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New Mexico State University Institutional Quality Initiative

Building a Data Culture to Improve Student Outcomes

At New Mexico State University (NMSU), we are committed to creating a culture that empowers our community to improve student outcomes through access to and comfort with institutional data. As part of the Higher Learning Commission's Open Pathway accreditation process, we have launched an ambitious Quality Initiative focused on this commitment. This initiative emphasizes efforts to make data more accessible and understandable, regardless of technical expertise, and represents a significant step forward in our goals to enhance student success and institutional effectiveness.

What is the Quality Initiative?

The Quality Initiative (QI) is a vital component of the HLC's Open Pathway accreditation process that requires institutions to undertake a major improvement effort between years 5 and 9 of their 10-year accreditation cycle. The quality initiative provides higher education institutions with the opportunity to take risks, aim high, and learn from both successes and challenges.

NMSU's Quality Initiative Focus: Building a Data Culture

Purpose

During the next two years, we will enable users of academic-related data, at all levels of technical know-how, to work comfortably with NMSU’s data tools, feel confident in discussing the data, and make data-informed decisions that enhance student experiences and outcomes. This will build a strong foundation of data literacy, which will pave the way for broader campus-wide engagement that can improve student outcomes.

Objectives

  1. Improve data accessibility
  2. Build confidence and skills
  3. Enhance decision-making impact
  4. Lay the foundation for increased data use

Our Approach

NMSU's approach to building a culture of data follows the principles of data democratization and centers on having data tools that are accessible; that are practical and comprehensible; and that are utilized by all. Our approach includes:

  1. Understanding current data users regarding: 
    1. Data Access and trust
    2. Data literacy and usability
    3. Data culture: Value, practice, and support
  2. Identify gaps and areas for improvement in the three areas above. 
  3. Addressing gaps and areas for improvement with deliverables such as streamlined reports, dashboards, workshops, and self-training materials, or other efforts aimed at enhancing data accessibility, improving decision-making processes, and building a culture of continuous improvement in student outcomes across the institution. 

Data Access and Usage Survey

View the preliminary results of the Data Access and Usage Survey.

View the Results

Definitions

Click on the panel below to view the definition.

Academic-Related Data

Data related to the outcomes and success of classes and students at NMSU. This includes but is not limited to data on class sizes, course grade distribution, withdrawal rates, enrollment and scheduling data, student credit hours (SCH), degrees awarded, and retention and graduation rates. Academic data can be either operational data, which is refreshed on a regular basis, as in the case of pre-semester course enrollment data, or externally reported data, such as OIA reported retention and graduation rates.

Current Data Users

NMSU faculty and staff that have access to systems such as Navigate, Banner, Slate, and Analytics.

Externally Reported Data

Externally reported data is issued by the Office of Institutional Analysis to outlets like IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System). Externally reported data relating to students is typically based on a point in time such as the fall census date, which is the third Friday of the fall semester. See also Operational Data.

Open Pathway

A pathway for maintaining accreditation with HLC that features a 10-year reaffirmation cycle where quality assurance and quality improvement are addressed separately.

Operational Data

Operational data is based on real-time or near-real time data. Real-time data reflects daily transactions and originates from data sources that change constantly. Near-real time data originates from sources that are only be updated intermittently, like hourly or daily. See also Externally Reported Data.

Quality Initiative

A major quality improvement effort conducted by institutions between Years 5 and 9 of the Open Pathway that addresses a current concern or aspiration specific to the institution.

Quality Initiative Proposal

A proposal submitted by an institution on the Open Pathway explaining the major improvement effort the institution will undertake as its Quality Initiative.

Quality Initiative Report

A report submitted by an institution on the Open Pathway upon completing its Quality Initiative that reflects on accomplishments, documents, achievements, and strategies, and defines new priorities and challenges.

Contact Us

Please fill out your contact details and include any suggestions or feedback you may have, or if you are curious to know more about the Quality Initiative. A team member will get in touch with you.

Contact us

Quality Initiative Planning Team 

Quality Initiative planning team, including names, titles, department, and respective emails.
Name Title Department Email
James McAteer Senior Associate Provost Office of the Provost mcateer@nmsu.edu 
Melody Munson-McGee Special Assistant to the VP Student Success & Enrollment Management mmunsonm@nmsu.edu 
Bárbara Gamillo Faculty Fellow Accreditation bgamillo@nmsu.edu 
Marlene Chavez-Toivanen  Vice President, Academic Affairs NMSU Grants marchave@nmsu.edu 
Lori Montoya Director Analytics & Decision Support lorimart@nmsu.edu 
Sashidhar Chintalapati Sr. Database Analyst & Interim Director of Data Coordination Office of the Provost sashich@nmsu.edu