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Institutional Research in America: Adapting to Meet New Challenges

Institutional Research in America: Adapting to Meet New Challenges. Randy L. Swing, Ph.D. Executive Director, Association for Institutional Research Southampton, June 25, 2008. Before IR Work. After IR Work. Product of a North Carolina Community College. High Risk Factors (ETS, 2002)

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Institutional Research in America: Adapting to Meet New Challenges

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  1. Institutional Research in America: Adapting to Meet New Challenges Randy L. Swing, Ph.D. Executive Director, Association for Institutional Research Southampton, June 25, 2008

  2. Before IR Work AfterIR Work

  3. Product of a North Carolina Community College High Risk Factors (ETS, 2002) 0-1 = low, 2-5 = moderate, 5+ = high academically under prepared single parent financially independent caring for children at home working more than 30 hrs/week first-generation college student being a part-time student college cost = significant issue

  4. Education changes lives… It changed your life, didn’t it?

  5. Audience Survey First generation to attend college? Worked for pay while in college? Made at least one “D” in college? Share a hope, dream, aspiration for your work that is rooted in you past experiences…. Why are you passionate about higher education?

  6. What IS Institutional Research? "Logically, we should begin this discussion with some precise definition of what is meant by the term 'Institutional Research'. I can only say I wish we could” (p.1). John Lyons (1976) Memorandum to a Newcomer to the Field of Institutional Research

  7. Sidney Suslow – First AIR President “…. an attitude of critical appraisal of all aspects of higher education, which has as its primary purpose the assessment and evaluation of the expressed goals of the institution and the means used to achieve those goals Suslow, S. (1971) Address to 11th Annual Forum

  8. INTELLIGENT ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS “…providing data that are useful or necessary “in the making of intelligent administrative decisions and/or for the successful operation, maintenance and/or improvement of a given institution of higher education.” Stickler, W.H. (1967). The role of institutional research in "the Managerial Revolution in Higher Education": An overview. In E.F. Schietinger (Ed.), Introductory papers on institutional research. Atlanta GA: SREB, 1-15.

  9. RISE of I. R. and Technology Phase I: 1950s and 60s Used tally sheets, descriptive statistics, correlational stats. Phase II: Mainframe computers Large datasets SPSS & SAS (Stats programs) for mainframe applications Phase III: Wider access to data – integrated/relational datasets SPSS & SAS (click and use on the desktop) Sophisticated statistics McLaughlin, G.W and McLaughlin, J.S., 2002. TRAINING INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH PROFESSIONALS

  10. Broad Range of Methodologies “From its infancy, institutional researchers have used a broad range of methodologies from educational research, operations research, systems analysis, evaluation research, computer modeling, program budgeting, policy research, outcomes assessment, and planning models Fincher, C., (1985). The art and science of institutional research. In M.W. Peterson and M. Corcoran (Eds.), Institutional research in transition. Jossey-Bass Publishers, Inc.

  11. Key Drivers for I. R. Offices • Decision Support • Information from data for decision makers • Reporting • Federal IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) • State Reporting (public institutions) • Data Exchange/Consortia • Assessment/Quality Assurance • Accreditation (regional & special) • Change Management • Communications

  12. Varied Entry Points No standard entry point Large shops use mentoring Most IR Officers: on-the-job-training AIR Foundations I and II Institutes IR Certificate Programs The Pennsylvania State University Florida State University Coming Soon – A.I.R. On-Line

  13. www.airweb.org/images/2002codeofethics.pdf CODE OF ETHICS Competencies Practices Objectivity Accepted Technical Standards Confidentiality Relationship to Community Equal Treatment Integrity

  14. Varied Passions • Enrollment Management • Number of students to recruit & admit • Resource Management • Cost/Benefit Analysis • Improving efficiencies in operations • Student Success • Persistence • Learning • Faculty management • Salary equity studies • Research

  15. Changes in I.R. Office Resources 1998 – 2008: Operating Budget vs. Human Resources Volkwein & Woodell – Penn State

  16. I.R. Location in Organizational Structure Volkwein & Woodell – Penn State

  17. Changes in Highest Degree Among All I.R. Professional Staff Volkwein & Woodell – Penn State

  18. Take Away Points • IR is too varied and broad for easy definitions • Not yet an identifiable “profession” • Best described as a series of responsibilities • Both externally and internally driven • Emerging training/certification programs • A “growth career” field • Mostly an “American phenomena” at this time • Likely that the UK, China, and South Africa will develop their own unique variations

  19. Questions? Contact information: Randy L. Swing, Ph.D. Executive Director Association for Institutional Research rswing@airweb2.org

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