Data in Higher Education

In this episode, we’re listening to real talk about change in higher education. What does it look like to drive and manage change in this jarring new reality? What data do we need to steer the ship? And how do we use that data to maintain financial stability and ensure student learning?

Giving Data Definition, Part II – Perspective on Co-Curricular Engagement by Campus Labs

Understanding and assessing student involvement data comes from both quality and quantity of co-curriculars on campus. But there isn’t one standard definition of involvement that works for every campus. Hear Kelli Rainey, Ph.D. and Moira Phippen discuss ways you can better understand what involvement means for you through the unique perspective of cultural resource centers at member campus Kennesaw State.

"Closing the loop" might be the most popular phrase in assessment—but are you actually making your assessment cycle count? In this episode we speak with Emily-Rose Barry, a senior product manager at Campus Labs, who helps lend her expertise to the idea of putting your data into action to make your assessment processes as seamless and effective as possible.

What exactly is a digital badge or credential? In this episode we speak with Chris Husser, Director of Product at Campus Labs, who breaks down the concept of digital credentials and how these elements directly engage learners to better understand their skill achievements and educational journey. We also discuss how campuses can use digital credentials to benefit their own programs and make more out of learning at their institutions.

Non-cognitive skills are integral to your retention strategy. Annemieke Rice, Vice President of Campus Success and Emily Siegel, Student Success Consultant discuss how a holistic student success strategy doesn’t just consist of demographics and academic scores but also includes insight into the skills and abilities students have that also help them succeed in college.

Data-informed decision making cannot be a standalone campus project with a start and end date, it should be an ongoing, evolving, strategic priority across an institution. In this podcast, Vice President of Campus Success Annemieke Rice and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Nicole Melander discuss how institutions can address issues of data readiness, data governance and data ethics when collecting and using data for student success, as well as identify what questions campuses should ask when partnering with external vendors.

What can you do with the power of text? JD White, PhD, Vice President of Product Management, and Tyler Rinker, PhD, Lead Data Scientist, discuss the buzz around text analytics, its increasing use on campus, and the power it can give you when assessing your qualitative data.

Annemieke Rice, Vice President of Campus Success, sits down with Campus Success consultant Moira Phippen to discuss co-curricular pathways and how we define them, what makes a great one, and their importance to a student’s journey.

Dr. Gavin Henning sits down with Campus Labs Vice President of Campus Success, Annemieke Rice, to discuss a data geek's perspective on assessment as an active movement, socially just assessment, and the value of a college degree.

Can student affairs offer a new model for integrative learning in higher education? In this episode, Anne Lundquist, PhD, talks with Adam Peck, PhD, about putting students at the center of their own learning. By pushing them to move from involvement to engagement and leadership, campuses can help students leverage co-curricular skills for post-graduation success. Since 2014 Dr. Peck, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs at Stephen F. Austin State University, has partnered with Campus Labs on Project CEO, a benchmarking initiative that measures the perceived value of co-curricular learning experiences.

Should faculty clarify their intentions around classroom assignments and course outcomes with students? What role should students play in their own learning? And how can course evaluations help or hinder the potential for meaningful feedback and progress? Listen as Shannon LaCount, EdD, and Will Miller, PhD, talk about the values, responsibilities, and motivations that shape the teaching and learning relationship. Previously the Director of Student Learning Assessment at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Shannon was also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Will has taught courses in political science and public policy, most recently at Flagler College, where he was also Executive Director of Institutional Analytics, Effectiveness, and Planning.

In our fourth episode, JD White, PhD, talks with Ken Ryalls, PhD, about shifting the paradigm for teaching and learning. Most current approaches, for instance, emphasize using course evaluations to evaluate a faculty member instead of focusing on professional development to improve instruction methods. Ken advocates a holistic system that neither ignores nor overemphasizes student feedback, and rewards classroom engagement, improved teaching, healthy risk-taking, and a pursuit of innovation. Ken Ryalls is President of IDEA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of learning in higher education through research, assessment, and professional development.

As pressure for institutions to make data-informed decisions increases, it’s no longer enough just to manage the assessment process—the stakes are too high. It’s time for assessment leaders to approach assessment through a new lens, one focused on progress and not process. Listen as Casey Iannone and JD White, PhD, urge assessment leaders to go beyond managing systems and processes and consider the possibilities of an assessment platform as a powerful pathway for guiding change and action.

A New Outlook on Outcomes by Campus Labs

In our premiere podcast, JD White, Ph.D., V.P., Product Development and a self-proclaimed data geek, talks with Data Scientist Steve Simpson, Ph.D., about higher ed’s “data moment.” A former economics professor and a new addition to the Campus Labs team, Steve explains the role of data science in his academic research as well as its power to help transform administrative efficiencies at colleges and universities.