Research and Policy Analysis

Operations Division

QuickStart Guide for New Staff

H.E.I.D.I. GPT Chatbot

Welcome to the University System of Georgia’s Institutional Research Community! As part of our orientation process, we'd like to introduce you to the Research and Policy Analysis (RPA) Division, a key partner in our collective mission to advance educational excellence across our 26 institutions.

What is RPA?

RPA is an integral unit within the Operations Division, tasked with the critical role of analyzing higher education and related state and national policy issues. The division’s research is pivotal in shaping the impact these policies have on our system.

RPA is the backbone of data governance within our system. The division ensures that data definitions are consistent and that interpretations are accurate and meaningful. Their work is essential for informed policy-making and for maintaining the integrity of our educational mission.

The division serves as a liaison to various system committees, state, and federal agencies, ensuring our system's needs and perspectives are represented accurately.

As new IR personnel, your role will intersect with RPA’s functions, enhancing the quality and effectiveness of our data systems. We encourage you to familiarize yourselves with RPA's resources and look forward to the support and insights you will contribute.

RPA’s Focus Areas:

  • Analysis: The division examines student enrollment behaviors, retention rates, and graduation statistics.
  • Workforce Research: RPA studies the supply and demand for Georgia’s workforce, contributing to state development strategies.
  • Needs Assessments: The team conducts thorough analyses to identify and address educational and financial aid needs.
  • Policy Support: RPA collaborates on policy development and ensures that data-driven decisions reinforce the Board of Regents' policy initiatives.

Your Interaction with RPA:

  • Data Submissions: You will be working closely with RPA when submitting data related to report cards, audits, and various legislative and media inquiries.
  • Information Requests: RPA acts as the first point of contact for external entities seeking information, and you may assist in providing necessary data.
  • Policy Implementation: As you engage in campus-level data analysis, RPA will be a resource for interpreting Board policies and ensuring alignment with system-wide standards.
  • Engaging with RPA: Campus staff can engage with the RPA by actively participating in the Institutional Research and Planning Review and Advisory Committee (RAC-IRP), which facilitates collaborative efforts in institutional research. Keeping the RPA informed of staff changes within their departments ensures that communication channels remain current and effective. Additionally, campus staff are encouraged to respond promptly to data requests from RPA, aiding in the maintenance of data integrity and accuracy.

General Contact Information and Roles

Angie Bell – Vice Chancellor of RPA, angela.bell@usg.edu, 404.962.3069

Lori  Prince Hagood - Assistant Vice Chancellor of RPA, lori.hagood@usg.edu, 404.962.3089

Leslie Hodges – Senior Research Associate, leslie.hodges@usg.edu, 404.962.3046

  • IPEDS (Human Resources collections & reporting Lead)

Patrick Harris – Research Associate, patrick.harris@usg.edu, 404.962.3090

  • IPEDS (Lead for all surveys, but HR),
  • RPA Report Request handler

Pearson Brown – Research Associate, pearson.brown@usg.edu, 404.962.3014

Yanling Ma – Research Associate, yanling.ma@usg.edu, 404.962.3087

Cherry Zhang – Assistant Vice Chancellor Enterprise Data Management & Analytics • Enterprise Data Mgmt & Anlytcs, cherry.zhang@usg.edu, 706.583.2037

Jennifer McManus - Academic Information Sys. Specialist, jennifer.mcmanus@usg.edu, 404.962.3273

  • Data Collections (Lead for ADC, FADC, FIDC)

USG Service Desk – support@usg.edu, 706.583.2001, ITS Customer Services website

RPA Resources

IRP Listserv - Institutional Research and Planning IRP-REPS@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU 

This listserv for Institutional Research personnel streamlines the sharing of research insights and best practices, fosters a strong network, and sometimes serves as a hub for solving common challenges. It keeps everyone abreast of the latest in our field, while also providing resources for professional development. 

If you want to join and receive emails from the listserv, please contact Patrick Harris at patrick.harris@usg.edu.

Primary Contact: Patrick Harris

RAC-IRP Institutional Research & Planning – Community for USG’s IR professionals. 

Available online resources: Committee Information, Related Documents/Presentations/Other, Meeting Minutes, Agendas, Financial Statements, IPEDS Updates, and System Office Updates.

Primary Contact: Angie Bell

USG Data Visualization Portal by Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) Services/Qlik Apps -

The USG Data Visualization Portal, developed by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, is an advanced tool that provides crucial data analytics services to all campuses within the University System of Georgia. The Institutional Research director is responsible for overseeing the distribution and management of access to Qlik Applications, with each campus entitled to 21 licenses plus an additional developer license. This portal represents a significant asset for data-driven decision-making and analysis within the USG community. Credentials are required to access the USG Qlik Data Analytics Portal.

Download the USG Qlik Portal Guide.

Primary Contact: Pearson Brown

 Georgia Degrees Pays Dashboards -

A key resource designed to guide students and families in making educated choices about higher education. It focuses on the value of degrees from our 26 institutions, highlighting affordability and efficiency. The page features tools for comparing costs, potential earnings, and student success metrics, underscoring USG's reputation as a top public education system. Additionally, it includes a matching tool to help find the most suitable USG institution based on individual needs.

Primary Contact: Lori Prince Hagood

Student Outcomes Dashboards –

The USG Student Outcomes dashboards provide metrics from our 26 institutions, detailing undergraduate enrollment, academic performance, financial aid, and affordability. These dashboards offer granular data such as scholarship rates, average GPAs, retention and graduation rates, borrowing averages, and loan default rates, offering a comprehensive view of student success and financial context across the system. The resources are designed to support transparency and informed decision-making for students, families, and policymakers.

Primary Contact: Lori Prince Hagood

USG Data Warehouse / Cognos Analytics & Reporting Portal – 

The USG's data collection framework provides extensive resources across academic, financial aid, facilities, and human resources sectors. Data is meticulously gathered with varying frequencies—academic data semiannually with 465 elements, facilities biannually with 36 elements, financial aid annually with 86 elements, and HR data daily with 173 elements. Our collection pages offer data element dictionaries, submission and certification forms, and variable interpretation guidelines. These resources support accurate data collection and reporting, with clear contact information for campus-specific support. These tools are vital for ensuring accurate and efficient data management across USG, covering everything from academic timelines and financial aid processes to facilities management and HR data submission. Use your SSO credentials to access.

Additionally, running the available self-service reports out of Cognos allows you to access comprehensive data regarding student enrollment, retention rates, graduation outcomes, and degrees awarded. This functionality is vital for analyzing and understanding various academic metrics and trends, which can support informed decision-making and policy development within educational institutions.

RPA Data Collection Resources:

Secure File Transfer Protocol MOVEit – 

MOVEit is the USO's preferred protocol for securely transferring sensitive information like SSN and PII, which should not be sent via email. To use MOVEit for data file sharing and receiving with RPA, you first need to set up an account through your institution's IT help desk. Once your account is ready, contact Patrick Harris to gain access to the '/ResearchandPolicyAnalysis/' MOVEit folder.

Primary contact – Patrick Harris

Reports You Can Request Directly from RPA - Download the List 

The list serves as a comprehensive catalog of several essential reports. It's particularly beneficial for research personnel on campuses for its structured approach to data organization and access. Here's a brief overview of the key columns:

Report #: This column assigns a unique identifier to each report, making it easier to reference and track specific reports within the larger catalog.

Report Name: It provides the title of each report, giving a quick insight into the report's focus area. This helps in swiftly identifying the report that matches the research needs.

Description: This crucial column offers a detailed summary of what each report contains, such as data on student enrollment, course categories, and credit hours. It helps users understand the type of information available in each report, aiding in selecting the most relevant ones for their research.

Overall, the list of reports is a valuable tool for institutional research personnel, facilitating efficient identification, access, and utilization of various data necessary for academic analysis, planning, and decision-making processes.

If you want to request any of the reports, please contact Patrick Harris at patrick.harris@usg.edu. In the email's subject, use RPA Report Request and include the report #, time frame, and all applicable parameter selections.

IPEDS Reporting and Resources

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is an annual series of surveys managed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). These surveys, mandatory for institutions holding Title IV federal financial aid, include twelve components collected over fall, winter, and spring. IPEDS gathers comprehensive data on U.S. postsecondary education, encompassing institutional characteristics, admissions, enrollment, student financial aid, degree conferred, student success metrics, human resources, fiscal details, and academic libraries. 

Primary contact – Patrick Harris

AIR Resources

The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) is an international organization of professionals who work in institutional research, planning, and assessment. AIR's mission is to improve the quality of decision-making in higher education by providing research, resources, and professional development opportunities to its members.

AIR's free Training PDP Training Center include: 

  • Video tutorials
  • Virtual and in-person IPEDS Workshops
  • Online Keyholder courses

AIR also offers free in-person workshops on topics such as: 

  • Using IPEDS data for benchmarking
  • Learning about the public face of IPEDS data
  • Implementing best practices on reporting to IPEDS

There is no fee to attend these workshops, and you don't need to be a member of AIR.

"A Holistic Approach to Institutional Research" online course:

The "A Holistic Approach to Institutional Research" online course, offered by AIR, is a comprehensive program designed for professionals new to the field of institutional research. It covers key topics across six weeks, including the role of IR professionals, decision support, data management, and fostering data-informed decision cultures. The course is structured to provide an in-depth understanding of IR's various aspects, emphasizing practical strategies and best practices. It's beneficial for those new to IR or seeking a deeper understanding of the field. After completing the online course, participants can join a two-day face-to-face seminar for further learning and networking. 

For more details, please visit the course's webpage. This is NOT a free course.

RPA Website Overview 

(https://www.usg.edu/research/)

Reports and Dashboards - 

Data Collection & Reporting Resources -

Other Resources –