The University is making big changes to improve how it uses data for decision-making. Starting June 1, the institutional research team will join the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE). This move aims to enhance collaboration and boost the University’s performance.
Jerry Edmonds, chief of staff for academic affairs, highlighted that combining these two teams will create a more agile unit focused on improvement and analytics. This will help the University better achieve its goals, particularly regarding student success and academic excellence.
The OIE provides essential data insights to leaders and faculty, supporting efforts like accreditation, strategic planning, and program reviews. Having a solid foundation of data is crucial; as the recent Pew Research Center study shows, organizations that effectively use data are more successful in their missions.
Key elements of this reorganization include:
- The institutional research team, led by Amy Gardiner, will still focus on retention and graduation rates, while benefiting from the tools and methods available through OIE.
- The Office of Institutional Data and Reporting, led by Seth Ovadia, will continue to handle official reporting and data compliance, ensuring that all data needs are met without overlap.
With these changes, faculty and staff can expect better access to data and more streamlined processes. Highlights include:
- A single point of access for data requests.
- Faster response times for data needs.
- Improved dashboards for better decision-making.
- Clear definitions of data sources.
By integrating these teams and resources, the University aims to support its mission more effectively. Enhanced data capabilities can drive initiatives that benefit everyone on campus. For further details, you can visit the OIE site or reach out to the team directly.
