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Institutional Research

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Office of Institutional Research and Analytics

The Office of Institutional Research and Analytics (OIRA) supports student success and the college mission by providing analytical support for decision making and policy development and facilitating the understanding of data. OIRA:

• • Provides intelligent information to College leadership, faculty, and staff, including conclusions and recommendations, as appropriate;
  • Ensures compliance with required reporting;
  • Provides leadership in using, analyzing, and interpreting data, including developing common data standards;
  • Provides training in accessing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data; and
  • Advances student success by using data to tell compelling stories about student experiences at ACC.

OIRA provides consulting services and reports to ACC departments for planning, assessment, and data analysis purposes. OIRA produces a variety of reports relevant to faculty including the Factbook, data supporting the Student Success Report, Departmental Snapshots, and access to an interactive data tool – The Information Portal Syster (TIPS), which can be used by faculty to generate custom reports on a variety of student outcome metrics. OIRA is responsible for reporting to state and federal agencies and provides student outcome metrics that can be compared with peer institutions.

In addition, OIRA administers numerous surveys such as the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE). The office also provides survey consultation to faculty, and facilitates SWOT and focus group interviews at the departmental level.

 

Institutional Research Review Committee

Research proposals involving Austin Community College (ACC) human subjects (students, faculty, or staff) must first be reviewed and approved by the ACC Institutional Research Review Committee (IRRC). The committee’s role is to ensure that the research meets federal guidelines for the protection of human subjects. The committee is chaired by the Vice Chancellor of OIRA and is composed of six to ten faculty, staff, and administrators, selected by the Vice Chancellor of OIRA.

Classroom projects or assignments that collect anonymous data and are not intended for publication are not subject to IRRC review. Other research may be exempt from review or qualify for an expedited review. However, researchers are required to submit an application to the IRRC so that the committee can make this determination.