1st Edition

Cultivating a Data Culture in Higher Education

Edited By Kristina Powers, Angela E. Henderson Copyright 2018
    216 Pages 26 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    216 Pages 26 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Higher education institutions have experienced a sharp increase in demand for accountability. To meet the growing demand by legislators, accreditors, consumers, taxpayers, and parents for evidence of successful outcomes, this important book provides higher education leaders and practitioners with actionable strategies for developing a comprehensive data culture throughout the entire institution. Exploring key considerations necessary for the development of an effective data culture in colleges and universities, this volume brings together diverse voices and perspectives, including institutional researchers, senior academic leaders, and faculty. Each chapter focuses on a critical element of managing or influencing a data culture, approaches for breaking through common challenges, and concludes with practical, research-based implementation strategies. Collectively, these strategies form a comprehensive list of recommendations for developing a data culture and becoming a change agent within your higher education institution.

    Contents

    List of Figures

    List of Tables

    Preface

    Acknowledgments

    Part I IMPORTANCE, PLANNING, & CONTEXT

    Chapter 1 Developing a Data Culture
    Angela E. Henderson and Kristina Powers

    Chapter 2 Linking Planning, Ownership, Governance and Execution: Fundamental Steps in Building an Effective Data Culture
    Jason F. Simon, P. Daniel Chen, and Ah Ra Cho

    Chapter 3 Using Context to Maximize the Utility of Data
    Michael M. Black

    Part II PEOPLE, LEADERSHIP, & RELATIONSHIPS

    Chapter 4 Identifying Decisions and Decision Makers that Drive Culture
    Mihaela Tanasescu, Jeffrey L. Pellegrino, and Elna Van Heerden

    Chapter 5 Changing Questions Asked
    Lori Williams

    Chapter 6 Fostering Data-Driven Leadership
    Stephanie Douglas

    Chapter 7 Building Relationships
    Karinda Rankin Barrett and Eric Godin

    Chapter 8 Managing Complexity and Chaos
    Kristina Powers and Paula Krist

    Part III PERCEPTIONS, USABILITY, & COMMUNICATION

    Chapter 9 Determining Appropriate Data Sources
    Eric S. Atchison

    Chapter 10 Making Data Practical and Engaging
    Angela E. Henderson and Resche D. Hines

    Chapter 11 Communicating and Disseminating Data
    Wendy Kallina

    Chapter 12 Identifying and Mitigating Data Risk
    Nancy D. Floyd and Yvonne Kirby

    Part IV PUTTING THE CULTURE PIECES TOGETHER

    Chapter 13 Implementing the Data Culture
    Kristina Powers and Angela E. Henderson

    Biographies

    Index

    Biography

    Kristina Powers is President of K Powers Consulting Inc. and Vice-President of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning at Patten University, USA.

    Angela E. Henderson is Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at Stetson University, USA.

    "Cultivating a Data Culture in Higher Education brings to the forefront the critical importance of data culture in higher education leadership, management, and policy. Contributors work at the frontline of higher education making this book valuable for higher education administrators and professionals in institutional research, assessment, and planning."
    — Shouping Hu, Louis W. & Elizabeth N. Bender Endowed Professor and Director, Center for Postsecondary Success, Florida State University, USA

    "The promise of "big data" and the power of sophisticated analytical models to guide decision-making in higher education will go unrealized until colleges and universities develop more comprehensive and integrated data cultures. In Cultivating a Data Culture in Higher Education, experienced data and information system experts and leaders in institutional research provide practical suggestions and relevant models to help colleges and universities encourage data literacy and democratization, and establish much needed cultures in which data are shared, valued, trusted and used."
    —Jillian Kinzie, Associate Director, Center for Postsecondary Research, Indiana University, USA