Putting Data Analytics to Work: Enhancing Institutional Productivity in the Age of Big Data

 

Thursday, October 18, 2018
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Kellogg West Conference Center
Pomona, CA

 

Click here for a draft of the program schedule.

Description
In the age of ‘big data’ the expectation of higher education administrators and faculty to be informed by actionable, highly customized data reports and analytics is greater than ever. Steady growth in the sheer volume of data, coupled with advancements in data governance and information technology, are propelling improvements and innovations at many colleges and universities. Increased competition, accreditation standards, and performance-based funding are additional factors encouraging the use of analytics in higher education. The facilitators of this workshop will introduce analytics, data visualization, and ready-access reporting tools through brief lectures and applied case studies to illustrate how a purposeful integration of these elements can lead to institutional improvement and higher student achievement. Workshop exercises will aid participants in supporting or leading their own institutional efforts to “close the loop.” Activities emphasize group discussion, problem-solving exercises, and customization of interactive online analytical reports to reflect participants’ institutional type and culture.

Workshop Outcomes
Upon completion of the workshop participants will be able to:

  1. Define what analytics are and what distinguishes them from more traditional forms of institutional research and reporting.
  2. Explain the different forms of analytics, e.g., predictive analytics versus learning analytics.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of how investment in analytics can improve institutional effectiveness and augment campus revenues.
  4. Explain the challenges in fostering a culture of evidence anchored in data analytics and decision-maker focused online reporting tools.
  5. Recognize how predictive analytics can tangibly improve institutional effectiveness, e.g., increase enrollment, enhance academic support services with better data support, and augment net tuition revenues due to higher retention.
  6. Demonstrate how data visualization and business intelligence tools can better convey results, provide faster insights, and infuse the decision-making process with customized data reports.

Intended Audience
Participants should have a basic knowledge of institutional research, learning assessment and educational effectiveness initiatives at their institution. ALOs, administrators, faculty, assessment professionals, and IR staff will benefit the most. As this is a conceptual workshop designed for data consumers and producers, it does not offer technical “step-by-step” instruction of specific data tools. To maximize the value to institutions, we recommend bringing a cross-institutional team that includes administrators. Individual participants, however, will be fully engaged in group activities.

Workshop Facilitators 

Serge Herzog, Director, Institutional Analysis, University of Nevada, Reno

John Stanley, Director, Institutional Research, University of Hawai’i – West Oahu

Ken Nelson, Associate Director and Institutional Researcher, Office of Educational Effectiveness, Loma Linda University

Lodging
Participants are responsible for their own hotel reservations. Kellogg West Conference Center and Lodge, located on the Cal Poly Pomona campus, is offering WSCUC workshop participants a discounted room rate of $105.00 Single $110.00 Double/night plus occupancy tax. To reserve rooms, contact the conference center at 909-869-2222. Mention “WSCUC – WASC Senior College and University Commission” to secure our group discount rate. The deadline for booking rooms in the WSCUC room block is October 1, 2018 or while rooms are available.

Registration
Registration fee includes lunch. Beverages and snacks will be available during breaks. Attendees will be on their own for all other meals.

Registration fees: $325/per team member until 10/4/18.  After the registration deadline, if space is available, the late registration fee will be $375/per team member.

Discount for Combined Registration: The Learning Institution: Aligning and Integrating Practices to Support Quality will be offered on October 19, 2018 at Kellogg West. The special rate for a combined registration for Putting Analytics to Work and The Learning Organization is $550 until 10/4/2018. After the registration deadline, if space is available, the late registration fee will be $650 /per team member.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:  October 4, 2018

This educational program has been developed by national and regional experts and is offered as a service to WSCUC member institutions and others who wish to learn about good practices applicable to all institutions. It is entirely optional, and our hope is that member institutions will find it helpful. WSCUC staff will be present to answer questions related specifically to accreditation expectations.

Event Details

Date: October 18, 2018 - 8:30am - 4:30pm

Fee: Free