#21-Update 1

Title: Proposals and Plans for IPEDS Changes

Note: The AIR Higher Education Data Policy Committee recommends that you share copies of this Alert with the individuals at your institution who are responsible for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Surveys, and the IPEDS keyholder.

Summary

In April 2004, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) invited comments on several proposed changes to IPEDS (see AIR Alert #21). On September 10, 2004, NCES posted a summary of the comments that were received, and their plans regarding the proposed changes (http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/trp235changes.asp). Some of the proposed changes will not be implemented. Certain changes are being implemented during the 2004-05 survey year, others will be implemented in 2005-06, and some will be discussed by future technical review panels (TRPs). Other changes and clarifications for the 2004-05 survey year are listed at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/pdf/webbase2004/changes0405.pdf.

Current Status

Finance B: As soon as feasible, but no later than Winter 2005-06, NCES will provide for the collection of Finance data during both the Winter and the Spring collections. Instructions will be updated.

Changes implemented in 2004-05 survey year
Institutional Characteristics B: Elimination of the restriction that SAT or ACT scores were to be reported only if 60 percent or more of the incoming students took the test. Scores are to be reported for all students taking a particular test, regardless of how many submit scores.

Enrollment B Part D: Total Entering Class will be collected only from institutions that report on a fall cohort.

Retention B: TThis item will not be required for institutions that have only less-than-one-year programs. Additional instructions and clarifications will be provided.

Graduation Rate Survey B: Less-than-two-year schools will no longer be required to provide Graduation Rate Survey (GRS) data by race/ethnicity and gender. Note: The forms on the IPEDS Web site do not yet reflect this change. The NCES expects to modify them within a couple of weeks.

Changes to be implemented in 2005-06 survey year
Institutional Characteristics B: Institutions that cannot provide applicant data by gender will be able to report total applicants. Lists of student services and special opportunities will be revised and the institutions= responses will be made available on the IPEDS College Opportunities on Line Web site (IPEDS COOL).

Fall Enrollment B: The NCES will request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect early estimates of fall enrollment during the fall collection. These data will not be included in IPEDS COOL, but will be used to generate estimates by state, region, level and control of institution, level of enrollment, and student gender. Also pending OMB approval, NCES will collect from all degree granting institutions the number, by race/ethnicity and gender, of degree- or certificate-seeking students who transfer into the institution at the undergraduate level (both full-time and part-time).

Future TRP Discussions
Human Resource surveys B: The following proposals will be discussed at the next TRP meeting: (1) combining Employees by Assigned Position, Salaries, and Fall Staff into one data collection; (2) expanding "medical school" to include other clinical first-professional schools such as dental and veterinary; and (3) adding tenure status information back into the Salaries component.

Institutional Characteristics B: The NCES will consider changes to the information collected about admissions requirements at a later time.

Proposed Changes That will not be Implemented
Institutional Characteristics: The NCES will not change the way accreditation information is collected.

Fall Enrollment B: The Fall Enrollment Survey will not be moved to the Fall collection B. These data will continue to be collected in both the Winter and the Spring collections.

Graduation Rate Survey B: The . NCES will not require reporting of students "still enrolled" as of the status date. The NCES will continue to provide for the reporting of transfers-out by less-than-two-year institutions

Finance B: Parts A and B will not be eliminated from the collection for private for-profit institutions.

Implications for Institutions

The changes that will be implemented, and the proposals for possible future changes should be carefully reviewed by the individuals responsible for each of the IPEDS surveys.

Timeline

2004-05 IPEDS Collection Schedule

September 8 - October 20 - Fall collection opens for institutions to submit Institutional Characteristics and Completions surveys.

December 1 - January 26 - Winter collection open for institutions to submit Employees by Assigned Position, Salary, and Enrollment surveys. Enrollment data may be locked in either the Winter or Spring collection. Fall Staff Survey is provided but not required this year.

March 9 - April 20 - Spring collection opens for institutions to submit Enrollment, Student Financial Aid, Finance, and Graduation Rate surveys.

Additional Resources

Comprehensive information about IPEDS Data Collection System: http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Changes and clarifications for 2004-05 survey year: http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/pdf/webbase2004/changes0405.pdf

Proposed changes posted by NCES on April 5, 2004: http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/whatsnew.asp.

AIR Alert #21: http://www.airweb.org/page.asp?page=358.

The NCES September 10, 2004, announcement of plans regarding proposed changes to IPEDS: : (http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/trp235changes.asp).

IPEDS College Opportunities On-Line: http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool.

Author: Carol Fuller

Coordinated by the Higher Education Data Policy Committee. All opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Association for Institutional Research.