A service of the Higher Education Data Policy Committee (HEDPC), IR in the Know keeps you up to date on current and emerging issues related to higher education data collection, analyses, and reporting with a brief summary of topics and links to more detailed information. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. If you find a resource or article you think might be useful to other IR professionals, please send an email to irintheknow@airweb.org.

AASCU Top 10 Higher Education State Policy Issues for 2010
The American Association of State College and Universities (AASCU) released its top 10 higher education state policy issues for 2010, which are: states’ fiscal crisis, the American graduation initiative, tuition policy and prices, enrollment capacity, state student aid programs, federal focus on community colleges, expansion of statewide data systems and new reporting metrics, veteran’s education, college readiness, and teacher effectiveness.

Initiative to Develop Model of Common Data Standards
A group of representative stakeholders is currently working with the U.S. Department of Education to develop common data model standards. The goal of the activity is to reduce differences in definitions and data storage procedures which make communication difficult among schools and institutions, and increase the costs and burden of collecting information. The State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) will promote the voluntary adoption of the data standards over a three-year period through funding from the Gates Foundation. Read the statement of purpose for more details.

IHEP Launches New “College and Success” Web Site
The Pathways to College Network, a program of the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), unveiled its newly redesigned Web site to help improve college access and success for underserved students such as minorities, first-generation, and those from low-income backgrounds. The site now features information and resource tools to support practitioners, policymakers, and researchers focusing on key issues such as college access and success, financial aid and affordability, and preparation and support

Excelencia in Education Releases Report on Emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are typically defined as institutions where the total Hispanic student enrollment is at least 25 percent of the total student population. Many of these institutions adopt specific institutional policies and practices to support the success of Latino students. A recent report from Excelencia in Education examines institutions that have not yet met the HSI enrollment threshold (referred to as Emerging HSIs), but are expected to do so within the next few years. While most Emerging HSIs were knowledgeable about enrollment growth and had recruitment practices in place, they were less informed about graduation rates, and many did not have adequate academic programs or support services focused on Latino students. These findings suggest access could be coming at the expense of persistence and completion. The report includes recommendations on how to better serve Latino students.