A study tracked 3,192 University of Iowa freshmen through their first year and into their second year on campus. Logistic regression analyses using multiple data sources (admissions and registrar files, a standardized entrance test (the American College Testing Program Assessment) student profile section, an entering freshman survey) were…

This paper analyzes the current proposals by the government of Alberta, Canada, to implement an accountability framework for the province's postsecondary institutions using performance indicators. The paper develops a conceptual framework for performance indicators based on a discrepancy model of evaluation using three metaphors: mechanical,…

This paper describes the results of research conducted on the perceptions of college and university presidents relative to the perceived impact of the institutional research office on institutional effectiveness at their respective institutions. A national survey of 485 college and university presidents resulted in 261 responses. The survey…

Prepared in response to a survey designed to determine and differentiate the mission of New Jersey's Hudson County Community College (HCCC), this report describes the characteristics and operations of HCCC, presenting data in the form of responses to 10 survey questions. The 10 questions focus on the college's service area, admissions standards…

A case study was done of a large, private, research university's in-house effort to engage in assessment of the quality of faculty worklife, and to describe the variety of political, logistical, fiscal and data base management issues which arose from the largely faculty-directed and volunteer effort. Prompted by learning of efforts to create a…

This book examines, through analysis of three liberal arts colleges (Antioch, Reed, Swarthmore), the factors contributing to the greatness of a first-rank liberal arts college. The writer begins with a presentation of the historical development of the three schools, followed by a detailed description of how broad institutional innovations were…

This paper describes some of the research and planning methodologies employed by Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) to support facility and programmatic decision making required by a 60% increase in full-time equivalent students within a 5-year period. Following a brief introduction, the paper describes the research questions considered. The…

New Mexico State University-Alamogordo's (NMSU-A) Institutional Assessment and Strategic Planning (IASP) process is designed to identify what the institution is doing, what the community is doing that may affect NMSU-A, how well NMSU-A is achieving its mission and purposes, and what the college should do in the future. The IASP is an integrated…

This report, emanating from New Mexico State University-Alamogordo's (NMSU-A) Institutional Assessment and Strategic Planning (IASP) process, presents information pertinent to NMSU-A's planning process for 1993-1996. Following a brief introduction and the IASP Committee cover memo, the report highlights seven high-priority institutional issues:…

This study builds on an earlier one in which the role of institutional researchers in providing computer information systems (CIS) data to administrators was investigated. To examine the relationship between college culture and the role of institutional researchers as either providers of information or interpreters of data, a study was conducted…

This study compared 4,594 student responses from three different surveys of incoming students at the University of South Florida (USF) with data from Florida's State University System (SUS) admissions files to determine what proportion of error occurs in the survey responses. Specifically, the study investigated the amount of measurement error in…

This paper explores the concept of benchmarking in institutional research, a comparative analysis methodology designed to help colleges and universities increase their educational quality and delivery systems. The primary purpose of benchmarking is to compare an institution to its competitors in order to improve the product (in this case…

This publication is comprised entirely of statistical reports that summarize graduation-rate data collected from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 member institutions. The reports reflect the graduation rates of: (1) students and student-athletes entering college in the 1985-86 academic year, and (2) the average graduation…

The Office of Research and Planning at Pima Community College surveyed 15 community colleges from throughout the United States in order to elicit information on the workload and compensation of full-time faculty. The following 10 findings are based on the 12 colleges that provided data in response to the survey: (1) institutions on a semester…

Student equity is among the highest priorities at Glendale Community College (GCC), where 55% of the student population is from historically underrepresented groups. The college's Student Equity Plan (SEP) has the goals of maintaining and enhancing equity in access and success; conducting research to evaluate student access and success; and…