#27

Title: NCES Seeks Comments on Proposal for Derived and Calculated Variables

Summary

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is seeking comments on a proposal to develop new derived and calculated variables based on Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data to address important policy issues. These new variables would be incorporated into the Peer Analysis System, and other IPEDS tools where appropriate (http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/trp6.asp).

The NCES is concerned about how the calculation of these derived variables will impact the use of institutional data to inform policy. Interested parties should send any comments or concerns about this proposal to John Milam at jmilam@highered.org by December 1, 2004. Please include the following in the email subject line: Derived Variables TRP - Proposal Comments. Copies of your email also should be sent to Susan Broyles at Susan.Broyles@ed.gov.

Current Status

Two types of derived data are being considered: (1) subtotals of existing data; and (2) calculations of new data based on two or more existing variables. It is expected that these derived variables will be useful in addressing various current policy questions.

The 23 new variables proposed for the first set to be developed are:

1. Student full-time-equivalent (FTE) by level (new methodology)



2. Faculty FTE (including separate calculations for medical school faculty) (new methodology)



3. New total (with definitions) for "core revenues" and "core expenses"



4. Core revenues (total and by source) as a percentage of core revenues



5. Net tuition and fees revenue as a percentage of core revenues



6. Net tuition and fees revenue per FTE student



7. Expenses by type as a percentage of core expenses



8. Core expenses (total and by type) per FTE student



9. Equity ratio (net assets divided by total assets)



10. Average undergraduate charges by residency



11. Average total price of attendance (new methodology)



12. Admissions ratios/yield by gender



13. Combinations of totals for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and other expenses by residency and financial aid dependency status



14. Grants (by type) as a percentage of average total price of attendance



15. Loans as a percentage of average total price of attendance



16. Dorm capacity as percentage of total full-time enrollment w/graduate and first-professional



17. Fall total enrollment by adult age (25-64) by status and level



18. Fall undergraduate enrollment percentage as <18, 18-24, 25-64, 65+



19. Average 9-month equated salary, total and by rank



20. Average 9-month equated total compensation, total and by rank



21. Total fringe benefits as a percentage of total expenses



22. Total salaries and fringe benefits as a percentage of total expenses



23. Total salaries as a percentage of total expenses

Implications for Institutions

The availability of new derived data will make it quicker for users of the Peer Analysis System to get the data they need without having to make cumbersome calculations. Publication of these data on the IPEDS College Opportunities On Line (COOL) Web site could be of concern.

Timeline

Additional Resources

The proposal is available at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/trp6.asp.

Complete information about IPEDS, including the Peer Analysis System (PAS) and the College Opportunities On Line (COOL) Web site is available at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds.

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.