the campus community. 

Research is a key component of Gallaudet’s mission as a university and is a major goal in the 

current Gallaudet Strategic Plan. Major grant support goes toward research, development, and 

training programs in visual language and learning; access to communication for deaf and hard 

of hearing people in healthcare; advocacy efforts undertaken by parents and caregivers of color 

to ensure their deaf or hard of hearing children’s educational needs are met; and technology 

assessment. 

Hearing Undergraduate Students (HUGS) Program: Gallaudet implemented the HUGS pilot in 

2000 to enroll a limited number of hearing students into this undergraduate program. Under a 

2013 agreement with the Department that was in place for 5 years, incoming hearing students 

1 The GEPA extension expired September 30, 2015. Reauthorization for FY 2024 is expected through appropriations 

action. 
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

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could not exceed 8 percent of each year’s total number of newly enrolled undergraduate 

students at Gallaudet, but online programs were exempt from this cap. Beginning in 2020, under 

a modified agreement with Gallaudet, incoming hearing students on-campus and in the Online 

Degree Completion Program may not exceed 8 percent of each year’s total number of newly 

enrolled undergraduate students. 

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, 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 providing training and technical assistance to professionals 

and families around the country. 

Program Operations: For fiscal year 2022, Gallaudet realized total revenue of $214 million. 

Federal appropriations accounted for 67 percent of operating revenue for university-level 

support, Clerc Center Support, and the Regional Partnership (described in detail below). 

COVID-19 relief funding provided an additional 6 percent towards fiscal year 2022 revenue. 

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. As of February 27, 2023, the value of the Federal 

Endowment Grant Program corpus, including Federal, private, and reinvested funds, was 

$73.6 million, the same as it was the prior fiscal year. Fiscal year 2005 was the last year that the 

University added funds to the program. At this time, the University does not intend to use any of 

its appropriation to match Endowment Grant funds in fiscal year 2024. 

Other Revenue: In addition to the direct Federal appropriation, Gallaudet’s Non-Federal revenue 

includes interest from the Federal Endowment Grant program, revenue from grants and 

contracts, and student tuition and fees. During academic year 2021-2022, Gallaudet students 

received approximately $10.4 million in vocational rehabilitation payments and $9.3 million in 

Federal student financial aid, including $3.1 million in Pell Grants. 

Regional Partnership: In 2019 Gallaudet established a regional partnership, operated by the 

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB), to serve Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 

Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. During its first year of

operation, AIDB focused on building partnerships with agencies and service providers 

throughout the nine-State region. Many of the activities planned for the second year of the 

partnership were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading AIDB and Gallaudet to 

refocus their work on developing high quality distance education, training and family support 

opportunities and resources. The fiscal year 2022 appropriation provided $4.4 million for 

partnership activities. The University expects spending to increase in fiscal year 2023 as project 

activities resume after past interruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic: COVID-19 has had a significant impact on both the operations 

and finances of Gallaudet University. All students moved to remote instruction in spring 2020, 

with most employees working remotely. Gallaudet returned to on-campus instruction for the fall 

2021 semester. 

Gallaudet has faced significant additional expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To help 

offset these costs, it received $7.0 million under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic 

Security Act, $11.0 million under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental 

Appropriations Act, 2021, and $19.3 million under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Some 

of the additional expenses Gallaudet incurred include costs for developing online courses, 

training faculty in online teaching, purchasing and distributing technology to ensure access to 

virtual learning and work for students and employees, and COVID mitigation measures such as 

cleaning supplies and safety equipment. COVID-19 supplemental appropriations also helped 

offset the loss of revenue due to students not living on campus. 

Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year (dollars in thousands)

2019 $134,361

2020 137,361

2020 CARES Act 7,000

2021 140,361

2021 CRRSA Act 11,000

2021 Mandatory ARP Act 19,250

2022 146,361

2023 165,361

FY 2024 BUDGET REQUEST

For fiscal year 2024, the Administration requests $165.4 million for Gallaudet University, level 

with the fiscal year 2023 appropriation, to cover operational costs and to maintain strong 

support for the University and the Clerc Center. The funds will be used to support a wide range 

of activities at the University and the Clerc Center that help strengthen educational and 

employment opportunities for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, including continued 

programming for approximately 1,322 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the 

University; services for 227 elementary and secondary education students enrolled in Clerc 

Center programs; and Gallaudet’s ongoing strategic initiatives focused on access to rigorous 

and critical learning, research, and career pathways and impact beyond campus.
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UNIVERSITY OPERATIONS DATA

Operations Data1 2022 2023 2024

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollars): 

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollars): Base Tuition2 $16,512 $16,512 $16,512

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollarRoom and Board 14,622 14,622 14,622

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollars): Total 31,134 31,134 31,134

Program enrollment:

Program enrollment: Number of full-time degree-seeking 

undergraduates 852 900 900

Program enrollment: Number of non-degree & part-time 

undergraduate students 62 365 365

Program enrollment: Number of graduate students 408 410 410

Program enrollment: Total 1,322 1,675 1,675

Number of MSSD students 139 110 110

Number of KDES students 88 90 90

Student/faculty ratios:

Student/faculty ratios: University 7:1 7:1 7:1

Student/faculty ratios: MSSD 7:1 7:1 7:1

Student/faculty ratios: KDES 5:1 5:1 5:1

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

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

program 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 Federal resources provided for the program as well as the 

resources and efforts invested by those served by the program.

1 The 2022 data are provided by the University. The 2023 and 2024 program enrollment and student/faculty ratio data 

are estimates based on prior year data. 

2 Graduate students and international students are charged a tuition surcharge.
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Goal: To challenge students 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

2019 75% 75% 85% 85%

2020 75 74 85 91

2021 75 80 85 78

2022 75 73 85 87

2023 75 85

2024 75 85

Additional information: The calculation for the undergraduate measure is based on the 

persistence of first-time, 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. 

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.

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

graduate within 6 years of enrollment.

Year Target Actual

2019 50 51

2020 50 44

2021 50 58

2022 50 44

2023 50

2024 50

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

uses a 6-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 6 years after entry. 
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Measure: The graduation rate for master’s students. 

Year Target Actual

2019 74 77

2020 74 84

2021 74 80

2022 74 81

2023 77

2024 77

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

Measure: The graduation rate for MSSD students. 

Year Target Actual

2019 70 77

2020 70 66

2021 70 77

2022 70 73

2023 72

2024 72

Additional information: This measure is based on a 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, 

based on first-time 9th grade cohorts, including students who transfer in and subtracting 

students who transfer out. 

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 

surveyed 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

2019 55 64 43 33 2 4

2020 55 67 43 26 2 7

2021 55 54 43 40 2 6

2022 55 43 2

2023 55 43 2

2024 55 43 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.,
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

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law school or medical school. Each alumnus is counted 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 2 years following graduation. The source 

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

previous year. The 2021 survey response rate was 73 percent. 

Measure: The percentage of MSSD graduates surveyed 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

2019 100 97 0 3

2020 100 92 0 8

2021 100 92 0 8

2022 100 0

2023 100 0

2024 100 0

Additional information: 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. 

The response rate for the 2021 graduating class was 68 percent. 

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

2019 140 57

2020 140 84

2021 140 164

2022 140 72

2023 140

2024 140

Additional information: The Department is working with Gallaudet on developing more valid, 

reliable and meaningful measures related to the national mission activities of the Clerc Center. 

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 continues to assess progress on the existing performance measures.
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Efficiency Measures 

The agreed upon methodology used to establish targets for the efficiency measures account for 

future inflation by using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPIU) with the 

goal of limiting increases on the Federal cost per Gallaudet graduate and the total educational 

cost per Gallaudet graduate to less than the CPIU. The Department set initial targets for fiscal 

year 2010, which were increased by the estimated rate of inflation for fiscal years 2011 through 

2016. The Department maintained the fiscal year 2016 targets through fiscal year 2022, since 

the actual costs had been consistently below the targeted amounts. Beginning with fiscal year 

2023, the Department is resuming increases to the targets to reflect the projected inflation rate. 

As updated information becomes available regarding the projected inflation rate for the next 

fiscal year and outlying years, the targets will be adjusted accordingly.

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

2019 269,307 248,903

2020 269,307 248,923

2021 269,307 258,294

2022 269,307 253,026

2023 286,063

2024 286,063

Additional information: The Federal cost is calculated by averaging the portion of the Federal 

appropriation allocated to the University (i.e., 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. For example, the fiscal year 2022 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 2017 to 2022. 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. Gallaudet’s Federal cost per graduate 

decreased by 2 percent in fiscal year 2022.

Measure: Total educational cost per Gallaudet graduate.

Year Target Actual

2019 321,474 289,466

2020 321,474 288,211

2021 321,474 297,987

2022 321,474 295,362

2023 341,474

2024 341,474
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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. 

For example, the fiscal year 2022 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 2017 to 

2022. This approximates the IPEDS indicator length of 6 years to graduation. Gallaudet’s total 

educational cost per graduate decreased by 1 percent in fiscal year 2022.