From Data to Decisions News Archive

Next Wednesday, our office will be hosting our second annual Data Literacy Session—a chance to step back and reflect on how far we’ve come in making data more accessible, usable, and impactful across campus. The session entitled “Facts Decoded II: Exploring our University’s Data” will build upon last year’s session focused on unlocking the stories

The past couple of months have seen a whirlwind of progress in Institutional Research at Marshall University. As we continue to refine our data processes and improve transparency, the transformation of our workflows has been nothing short of significant. Here are some key updates on what we have accomplished and what is on the horizon.

In an era of increasing financial scrutiny and accountability in higher education, understanding the cost of program delivery is critical. At Marshall University, the Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) team has developed a detailed methodology to analyze instructional costs across academic programs. This approach offers transparency and the ability to compare costs to the course

Recently I was invited to deliver the keynote at the 2024 West Virginia Associate of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (WVACRAO) conference where the conference them was Better Together. WVACRAO is a non-profit organization that aims to increase access to higher education and other post-secondary opportunities for students in West Virginia and beyond. I decided

It has been two decades since I began developing MU BERT (Marshall University Business Reporting and Intelligence Tool for Education). MU BERT was conceived as a self-service tool to assist Marshall University’s faculty and administrators with generating report data from our Enterprise Student Information System – Banner.  Over the years, it has evolved into a

As I reflect on my first year as Chief Data Officer, I have had the opportunity to dive deep into the critical aspects of our data infrastructure, operations, and governance. When I first started, I was told it would take me a year to learn the structure of all our data. I laughed at the

I am often immersed in the detailed world of data collection, analysis, and reporting. The end of the semester/academic year is a particularly intense time, akin to the high-stakes environment my son is experiencing as he prepares to play in his Sweet16 Regional playoff game in Ohio later today. Though in vastly different “fields”, the

In an age where data not only surrounds us but is also used to inform and drive the decisions we make, the ability to understand and interpret this data has never been more vital. This is why we are excited to present “Facts Decoded: Exploring Marshall’s Data,” Marshall University’s first-ever data literacy workshop, brought to

I had fun with a blog about a month ago drawing from my past on how it shaped my career path, so today, I decided to venture into an exploration of how my dual passions for yard work and data management intersect in surprisingly insightful ways.  I call my mowing a personal passion, but my

We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our Office of Institutional Research and Planning team at Marshall University: Sam Aretz.  Sam has recently stepped into the role of Business Intelligence and Data Analyst. Sam brings a wealth of knowledge in statistics and a mastery of PowerBI, equipped to hit the ground running, working