Institutional Research Services

The priority assigned to a given project and the level of service provided depends on the following: the department/unit making the request, the relationship of the request to the university's mission/strategic plan, the timeframe for completion and the scope of the project’s expected impact.

Provision of Statistical Information about JWU

IR is the official source of statistical data about JWU across the university system and also holds the results of many institution-wide surveys that have been administered (YFCY, CIRP, Career Progression Study, etc.).
IR maintains many files containing official data or connects with other university offices containing that information.
Data can be obtained on admissions, students, course enrollments, retention/graduation rates, degree completions, faculty, staff, credits, etc.
Data can be disaggregated by many variables, including: college, campus, race/ethnicity, state of origin, etc.
Data from IR files most reliable starting with Fall 2008, but earlier years’ data can be accessed as well in many cases.
Data can be used for trend analysis, responding to external surveys, accreditation, etc.

Level of Service

Level 1: At a minimum, IR will provide all clients with figures in an electronic format (in general, figures are not communicated over the telephone).
Level 2: IR can prepare a formatted table for clients.
Level 3: IR can prepare a formal, multi-page report.
Level 4: IR can prepare and deliver a formal presentation.

Provision of Statistical Information about External Environmental Issues Affecting JWU

IR can provide data on a variety of environmental issues affecting JWU, including high school graduation trends, employment trends and characteristics of other institutions of higher education.
Sources of data include College Board, Bureau of Labor Statistics, IPEDS Peer Analysis.
Data such as these can be used for strategic planning, program review and new program development.

Level of Service

Level 1: At a minimum, IR will provide all clients with figures in an electronic format (in general, figures are not communicated over the telephone).
Level 2: IR can prepare a formatted table for clients.
Level 3: IR can prepare a formal, multi-page report.
Level 4: IR can prepare and deliver a formal presentation.

Support for Developing and Implementing Data Collection Strategies for Departments and Units

Examples of projects include assessment of department/unit outcomes, evaluation of services or training, gathering of usage pattern data.
IR assistance with developing research questions.
IR assistance with identifying the most appropriate data collection strategy: survey, focus group, etc.
IR assistance with development of tool
IR assistance with implementation/administration of tool.
IR assistance with processing and analyzing results
IR assistance with presenting results.

Level of Service

Level 1: IR provides general guidance on strategies in one or more stages of the project.
Level 2: IR takes lead in designing data collection tool.
Level 3: IR manages design of data collection tool and collection and analysis of data.
Level 4: IR manages entire project for client.

Provide Information and Insight on Policy and Trends Affecting Higher Education

IR can perform scholarly literature searches on higher education issues, such as recruitment, retention, faculty development, etc.
IR can reach out to local, state and national higher education organizations to learn about new policies and practices.

Level of Service

Level 1: Refer client to potentially relevant resource(s) on trends/issues of interest.
Level 2: Search for resources on trends/issues of interest for client.
Level 3: Search for resources and present findings on trends/issues of interest to client in written and/or oral report