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Information Technology

Information Technology. The Integrated Roles of Institutional Researchers in Higher Education. by Sheilynda Stewart Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Objectives. Gain awareness of the evolving roles of Institutional Researchers at higher education institutions.

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Information Technology

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  1. Information Technology The Integrated Roles of Institutional Researchers in Higher Education by Sheilynda Stewart Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

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

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

  4. Role of Institutional Researchers • Higher Education and Comparative Profiles • Enrollment • Student Information • Financial Data • Institutional Profiles • Degree Inventory Reports • Program Enrollment and Degrees http://www.okhighered.org/oeis Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

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

  6. Role of Institutional Researchers • 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. Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  7. Role of Institutional Researchers The Evolution of Institutional Research Roles Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  8. REPORTER • Factbooks • Trend Reports Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  9. INTERPRETER • Involves interpreting, analyzing, and providing contextual relevance • Pilot studies • Multivariate studies • Survey research Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  10. Market Researcher Must understand how to leverage access to external information effectively • Enrollment Management • Environmental Scans • Labor Market Research Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  11. POLICY ANALYST Involves developing intelligences to monitor and understand policy context • Institutional Effectiveness • Program Evaluation • Implementation Studies Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  12. College Advocate Conduct analyses to support college position before budgeting and oversight agencies • Position Papers • Interpretive Reports Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  13. Information Architect • Information Systems Design • End-User Interface • Web Presence Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  14. Information Architect • Fill in the gaps in newly designed data management systems • End user interface • Interpret data posted at agency web sites Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  15. Information Architect Institutional Researchers are challenged with analyzing data utilizing statistical packages: • SPSS • SAS • GIS Mapping Software (trend analysis) • Tableau Software Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  16. Information Architect Institutional Researchers are challenged with analyzing data utilizing statistical packages: • SPSS • SAS • GIS Mapping Software (trend analysis) • Tableau Software (Partnership with Microsoft Office) Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  17. Information Architect Institutional Researchers are challenged with analyzing data utilizing statistical packages: • SPSS • Descriptives/Frequencies • Regression Analysis • Multivariate Analysis • Structural Equation Modeling (AMOS) Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  18. Structural Equation Modeling Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  19. Information Architect Institutional Researchers are challenged with analyzing data utilizing statistical packages: • SAS - SAS/STAT • Descriptives/Frequencies/ • Regression Analysis • Multivariate Analysis • Psychometric Analysis (with variable transformations) Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  20. Information Architect Tableau Software Databases, Graphics, and Business Intelligence Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

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

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

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

  24. Data Security Analyst 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. Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  25. Data Security Analyst • 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/ Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  26. Data Security Analyst • 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. Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  27. Data Security Analyst • May want to apply secure socket layer technologies that encrypts/decrypts network data. • The cost of not safeguarding information could result inclass action lawsuits and financial penalties for failure to comply with federal and state security legislation. Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  28. Data Security Analyst Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

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

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

  31. The Integrated Roles of Institutional Researchers in Higher Education Questions? Thank you Oklahoma Association for Institutional Research and Planning -November 2, 2007

  32. 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

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