Institutional Research
Purpose
The purpose of the institutional research function is to facilitate the study, analysis and evaluation of the institution's purposes, policies, procedures and programs, and the determination of the college's success in carrying out its mission and purpose. Through its efforts the office of institutional research and assessment facilitates the planning and decision-making process of the college. The office reports to the associate provost.
Description
Institutional Research gathers data on various aspects of the college such as programs, enrollments, majors, advisee assignments, retention, faculty, teaching loads, grades and other information, organizes, and presents it in useful formats to college users. The office produces an annual Fact Book of institutional data for internal distribution in October.
Research also pursues studies that provide measures of institutional effectiveness such as progress of Berry students in the general-education program and in their major field; student, faculty, and staff expectations and satisfaction with programs and services; alumni (both undergraduate and graduate) evaluations of the effectiveness of their college experiences; employer satisfaction with performance of Berry graduates employed; and public image; and, in addition, assists other offices in the development of assessment instruments for determining the effectiveness of their efforts. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is one of several instruments used to assess the extent to which students engage a variety of effective educational practices.
Through its budget and long-range scheduling, institutional research facilitates the periodic (on a five-year time line) external reviews of academic programs and services. The office participates in self-studies through the provision of appropriate data and assistance with writing and editing.
The office updates the comprehensive institutional plan (three-year time line) and the Berry College Strategic Plan and provides the Planning Council with benchmarks for the plan's goals and objectives.
A final area of responsibility entails filing data with national databases such as NCES and responding to official questionnaires seeking institutional information.
Accrediting Association Liaison
The associate provost serves as institutional liaison with the regional accrediting association, and in that role files annual institutional updates with that organization and facilitates communication regarding policy changes at the association and proposed changes in institutional programs.
Berry College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award baccalaureate, master's and education-specialist degrees. Berry College is also accredited by the National Council for accreditation of Teacher Education. Berry's music program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. For further information on accreditation, contact abressette@berry.edu
Contact:
Assistant Director of Institutional Research
Maria Lamade
mlamade@berry.edu
706-290-2144