Associations Release 6 Steps to Harness Analytics and Save Higher Education

  • 09/11/19

WASHINGTON, DC – In a collective call-to-action for colleges and universities, the Association for Institutional Research (AIR), EDUCAUSE, and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) have released a statement on the importance of analytics—and how to harness it for better strategic decision-making.

“Analytics Can Save Higher Education. Really.” highlights the importance of leveraging this critical asset to improve completion rates, campus operations, and much more. The statement recommends six guiding principles that lay the groundwork for analytics implementation:

  • Go big—make an institutional commitment to analytics.
  • Analytics is a team sport—build your dream team.
  • Prepare for some detours on the road to success.
  • Invest what you can—you can’t afford not to.
  • Analytics has real impact on real people—avoid the pitfalls.
  • Tick-tock, tick-tock—the time to act is now.

Analytics is a pivotal tool for each of the associations’ primary members: institutional research professionals, information technology professionals, and business officers—and it holds promise for everyone across campus.

“Analytics has the power to help solve some of higher education’s biggest problems, but progress has faltered,” says NACUBO President and CEO Susan Whealler Johnston. “This new statement can help leaders immediately begin to implement analytics on campus and tap into the mission-critical insights it can provide.”

“For a while now, our progress on institution-wide analytics initiatives has not hit its stride,” says John O’Brien, president and CEO of EDUCAUSE. “We hope this statement encourages a sense of urgency and fosters a deeper understanding of the benefits of data analytics for institutions of all kinds.”

“This statement emphasizes the importance of investing in the data literacy of individuals across the institution,” says Christine Keller, executive director and CEO of AIR. “We all have a common goal—student success. It’s time for an institution-wide commitment to the informed and ethical use of data analytics to help us reach that goal.”

To further support colleges and universities in their implementation processes, the associations created a website and will continue to release resources on analytics. For more information or to speak with an association president, please contact one of the following media representatives:

  • Jenny Chu, AIR communications and marketing director, 850/391-3966
  • Marc Stith, EDUCAUSE director of marketing, 720/406-6776
  • Katy McCreary, NACUBO senior manager of public relations and news, 202/861-2503

About AIR
The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) represents a worldwide community of institutional research, institutional effectiveness, and other decision-support professionals. Incorporated in 1966, AIR empowers higher education professionals to effectively and ethically use data for better decisions through education and professional development, research, and collective action. For more information, visit www.airweb.org.

About EDUCAUSE
EDUCAUSE is a community of IT leaders and professionals working together to tackle challenges and leverage opportunities that are constantly evolving within higher education. EDUCAUSE welcomes diversity, in viewpoints and experience, and believes in the transformative power of uncommon thinking for the common good. Learn more at www.educause.edu.

About NACUBO
NACUBO, founded in 1962, is a nonprofit professional organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at more than 1,900 colleges and universities across the country. NACUBO works to advance the economic vitality, business practices, and support of higher education institutions in pursuit of their missions. For more information, visit www.nacubo.org.

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