Institutional Research
The Office of Institutional Research (IR), formed in summer 1991, is located in the Office of the President and reports to the President of the University. IR produces information used in university planning, policy development, and decision-making. It functions as a service office that is available to help the campus community understand itself and present itself by providing timely, accurate, and useful information to decision makers.
IR provides information to a variety of audiences, both internal and external to the University. Important internal campus customers include the administration (the President’s Office, Provost’s Office, etc.); faculty (individual and in groups such as SACS committees); and Marketing & Communications.
External customers for campus information range from the Department of Education to the press. IR also participates in voluntary data exchange with other members of Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF) for decision support in areas of higher education policy.
What is Institutional Research?
The following definition of Institutional Research was developed by the Australasian Association for Institutional Research and reprinted in The Electronic AIR newsletter, (6/23/97, Part A).
Institutional Research is the planning, coordination, collection, organization, compiling and dissemination of information concerning the characteristics and performance of the institution.
The purpose of Institutional Research is to provide objective, systematic and thorough research that supports the institution's enrollment goals, planning, policy formation and decision making.
"Broadly, 'institutional research' is viewed as a range of activities involving the collection, analysis and interpretation of information descriptive of an institution and its activities, including its students and staff, programs, management and operations. The findings of such 'institutional research' can assist institutional leaders (in both academic and administrative domains) through informing their planning and decision making." (Zimmer, B; JIRA, Vol.4 No.1, May 1995, pg.74, "Achieving Quality Within Funding Constraints: The Potential Contribution of Institutional Research")
Institutional Research
- Assists the executive of the institution, Heads of Faculty, senior administrators, management and educational committees in their planning and assessment activities.
- Serves as a primary contact with state and federal agencies with respect to information reporting.
- Responds to internal and external data requests.
- Produces educational and organizational studies, reports and summaries.
- Develops and maintains a cycle of regular institutional studies, reports and databases designed to support recurring decision needs of the institution.
- Serves as a reliable source for comprehensive and authoritative information about the institution.
- Oversees the institution's response to national statistical surveys, questionnaires and other non-routine requests for data or information.
- Serves as a resource for techniques of institutional research, research methodologies and the design and execution of information systems and surveys.
To place a data request, contact:
Carolyn M. Barnett, J.D.
Director, Institutional Research
cbarnet3@ju.edu
Phone (904) 256-7640
Fax (904) 256-7165
Jacksonville University
2800 University Blvd. North
Jacksonville, Florida 32211-3394