The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (IRE)

The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (IRE) provides vision and leadership to the accreditation, assessment, data analysis, and reporting activities of Dillard University. Reporting to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, IRE supports the University’s Strategic Plan by providing information and support for University-wide initiatives concerning students, faculty, staff, curriculum, and learning outcomes.

ACCREDITATION 

All accredited universities and programs must undergo periodic accreditation reviews to affirm that they are operating with integrity, accountability, transparency and seeking continuous quality improvement. IRE supports the University by providing needed information to SACSCOC and programmatic accrediting bodies to document fulfillment of the standards for accreditation.

In addition to accreditation reporting, IRE oversees the implementation of the Dillard University Quality Enhancement Plan

DILLARD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Assessment

IRE promotes assessment practices that are ongoing, comprehensive, integrated and research-based as part of the university-wide effort to seek continuous quality improvement:  

  • General Education Assessment
  • Educational Program Assessment 
  • Administrative Support Services Assessment  

The cornerstone of this effort is the development of practical assessments aimed at improvement of student learning and institutional effectiveness: 

  • Identifying expected outcomes
  • Determining the extent to which these outcomes are met

Providing evidence of improvement based on these findings

The office also supports the administration of course experience surveys, and other surveys focused on improvement of the Dillard experience.

Data Analysis and Reporting

The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness is responsible for reporting and analysis of information about the institution’s students, faculty, and staff.  

Internal data reporting and analysis

  • University-wide assessment
  • Strategic decision-making 
  • Enrollment management
  • Grant-seeking activities  


External data reporting

Regulatory, such as reports to the United States Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Informational, such as the U.S. News & World Report: Best Colleges survey

Standard Reports


Information Requests

Data available to the public are limited to the aggregate Standard Reports listed above. Processes for the release of unit record data are in alignment with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

Unit record data are only released to:

  1. University trustees, senior administrators, and faculty leaders for decision support,
  2. University faculty and staff in support of proposal development and funding applications, and
  3. Researchers conducting scholarly work, considered by the IRE office and the IRB as appropriate.  
 

Quality Enhancement Plan

The goal of Dillard University’s Quality Enhancement Plan is to foster an institutional environment that prepares students to be effective and competitive oral communicators in a diverse, global, and technologically advanced society. Click to learn more about Talking on the Oaks.