Data Stakes – Giving Data a Voice in Higher Education

In this episode of Data Stakes, host Debbie sits down with Michelle Taylor, Senior Research Analyst at the National Community College Benchmarking Institute (NCCBI). They discuss the origins and 20-year evolution of the National Community College Benchmarking Project (NCCBP) and why it remains an essential, adaptable resource for two-year institutions of all sizes.

Michelle breaks down how community colleges are leveraging customized benchmarking data to make smarter resource allocation decisions, track return on investment (ROI), and navigate modern higher education challenges like the enrollment cliff. Key Takeaways:

• The Flexibility of the NCCBP: How institutions—even those without dedicated institutional research (IR) staff—can tailor their data submissions to fit their specific needs and capacity.
• Proactive Enrollment Management: Using real-time tracking 140 days out from census to compare enrollment numbers against national averages and peer groups.
• Cost, Productivity, and ROI: How the project integrates external O*NET labor market data to help colleges measure the true cost of instruction at the program (CIP code) level and align curriculum with regional job growth.
• Tracking the Hard-to-Measure: Strategies for benchmarking non-credit education and workforce training programs.
• Upcoming Events: Where to connect with the NCCBI team this year, plus early details on the 2027 Benchmarking Conference tailored specifically for two-year institutions.

Data Stakes is sponsored by the Data Analytics Alliance for Higher Education.

Is data ever truly neutral? In this episode of Data Stakes, Jeremy Goodman—founder of Jeremy Goodman Consulting and former VP at Olin College of Engineering—joins Debbie to challenge the long-held "Switzerland" myth in Institutional Research.

Drawing on his unique background in both theater and higher education, Jeremy explains how applying improv techniques, like active listening and audience empathy, can radically improve how data professionals communicate their findings to campus stakeholders. Beyond just presenting reliable numbers, the conversation explores the importance of bringing your holistic identity to the table. Jeremy and Debbie discuss balancing personal perspective with professional integrity, the real-world human impact of rigid data categorizations, and why meeting an audience at their current "data literacy" level is the true key to driving strategic change.

Finally, they reflect on the often-introverted nature of the IR field and share actionable ways veteran professionals can better welcome newcomers who might be battling imposter syndrome.

Sponsored by the Data Analytics Alliance for Higher Education. Have questions about today's conversation? Reach out to Debbie at [email protected].

Is your Institutional Research (IR) or Institutional Effectiveness (IE) office feeling the strain of endless, urgent data requests? In this special roundtable episode of the Data Stakes podcast, host Debbie Phelps sits down with three higher education data experts to tackle one of the most difficult—yet critical—skills for data professionals to master: saying "no."

Following their packed-house session at the AIR Forum, Katherine Gipalo (Florida State University), Samantha Nix (Florida State University), and Samantha James (Georgia Tech) share their experiences and strategies for managing stakeholder expectations, overcoming the fear of failure, and protecting data teams from burnout.

In this episode, we cover:

• Reframing the "No": How to use project management strategies and clear scoping to negotiate realistic timelines (the "Yes, but..." approach).
• Overcoming the People-Pleasing Trap: Practical advice for shifting out of a resource-scarcity mindset and protecting your own mental health and capacity.
• Empowering Stakeholders: Tactics to turn a flat "no" into a collaborative "yes" by encouraging data literacy and shared responsibility on campus.
• Tactical Boundary Setting: Actionable everyday tips, including strict calendar blocking, transparent shared task lists, and leveraging data request forms to justify and triage your workload.

Whether you're running a one-person shop or leading a growing team, this conversation is packed with actionable advice to help you regain control of your data portfolio and build a healthier, more sustainable data culture on your campus.

Listen to Episode 15 now!

(Data Stakes is sponsored by the Data Analytics Alliance for Higher Education. To learn more about our upcoming quarterly meeting or today's topic, reach out to [email protected])

How do you turn massive amounts of public data into a customized, actionable benchmarking strategy that campus leadership actually understands?

In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie is joined by Jon Gallegos, Data Analyst at WSU Tech, to unpack his recent AIR Forum presentation, "The Benchmarking Process from Initiation to Implementation." Jon walks us through the exact technical and strategic steps he used to build a benchmarking data store from the ground up.

Key Takeaways:

• Starting with Purpose: Why securing leadership buy-in is the critical first step before pulling a single data point.
• Leveraging IPEDS: How to utilize free, standardized IPEDS survey data (and why standard definitions matter for peer comparison).
• Building the Architecture: A look under the hood at extracting data with Python and structuring longitudinal time-series data within a Snowflake repository.
• Strategic Peer Selection: Moving beyond basic groupings by using clustering and cosine similarity to identify peer and aspirational institutions.
• Designing for Meaning: Best practices for data visualization in Power BI, using intentional color schemes and simplified matrixes to ensure your colleagues can easily digest the metrics.

Plus, Jon discusses a custom calculation—the Outcome Efficiency Index—that bridges the gap between campus finances and student awards.

In this episode of Data Stakes, host Debbie sits down with Dr. Jason Simon, co-founder of SCL Impact LLC, to explore the missing ingredient in higher education analytics: campus culture. While institutions often pour massive resources into technical tools and data warehouses, Dr. Simon argues that "adaptive challenges"—the human elements, relationships, and institutional norms—are what actually dictate success or failure.

Tune in as they discuss why data professionals need to step out of their silos, the importance of asking "why" before pulling data, and actionable strategies for building robust data literacy across campus. Whether you are an IR professional looking to expand your influence or a campus leader aiming to make data a non-negotiable in decision-making, this conversation offers a powerful roadmap for moving data ownership from "me to we."

In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie is joined by Lee Howell, Senior Director of Administrative Operations and Logistics at Florida State University, to discuss a transformative framework for institutional research: Metric Strategies.

Lee breaks down how higher education institutions can shift their mindset by empowering staff across all departments to "find their place" in the data ecosystem. They explore how to move data ownership from a siloed "me" to a collaborative "we," the importance of challenging inherited legacy processes, and how artificial intelligence is quickly becoming an essential part of the metric strategies toolkit.

Key Takeaways:

• The Grassroots Approach: Why shifting data culture must happen across the entire institution, not just inside the IR office.
• The 5 Core Questions: Essential questions to ask about your metrics, including "who defines the rules?" and "what can people actually influence?"
• The 4 Roles of Data Work: How the Visionary, Analyst, Tactician, and Communicator collaborate to create a shared data narrative.
• Proving Value: How to connect daily, boots-on-the-ground tasks to the broader value and community impact of higher education.

(Note: Listeners can find the slide deck from Lee’s 2026 AIR Forum presentation linked in the show notes below!)

Data governance doesn't have to be intimidating. All too often, the topic induces sighs and eye-rolls across higher education campuses. But what if data governance was viewed not as a set of restrictive rules, but as a framework to empower your colleagues and maximize institutional value?

In this episode of Data Stakes, host Debbie sits down with Dr. Tara Webb, Associate Vice President and Chief Data Officer at Rhodes College, to demystify the complexities of data governance. Drawing from her highly acclaimed presentation at the 2025 AIR Forum, Dr. Webb shares her "Adaptive Data Governance" framework—an iterative, just-in-time approach that prioritizes progress over perfection.

Whether you are trying to convince skeptical colleagues to buy into a new process or are looking for ways to build a single "source of truth" on your campus, this episode is packed with practical, actionable advice for professionals at any stage of their data maturity journey.

Key Takeaways in this Episode:

• A Practical Definition: How to frame data governance around people, knowledge, and processes to maximize strategic value and minimize institutional risk.
• The Iterative Approach: Why trying to build a "perfect" governance model upfront usually fails, and how to start small to score meaningful, visible wins within your first year.
• Empowering Data Stewards: Strategies to engage busy colleagues without overwhelming them with "homework" (including Dr. Webb’s bi-weekly working session model).
• Measuring Success: How to assess the effectiveness of your data strategy by looking at both operational workflows and cultural shifts.
• Recommended Resources: A look into the tools that can guide your journey, including the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) and the AIR Change with Analytics playbook.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Explore the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) resources, including the Leading Change with Analytics workshop series and playbook at AIRweb.org.
• Want to be the next guest on Data Stakes? Reach out to Debbie at [email protected] to share what you’re working on!

Is your institution’s latest data technology rollout feeling more like a failing relationship than a lasting partnership? You aren't alone. In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie sits down with John Ingram—Assistant Director of Institutional Research at Delaware Valley University and chapter author of the upcoming book, Priority Partners: Turning Vendor Spending into Mission Strengths.

John and Debbie dive deep into the often-overlooked "Effectiveness Equation" of vendor management in higher education. Using a highly relatable dating analogy, they explore why technical success doesn't always equal operational success. Together, they unpack how institutions can show up as better partners by defining success early, prioritizing data governance, and understanding that lasting alignment—not just flashy tools—is the true foundation of a multi-year tech marriage.

Whether your campus is vetting a new data system or actively trying to rescue an off-track implementation, this episode provides actionable advice and a practical framework to ensure both you and your vendor are driving toward the same goals.

Key Takeaways in this Episode:

• The Effectiveness Equation: Why outcomes are driven by shared understanding and alignment, not just software.
• Dating Your Vendor: How to navigate the transition from the "first date" demo phase to a committed, long-term tech marriage.
• Defining Success Early: Why institutions must establish clear ownership and expected outcomes before signing a contract.
• The Effectiveness Canvas: A practical tool to evaluate your vendor relationship across roles, data, communication, and hidden work.

In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie is joined by Dr. Ken Matthews, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness at St. Cloud Technical and Community College, to discuss how higher education institutions can transform accreditation from a simple compliance checklist into a powerful engine for institutional growth. They dive into the intersection of knowledge management, strategic planning, and the evolving challenges facing higher ed today.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Rethinking Accreditation: Why viewing accreditation as an opportunity for deep self-reflection helps institutions better align with their core mission and promises to students.
• The Human Element of Data: The critical need for Institutional Research (IR) and Institutional Effectiveness (IE) professionals to build campus relationships, establish trust, and look past the numbers to understand the full context of their data.
• Agile Enrollment Strategies: Why traditional statistical modeling is giving way to scenario planning to help institutions navigate unpredictable variables, such as rapid surges in dual enrollment.
• Aligning Campus-Wide Goals: How adopting a framework of "Wildly Important Goals" (WIGs) can successfully integrate disconnected campus plans (IT, facilities, academic) and get the entire institution rowing in the same direction toward student retention.
• The AI Frontier: A candid look at the rapid integration of artificial intelligence in education, the ongoing concerns regarding academic integrity, and how institutions must adapt their learning assessments to keep pace.

Episode Summary Higher education is evolving at a faster rate than anyone could have anticipated. How can institutions move past simply reacting to change and start actively anticipating it?

In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie sits down with Dr. Viviana Unda, Head of Institutional Research and Planning at El Camino College, to explore the transformative power of "Futures Thinking" in higher education. Drawing on her recent coursework from the University of Cambridge, Dr. Unda breaks down the crucial differences between standard forecasting and strategic foresight.

Together, they discuss how to build campus buy-in for future-focused initiatives, why data visualizations are never truly "neutral," and how applying frameworks like the Futures Triangle can revolutionize how institutional research teams tell data stories. Dr. Unda also shares exclusive insights from her upcoming chapter in Priority Partners, offering practical advice on building stronger, outcome-aware relationships with third-party vendors.

Key Takeaways & Episode Highlights

• [00:00] Introduction: What is Futures Readiness and why does it matter right now?
• [03:28] Strategies for building campus buy-in and utilizing early adopters for new governance initiatives.
• [06:59] Breaking down the principles of futures thinking: Strategic foresight vs. forecasting, systems thinking, and confronting cognitive biases.
• [17:00] The Futures Triangle: Applying the "push of the present, pull of the future, and weight of history" to data visualization.
• [18:44] Why data visuals are never neutral and what the future of "embodied data" experiences might look like.
• [22:54] A curated list of books, toolkits, and podcasts to help you and your team develop strategic foresight.
• [31:35] Priority Partners: How to use data and evidence to establish better, mission-driven relationships with vendors.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Organizations & Toolkits: Institute for the Future, ASAE ForesightWorks (50 Drivers of Change), UK Office of Science Futures Toolkit.
• Reports: EDUCAUSE Horizon Report (Data and Analytics Edition), OECD Trends Shaping Education.
• Books: Imaginable by Jane McGonigal, Four Steps to the Future by Richard Lum, Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick.
• Events: The Future Summit (California Community Colleges).
• Podcasts: The Think Forward Show, The New Abnormal.

About the Sponsor Data Stakes is sponsored by the Data Analytics Alliance for Higher Education. Visit our website to learn more about our upcoming quarterly meeting featuring Dr. Brent Drake from the John Gardner Institute, where we'll be discussing the impact of AI on data analytics.

Have questions about today's conversation? Reach out to Dave Phelps at Datatelligent.