Our mission is to prepare and support Division of Student Life professionals to make data-driven decisions that will transform the UA student experience.
Areas of Focus
- Strategic Planning – Support departments in clearly defining, communicating, and carrying out goals and outcomes that improve the student experience.
- Accreditation – Manage the documentation and use of Student Life achievements and plans to demonstrate continuous improvement for SACSCOC.
- Continuous Improvement – Lead the use of program data and divisional research to improve services, learning environments, and student success outcomes.
- Data Management and Analysis – Manage data collection and analysis processes to deliver actionable feedback that improves programs, services, and student outcomes.
Goals
1. Strategic Planning and Assessment Communication
Improve division-wide understanding, alignment, and execution of strategic planning and assessment priorities across Student Life by:
- Increasing departmental awareness of planning timelines, expectations, and assessment requirements
- Strengthening alignment between departmental assessment efforts and divisional strategic priorities
- Supporting departments in effectively implementing planning and assessment processes through coordinated communication and guidance
2. Planning and Self-Study Completion
By the end of each academic year, ensure 90% of Student Life departments complete:
- An annual Assessment Plan with clearly defined outcomes, measures, and targets
- A corresponding Self-Study/Assessment Report documenting data, analysis, and improvement actions
- Submission through the designated Planning and Self-Study platform
3. Awareness of Assessment Surveys and Services
Improve the coordination, quality, transparency, and visibility of assessment survey efforts across Student Life by:
- Achieving a 0.5% annual increase in response rates for division‑administered surveys
- Reducing duplicative and low‑value surveys through centralized review, approval, and scheduling
- Increasing departmental use of assessment consultation and survey design services
- Ensuring timely communication with campus partners regarding survey administration and results
4. Data Warehouse / Data Lake Development
Within 12–18 months, design, build, and launch a centralized data warehouse/lake that integrates key institutional and Student Life data sources and is accessible to authorized divisional users.
- Identify and prioritize core data sources (student engagement, enrollment, surveys, outcomes, operations)
- Partner with IT and IR to develop data governance, security, and access protocols
- Establish consistent data definitions, refresh schedules, and documentation
- Pilot the warehouse with select departments and expand access in phases
5. Dashboard Usage and Data Visualization
Develop and deploy standardized dashboards that visualize priority Student Life metrics and outcomes, ensuring consistent expectations, transparency, and data-informed decision-making across all departments.
- Define core divisional KPIs and outcome measures in collaboration with leadership
- Build department-specific dashboards (e.g., divisional leadership, department directors, program staff)
- Provide training and user guides to support interpretation and use
- Establish a review and refinement cycle for dashboards each semester
6. Program and Software Enhancement
Annually review and streamline key departmental programs and software systems to improve efficiency, usability, and alignment with Student Life and institutional priorities.
- Conduct an annual needs assessment of programs and software (pain points, redundancies, gaps)
- Prioritize enhancements based on impact, feasibility, and user feedback
- Coordinate with IT and vendors to implement upgrades, integrations, or replacements
- Provide training, documentation, and change management support for users
7. Division‑Led Student Success Research
Lead and coordinate division‑level research efforts focused on student success to inform strategy, planning, and improvement across Student Life by:
- Identifying and advancing priority student success research questions aligned with divisional and institutional goals
- Producing actionable analyses that support data‑informed decisions, program enhancement, and resource allocation
- Increasing divisional capacity to use research findings to improve student outcomes and experiences