Department of Education

GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

Fiscal Year 2023 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
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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, $143,361,000: 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

NOTE

A full-year 2022 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, 

the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2022 (Division A of P.L. 117-

43, as amended). The amounts included for 2022 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

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 2021 2022 2023

Discretionary:

Discretionary budget authority: Appropriation $140,361 $140,361 $143,361

Discretionary budget authority: Supplemental, CRRSA Act (P.L. 116-260) 11,000 0 0

Discretionary budget authority: Total, discretionary appropriation 151,361 140,361 143,361

Mandatory:

Mandatory budget authority: Supplemental, ARP Act (P.L. 117-02) 19,250 0 0

Mandatory budget authority: Total, mandatory appropriation 19,250 0 0

Total, discretionary and mandatory appropriation 170,611 140,361 143,361
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Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

2022 $140,361

2023 143,361 

Net change +3,000

Increases: 2022 base

Change 

from base

Program:

Increase in funding for Gallaudet to cover increased operational 

costs.

$140,361 +$3,000

Subtotal, increases +3,000
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Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2022

Authorized 

2022

Estimate

2023

Authorized

2023

Request

University programs (EDA l-A) $01 $140,361 To be determined1 $143,361

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

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

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 140,361 143,361

Portion of the request subject to reauthorization 143,361

1 The GEPA extension expired September 30, 2015; reauthorization for FY 2023 is expected through appropriations language. 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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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

2021 Mandatory Supplemental, 

ARP Act (P.L. 117-02)11

0 0 0 19,250

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). 11 The Appropriation reflects the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-02).
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Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Footnote

Senate 

Allowance Footnote AppropriationFootnote

202212 143,361 143,361 164,361 140,361

2023 143,361

12 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 the annualized continuing resolution level.
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Gallaudet University

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

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2023 Authorization: To be determined1

Budget Authority:

2022 Estimate 2023 Request Change 

$140,361 $143,361 +$3,000

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 2023 is expected through appropriations 

language.
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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. 

The 66 degree-seeking HUGS (53 on-campus and 13 online) in fall 2021 represented 7 percent 

of the undergraduate enrollment at the University. As of fall 2021, a total of 98 hearing students 

were enrolled in undergraduate programs. 

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: In fiscal year 2021, Federal funding represented approximately 71 percent

of Gallaudet’s total annual revenue. Roughly 78 percent of the Federal appropriation was used 

for university-level instructional programs, research programs, outreach programs, and the 

regional partnership (described below), with the remainder used for Clerc Center activities. 

Federal funding for the Clerc Center represented nearly 100 percent of total estimated funding 

for KDES and MSSD.

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 7, 2022, 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. The University does not intend to use any 

of its appropriation to match Endowment Grant funds in fiscal year 2023.

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 2020-2021, Gallaudet students 

received approximately $6.2 million in vocational rehabilitation payments and $22.7 million in 

Federal student financial aid, including $2.6 million in Pell Grants. In addition, Gallaudet 

received approximately $19.0 million in student tuition, room, board, and fees. Gallaudet 

receives additional funds from auxiliary enterprises revenues, donations, investment income, 

and a small amount from miscellaneous sources.

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 
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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 2021 appropriation provided $3.5 million for 

partnership activities. 

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)

2018 $128,000

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 Estimate 140,361

FY 2023 BUDGET REQUEST

For fiscal year 2023, the Administration requests $143.4 million for Gallaudet University, 

$3.0 million more than a fiscal year 2022 annualized CR based on the fiscal year 2021 

appropriation, to cover increased 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 1,719 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the University; services 

for 189 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 2021 2022 2023

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollars):

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollars): Base Tuition2 $14,0363 $16,512 $16,512

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollars): Room 4,480 7,194 7,410

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollars): Board 4,800 6,690 6,890

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollars): Fees 276 1,200 1,200

Annual tuition and fees (in whole dollars): Total 23,592 31,596 32,012

Program enrollment:

Program enrollment: Number of full-time degree-seeking 

undergraduates 911 913 900

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

undergraduate students 396 336 365

Program enrollment: Number of graduate students 412 400 410

Program enrollment: Total 1,719 1,649 1,675

Number of MSSD students 102 160 160

Number of KDES students 87 110 110

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 All data are provided by the University. The 2023 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.

3 The base tuition rate for fiscal year 2021 represents a 15 percent reduction because classes were held virtually. 

Room and board charges were reduced; there were a limited number of rooms available on campus and meal plans 

were also limited. Students were not charged a health fee. 
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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

2018 75% 72% 80% 81%

2019 75 75 85 85

2020 75 74 85 91

2021 75 80 85 78

2022 75 85

2023 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

2018 45% 47%

2019 50 51

2020 50 44

2021 50 58

2022 50

2023 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

2018 74% 81%

2019 74 77

2020 74 84

2021 74 80

2022 74

2023 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

2018 65% 69%

2019 70 77

2020 70 66

2021 70 77

2022 70

2023 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

2018 53% 70% 45% 26% 2% 4%

2019 55 64 43 33 2 4

2020 55 67 43 26 2 7

2021 55 43 2

2022 55 43 2

2023 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.,
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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 2020 survey response rate was 79 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

2018 100% 81% 0% 19%

2019 100 97 0 3

2020 100 92 0 8

2021 100 0

2022 100 0

2023 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 2020 graduating class was 74 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

2018 140 215

2019 140 57

2020 140 84

2021 140 164

2022 140

2023 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

2018 $269,307 $237,222

2019 269,307 248,903

2020 269,307 248,923

2021 269,307 258,294

2022 269,307

2023 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 2021 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 2016 to 2021. 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 

increased by 4 percent in fiscal year 2021.

Measure: Total educational cost per Gallaudet graduate.

Year Target Actual

2017 $321,474 $266,033

2018 321,474 277,524

2019 321,474 289,466

2020 321,474 288,211

2021 321,474 297,987

2022 321,474

2023 341,476
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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 2021 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 2016 to 

2021. This approximates the IPEDS indicator length of 6 years to graduation. Gallaudet’s total 

educational cost per graduate increased by 3 percent in fiscal year 2021.