oklahoma association for institutional research and planning -november 2, 2007 1 information...

Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

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Information Technology

The Integrated Roles of Institutional Researchers in Higher Education

bySheilynda Stewart

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education


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Gain awareness of the evolving roles of Institutional Researchers at higher education institutions.

Gain an understanding of how technology and access to data impact decision making.

Gain awareness of how state and federal data security laws impact higher education institutions.

Objectives


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Role of Institutional Researchers

…Information processor and interpreter to support decision-making, planning, and policy formulation (Delaney, 1997).

“Institutional research is conducted to provide information which supports institutional planning, policy formation and decision making within an institution of higher education” (Saupe, 1990).

“… institutional research is an adaptive function which plays a major role in fostering institutional change.” (Peterson, 1999).


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Higher Education and Comparative ProfilesEnrollmentStudent InformationFinancial DataInstitutional ProfilesDegree Inventory ReportsProgram Enrollment and Degrees

http://www.okhighered.org/oeis



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The bottom line is …

We are tasked to do more with less.

Dynamic tension between greater quantity and greater quality.

Technology seeks to simply data quality by automating tasks.


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To facilitate in the advancement of knowledge to support planning, policy formation, and decision making

Institutional researchers wear multiple hats such as the reporter, interpreter, market researcher, policy analyst, college advocate, and information architect.


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The Evolution of Institutional Research Roles

Reporter Interpreter Market Researcher Policy Analyst College AdvocateInformation

Architect

Traditional Roles Evolving New Roles


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REPORTER

Factbooks Trend Reports


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INTERPRETER

Involves interpreting, analyzing, and providing contextual relevance

Pilot studies Multivariate studies Survey research


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Market Researcher

Must understand how to leverage access to external information effectively

Enrollment Management Environmental Scans Labor Market Research


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POLICY ANALYST

Involves developing intelligences to monitor and understand policy context

Institutional Effectiveness Program Evaluation Implementation Studies


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College Advocate

Conduct analyses to support college position before budgeting and oversight agencies

Position Papers Interpretive Reports


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Information Architect

Information Systems Design End-User Interface Web Presence


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Fill in the gaps in newly designed data management systems

End user interface Interpret data posted at agency web

sites



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Institutional Researchers are challenged with analyzing data utilizing statistical packages:

SPSS SAS GIS Mapping Software (trend analysis) Tableau Software



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SPSS SAS GIS Mapping Software (trend analysis) Tableau Software (Partnership with

Microsoft Office)



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SPSSDescriptives/FrequenciesRegression AnalysisMultivariate AnalysisStructural Equation Modeling (AMOS)



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Structural Equation Modeling


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SAS - SAS/STAT Descriptives/Frequencies/ Regression Analysis Multivariate Analysis Psychometric Analysis (with variable

transformations)



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Information Architect Tableau Software

Databases, Graphics, and Business Intelligence


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IR – Catalyst for Change

In September 2007, The U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced a grant in the amount of $2.45 million to the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) to pilot a program to provide reliable and valid measures for assessing student learning at the post-secondary level.


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IR – Catalyst for Change

Colleges and universities may participate in a voluntary accountability system to collect key meaningful accountability measures.

Institutional researchers function as “infomediaries” in knowledge management and develop and maintain systems that will connect users with the knowledge they need (Costello, 2000).


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Data Security Analyst

A possible new emerging role – Data security Analyst

Open access fosters information sharing.

Promote a security focused culture.

Must comply with state and federal data security laws:

“The Privacy Act of 1974” – regulates the collection, use, storage, and dissemination of personal data by government agencies.


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Federal Legislation applicable to higher education data and privacy security:

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) – designed to protect privacy rights and accuracy of student education records.

Gram-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) – protects the security and confidentiality of private customer information.

Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act of 1966 (HIPAA) – federal act which protects medical patient data and confidentiality of medical records.


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OSRHE State Data Access and Management Policy:

“This policy apply to all data and information products created, collected or maintained, is restricted by federal or state laws for confidentiality, privacy, or other authorize purpose.”

http://www.okhighered.org/studies-reports/data-access-mgmt/


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The unitary data system is protected in accordance with FERPA:

Student Enrollment File Student Course Enrollment file Class File Professional Staff File

Because the data system contains individual data on students and staff, this policy is subject to both privacy and confidentiality procedures.


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May want to apply secure socket layer technologies that encrypts/decrypts network data.

The cost of not safeguarding information could result in

class action lawsuits and financial penalties for failure to comply with federal and state security legislation.


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Recommendations

Institutional researchers should become more pro-active as opposed to being primarily reactive in its activities (Tan, 1995).

Incorporate security measures by developing standards to continually assess information security.

Hybrid role as “jack of all trades” is not new to institutional researchers. Serve as a moderator between technical staff, academic scholars, and administrators.


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Recommendations

Contribute expertise about data methodology toward the design of information technology infrastructures.

Continue to make use of evolving technologies to manage and communicate information.

Embrace technology to streamline the information flow and to empower information users.


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The Integrated Roles of Institutional Researchers in Higher Education

Questions?

Thank you


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References

Cate, F.H. (2006). The privacy and security policy vacuum in higher education. EDUCAUSE Quarterly, September/October 2006, pp. 19-28.

Peterson, M.W. (1999). The role of institutional research: From improvement to redesign. In J.F. Volkwein (Ed), New Directions for

Institutional Research, no. 104, 83-103. Retrieved August 25, 2006, from EBSCOhost database.

Saupe, J.L. (1990). The functions of institutional research. Tallahassee, Florida: Association for Institutional Research.

Tan, D.L. (1995). Institutional research: Is it a fad or here to stay? Paper presented at the Spring conference of the Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning (OKAIRP), Stillwater, Oklahoma. (ED 382078).

oklahoma association for institutional research and planning -november 2, 2007 1 information...

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