Mission
The mission of the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment is to foster a culture of evidence and continuous improvement by providing accurate and timely data and information to university administrators, departments, and faculty to inform their decision-making. We provide support for assessment initiatives across the university in collaboration with faculty and campus programs. OIRA also supplies data for federal and state mandated reporting and external publications.
Values
OIRA strives to promote a culture of respect, support and inclusivity, where we value each other’s perspectives and experiences and understand that our differences enhance our success.
Integrity
We follow the code of ethics of our profession and are objective and transparent researchers.
Service
We demonstrate our user-focus by applying our expertise to information requests, anticipating campus data needs, and supporting university programs.
Collaboration
We value teamwork as well as partnerships across campus, and incorporate diverse perspectives into our work.
OIRA impacts the university’s Strategic Vision “It Takes a Volunteer” by providing evidence for Cultivating the Volunteer Experience, being Nimble and Adaptable in our approach to our work, and contributing to the Vol is a Verb culture.
Goals
- Support a campus culture of evidence-based decision-making
- Enhance OIRA effectiveness
Objectives
- Support a campus culture of evidence-based decision-making
- Continue reliable internal and external reporting
- Increase self-service reporting tools and website resources for internal and external audiences, and provide training opportunities for campus users
- Conduct analytical research-based studies of the Volunteer Experience in order to impact student success and progression to graduation
- Remain a key player in academic data governance by promoting data literacy and increasing partnerships to lead the campus data community
- Increase our leadership, in partnership with the university’s Assessment Steering Committee, in assisting academic units with assessment of student learning
- Promote integrated institutional effectiveness by strengthening the ties between reporting, assessment, accreditation, and strategic planning
- Enhance OIRA effectiveness
- Increase visibility across campus and within strategic discussions
- Increase collaboration and partnerships with units across campus
- Be Nimble and Adaptable to campus reporting needs and emerging technologies
- Continue development of OIRA staff with additional cross-training and professional development, and commitment to Vol is a Verb.