This series of five virtual workshops is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in the essential skills needed for building and sustaining a data-informed decision-making culture within higher education institutions. Geared toward professionals who work with data—whether in Institutional Research (IR), assessment, or administration—these workshops cover key competencies that ensure data is collected, analyzed, and communicated effectively to drive institutional improvement.

The workshops explore core topics such as research design, data management, survey design, descriptive statistics, and effective reporting. Participants will gain hands-on experience in designing and executing research studies, ensuring data quality, developing and administering surveys, interpreting statistical findings, and presenting insights in a meaningful and impactful way.

Each session provides practical applications, real-world examples, and interactive discussions, allowing participants to immediately apply new skills to their institutional contexts. By the end of the series, participants will be better equipped to support data-driven decision-making, contribute to institutional effectiveness, and enhance communication between data professionals and institutional leaders.

Why Choose This Solution

By participating in this course together, teams from different constituent institutions develop:

• Develop essential skills in research design, survey development, data management, and descriptive statistics.
• Gain hands-on experience in designing and executing institutional research projects with real-world application.
• Strengthen capacity to ensure data quality and integrity at every stage of the research process.
• Enhance abilities to interpret and communicate statistical findings in ways that inform and influence decision-making.
• Promote a shared commitment to building data-informed decision-making cultures across campuses.

Supporting a cross-institutional cohort assists your organization in:

• Establishing consistent, foundational IR competencies across all member institutions.
• Improving the quality and impact of institutional research outputs system-wide.
• Accelerating the development of staff capacity to support accreditation, planning, and assessment efforts.
• Demonstrating strategic investment in the professionalization of data work across a range of roles and institutions.

Course Details

• Format: Synchronous virtual workshops
• Duration: Five workshops, approximately 5 hours each