Reference librarians are constantly balancing their reference duties against other duties, for example, collection development and departmental liaison. The author works as a reference librarian at Texas A&M University-Commerce Libraries in Commerce, Texas. The university has approximately 11,000 students, a large number of whom are…

This brief identifies the similarities and differences in the quality of education management information systems across the Federated States of Micronesia, which includes the four states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. During focus group sessions that explored the methods and processes used to collect, analyze, report on, and disseminate…

The University of Minnesota-Duluth is the second largest campus in the University of Minnesota system. The UMD library, which serves more than 11,000 students and 500 faculty members, is primarily an undergraduate library. The reference team consists of eight librarians, including author Sunshine Carter, reference and electronics resources…

This report seeks official endorsement from Universities UK and GuildHE for the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) to be adopted sector-wide for students entering higher education in academic year 2012-13. Following extensive trialling and detailed consideration, the report clearly outlines the HEAR and the additional information it…

Four articles address issues of collecting, compiling, reporting, and interpreting statistics generated by automated library systems for administrative decision making. Topics include using a management information system to forecast growth and assess areas for downsizing; statistics for collection development and analysis; and online system…

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education's primary concern is the strengthening of all the state's institutions of higher learning to the end that quality education and training beyond high school may be available to every citizen who desires it and can be expected to profit from it. Included in this annual report are: changes in…

Guidelines are offered to institutional researchers and planning analysts for presenting research results in formats and levels of sophistication that are accessible to top management. Fundamental principles include: (1) know what is needed; (2) know when the information is needed; (3) match format to analytical sophistication and learning…

This guide is designed to inform school directors about the value of a data dashboard and to provide information on how districts can create a data dashboard for school directors. A data dashboard is a tool for viewing and analyzing student achievement and performance data. Key data for monitoring student achievement and directing policy level…

The Achieving the Dream (ATD) initiative works with more than 100 community colleges across the United States with the specific goal of increasing student success. Together, Achieving the Dream colleges graduate or transfer close to 250,000 students a year. With just a 5 percent increase in graduation rates, individuals can positively impact the…

A rapidly changing global economy, shifting demographics, and concerns about our ability to maintain a competitive workforce have focused national attention on the educational systems of America's states, highlighting their critical role in ensuring a productive and creative future for our country. As a result, Americas colleges and universities…

A study was conducted to inventory and describe the quantitative performance measures of an academic library system which originate as a result of the activities at an automated loan desk. Visits were made to 24 academic libraries whose experience in library automation ranged from the completely on-line system with user self service and in-house…

Program Effectiveness and Related Costs (PERC), a comprehensive data management plan developed at Empire State College, is the subject of this explanatory report. Chapter 1 presents the conceptual framework of the program which incorporates data on outcomes, costs, programs, students, and faculty, and also incorporates a "multiple perspectives…

The development and implementation of a planning and institutional research subsystem by Grambling State University (GSU) are described. Three components of the subsystem are as follows: the Grambling Institutional Data System (GRIDS), simulation and forecasting models, and the management reporting system. The way that GSU has improved the…

The activities of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education for fiscal year 1977 are outlined. The areas reported on are: (1) federally funded programs; (2) activities of the South Carolina Postsecondary Education Planning Commission; (3) new programs approved; (4) review of graduate programs; (5) activities in medical and health…