In the world of Institutional Research, there are many cases where technical skills must be merged with linguistic, organizational, and social skills. Data literacy is one such area that calls for expertise across all four of these dimensions. At Ball State University (BSU), we are committed to growing our collective capacity to make data-informed decisions that drive student success and institutional effectiveness.

Launching the Data Literacy Institute

In 2024, BSU partnered with the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) to offer an intensive Data Literacy Institute (DLI) for our campus. This program runs for a full semester, meeting once a week for two hours. An additional half hour at the end of each session is set aside for team-based work on research projects. The DLI is designed to help participants develop and refine critical data skills through a holistic curriculum that covers:

  • Starting with questions: Identifying the right questions and framing problems effectively.
  • Connecting questions to data: Exploring relevant data sources and understanding data structures.
  • Revealing insights: Utilizing analytical and statistical tools to unearth actionable insights.
  • Communicating information: Presenting findings through storytelling techniques, effective visuals, and accessible language.
  • Taking action: Translating analysis into decisions, policies, and interventions.
  • Sustaining improvements: Creating a culture where data-driven decision-making is the norm, supported by ongoing learning and collaboration.

This flipped-classroom model (featuring weekly tutorials, live seminars, and collaborative capstone projects) helps ensure that participants are actively engaged with the material. Alongside technical skills, the curriculum also weaves in critical ethical considerations, data governance, and advanced analytics concepts.

First Cohort Success

Our first 30-person cohort launched in Fall 2024, drawing a diverse mix of faculty and staff members who brought fresh perspectives and wide-ranging expertise. Feedback on the experience has been overwhelmingly positive. Participants appreciated the focused time each week to explore data-driven problem-solving techniques, while also getting hands-on practice during their team-based research project sessions.

Thanks to the success of the first cohort, we are expanding the program. A second group of 30 is slated to begin in Spring 2025, and we are eager to see how their projects and collaborations further enrich our campus data culture.

Maintaining Momentum

In order to keep this forward momentum going, we are engaging on two major fronts:

  1. Leveraging DLI Content for BSU Training
    DLI alums Charity Coffman and Scott Reinke are exploring innovative ways to integrate portions of the DLI curriculum into BSU-specific training initiatives. We planned ahead and licensed the DLI materials from AIR so we could tailor them for our own professional development activities. This investment allows BSU to continue providing data literacy training indefinitely, ensuring we can refresh and expand these offerings over time.
  2. Collaborating on Cohort Research Projects
    The Institutional Research and Decision Support (IRDS) team is actively engaging with each cohort to discuss their research projects. Our goal is to expand these early-stage endeavors into formal research endeavors that can be presented to the broader college community. We believe that such projects, rooted in real BSU challenges and opportunities, will help us build a strong culture of evidence-based practice. The DLI participants’ rich perspectives and cross-campus backgrounds have already sparked compelling questions that are ripe for further exploration and long-term institutional impact.

Looking Ahead

By fostering a strong community of data-literate professionals, BSU is taking a crucial step toward embedding evidence-based decision-making into our institutional culture. As more faculty and staff engage with the DLI and apply its principles, we anticipate:

  • Increased collaboration across departments, fueled by a shared “data language” and access to a broader set of analytical tools.
  • Improved student success through more targeted interventions and a deeper understanding of the factors that influence student engagement and retention.
  • Ongoing innovation in program evaluation, resource allocation, and academic decision-making, supported by continuous data analysis and insight sharing.

Our partnership with AIR and the successful rollout of the Data Literacy Institute are key milestones in building a robust, data-informed culture at Ball State University. We look forward to the continued expansion of these efforts, confident that the knowledge, skills, mindsets, and habits participants gain through the DLI will have a lasting impact on our institution and its commitment to student success.

 

 


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