A Holistic Approach to IR - Summer 2021

Do you know Barbara?

Join Barbara, a Director of Institutional Research, as she onboards Mark, her new employee. This six-week online course follows Barbara and Mark as they consider what it means to be an institutional researcher in the current higher education landscape. You will be guided by a mentor and join a cohort of colleagues—including Mark—to engage in activities and conversation about the topics Barbara and Mark explore.


  • What is a holistic approach to IR? In Week 1, Barbara provides an overview of the course and you meet your cohort colleagues through the course discussion board.

  • What does it mean to be an IR professional? In Week 2, Barbara shares her perspective and encourages Mark to develop his own understanding of the field and his role as an IR professional.

  • What is decision support? In Week 3, Mark learns about the art of transforming data into actionable information that’s placed in appropriate contexts for relevant audiences.

  • How are data managed and governed? In Week 4, Barbara and Mark discuss data as institutional assets and examine the concepts of data quality, security, privacy, and access.

  • What is research in institutional research? In Week 5, Mark learns about the nuances of research and problem solving, and bolsters his understanding of the common lines of inquiry pursued in IR.

  • How does IR contribute to data-informed decision cultures? In Week 6, Barbara and Mark explore the interaction between data literacy and data capacity at the institutional level.

Registration Information

Length/Time Commitment

Six weeks


Date(s): 07/05/2021 - 08/15/2021

Format: Synchronous

Topic: Holistic

Experience Level: All

Member/Non-Member Price: $650 Member/$775 Nonmember

REGISTER