1. Operating an IR Office
Michael Hadley, Methodist University,
Sandra Nicks, Belmont Abbey College
Nancy Raynor, Peace College
Ross Griffith, Wake Forest University
1

2. METHODIST UNIVERSITY
•Established in 1956
•Enrollment of 2,416 Students
•Freshmen to Sophomore Retention 61%
•6-Year Graduation Rate 39%
•Reaccredited by SACS in 2009 with no recommendations

3. Office of Institutional Research
and Effectiveness
• Reports to the Vice President for Planning and
Evaluation
• Staff 3 people + 2 half-time people in Planning and
Evaluation for a total of 4.

4. TASKS
• Respond to External and Internal Information Request
(IPEDS, NCHED, etc)
• Coordinates the Faculty and Staff Evaluation System
• Support Campus wide Assessment Efforts
• Coordinate Institutional Survey Research Efforts
• Support Academic Testing and Analysis

5. CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
CHALLENGES STRATEGIES
• Responding in a timely • Communicating with
manner your campus
• Being spread too thin contingents
• Legacy Administrative • Trying to anticipate
System information needs
• Survey Fatigue • Effective use of
technology
• Temporary Staff

6. BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE
•Established in 1876
•Enrollment of 1,734 Students
(866 Traditional, 868 Adult)
•BA & BS Degrees
•Freshmen to Sophomore Retention 69%
•6-Year Graduation Rate 33%

7. Office of Institutional Research
and Effectiveness
• Reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Staff
– Director (Full-Time)
– Assessment and Research Analyst (Full-Time)
– Research Associate/Office Manager (Part-Time)
– Survey Coordinator (Part-Time)
– Student Worker/Technology Specialist (Work-Study)

8. DUTIES
• SACS Liaison
• External Statistical Reports (IPEDS, NCHED, etc)
• Internal Data Requests (2010-115 Requests, 225 Hours)
• Coordinate Academic and Administrative Assessment
Programs
• Assist with Strategic Planning Coordination
• Coordinate Institutional Survey Research Efforts (25 Planned
Surveys each Year)
• Assist with Academic Testing (SAILS & Computer Competency
Exam)
• Course Evaluations (2010-930 Courses, 633 Hours)

9. CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
CHALLENGES STRATEGIES
• Data System • Work Closely with IT and
• Course Management other Admin. Offices
System • Innovation & Creativity
• Coordinating Duties (Google IR Site, Free
• Assessment Follow-Up Technology, Student
Workers)
• Doubts over Numbers
• Use Psychology to
• Time
Motivate Others
• Budget • Support Each Other

10. Peace College
•Founded in 1857
•Student to Faculty 1:11
•91% graduate in 4 years
•Internship in major
•Job Placement 92%
•Adult Ed Program

11. Office of Institutional Planning & Effectiveness
• Single permanently employed staff
• Reports to Provost & Registrar
• Oversees Assessment of Institutional Health
• Facilitates Academic & Administrative Annual IE Unit
Reporting
• Manages Academic and Administrative Annual Program
Reviews
• Administers Institutional Testing (CLA)
• Responds to 6 surveys
• Prepares Executive Summaries on Test Results and Research
• Provides Professional Development on Assessment
11

12. Managing the Office of Institutional
Effectiveness
Challenge Strategy
• Overtime • Time Management
• Chain of Command • Accessibility
• Collection of Data • Data Collection Team
• Review of Annual IE Unit • Academic Division
Reports Chairs/Administrative Leads
• Staff Testing Proctors & IT
• Testing of 100% First-year • Unit Leads
and Senior Students
• Program/Unit Evaluations
12

13. Questions ?????????