Strategies and Tools Used to Collect and Report Strategic Plan Data

Academic institutions are becoming increasingly interested in the collection and presentation of data to support strategic planning, accreditation, and accountability needs. With an increased emphasis on campus-wide involvement and centralized data collection at some institutions, the integrity, accessibility, and interpretation of data become key elements. The role the Office of Institutional Research plays in the preparation and maintenance of this information is critical. This case study comes at the end of the first year of one institution’s strategic plan implementation and the preparation of the first progress report. This paper will take you through the process used to establish contacts across the university, the collection and management of data and the formatting of facts and figures for clear and accessible presentation to diverse audiences