University Merges Institutional Research Team with Effectiveness Office

The institutional research team at Syracuse University has officially merged with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE), effective June 1. This strategic move aims to enhance data-informed decision-making and improve institutional performance across campus. The newly consolidated office will continue to operate under the Office of Academic Affairs.

Jerry Edmonds, chief of staff for academic affairs, expressed that this merger aligns with the university’s goal of creating a unified, agile unit focused on continuous improvement and analytics. He stated, “This merger, which brings together two teams with complementary missions and expertise, is a strategic step toward creating a unified and agile continuous improvement and analytics-driven unit.” The integration is expected to deliver impactful insights that support Syracuse’s strategic goals, particularly in areas such as student success, academic excellence, and institutional effectiveness.

Enhanced Support and Resources

The OIE is tasked with providing university leadership, academic programs, and administrative offices with timely insights and decision support. This includes data analysis, meaningful assessment, and the use of relevant data to guide key initiatives. The office plays a critical role in supporting accreditation efforts, assessment processes, strategic planning, and program reviews while furthering Syracuse’s mission and values.

Under the new structure, the institutional research team, now led by Amy Gardiner, will maintain its responsibilities for retention, graduation, and student performance research. This team will also benefit from improved access to advanced tools, methodologies, and collaborative opportunities within the OIE. Gardiner will report directly to Laura Harrington, the director of OIE.

Meanwhile, the Office of Institutional Data and Reporting (IDR), headed by Seth Ovadia, will remain a distinct unit. IDR will continue to oversee official reporting, data integrity, and compliance, including responsibilities related to federal, state, and external reporting, official census data, and internal data requests. IDR will also report to Edmonds.

Streamlined Data Services for Academic Growth

The reorganization aims to provide faculty, staff, and senior leadership with more coordinated and proactive data services. Edmonds highlighted that the new structure will create a single point of access for data and analysis needs, ensuring more responsive and streamlined processes for data requests.

Key improvements will include enhanced dashboards and decision-support tools, greater clarity on official data definitions and sources, and collaborative engagement that promotes shared responsibility for data-informed decision-making.

For additional information, stakeholders are encouraged to visit effectiveness.syr.edu or to contact Harrington at [email protected] and Ovadia at [email protected]. This merger represents a significant advancement in Syracuse University’s commitment to leveraging data for improved academic outcomes and institutional effectiveness.