Starting and Sustaining Meaningful Institutional Research at Small Colleges and Universities ─ Theory and Practice

The focus of this volume is on the work of Institutional Researchers in a small college or university (SCUs) setting. At an SCU, the goal of the IR office is to balance the bureaucratic tendencies of data-driven decision making with the need for collegiality and collaboration. Drawing on numerous examples, it illustrates how IR professionals can leverage their positionality within the institution to design data flows to answer questions by serving as convergent thinkers, connecting disjointed systems and requests.
This volume:

identifies the challenges that small IR offices face

reinforces the idea of collegiality as a defining feature of small IR offices

discusses several principles for using data about teaching and learning

explores the effects of low response rates in survey data and the effects of nonresponse bias

demonstrates the importance of collaborative efforts in enacting change

proposes a model of policy development focused on student success

presents an effective model of SCU IR office development

This is the 173rd volume of this Jossey-Bass quarterly report series. Timely and comprehensive, New Directions for Institutional Research provides planners and administrators in all types of academic institutions with guidelines in such areas as resource coordination, information analysis, program evaluation, and institutional management.

Narren J. Brown is associate vice president of research and institutional effectiveness at South Central College.

Wei-Fang Lin is assistant director for institutional research and assessment at Hamilton College.

Gordon J. Hewitt is assistant dean of faculty for institutional research and assessment at Hamilton College.

Ruth Vater is director of strategic research and planning at Beloit College.