This article presents results of a study the author recently conducted on the role of traditional institutional research (IR) offices in support of accreditation activities and institutional effectiveness. The purpose of the study was to confirm or disconfirm the utility of a theoretical model developed by Brittingham, O'Brien, and Alig (2008) of…

The origins of institutional effectiveness are traced, its evolution within community colleges is described, the use of the term "institutional effectiveness" is analyzed, and a practical, operational definition of the term is presented. The author hopes that this definition and the discussion in this article prove useful to community college…

This chapter presents a sophisticated approach for tracking student cohorts from entry through departure within an institution. It describes how a researcher can create a student tracking model to perform longitudinal research on student cohorts. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)

Faced with growing pressure to demonstrate student success and achieve financial stability, community colleges have increasingly turned to enrollment management. Using Bronx Community College as an example, this chapter examines the role institutional research can play in the enrollment management process.

This chapter describes several examples of institutional use of state- and college-level tracking data to benchmark performance, improve student success, and enhance program effectiveness.

Part-time faculty members at community colleges are customarily understood from an institutional perspective that is based on traditional conceptions of the community college as a component of a tiered educational system. This conception places the community college in the role of either a junior college or a training school. However, the…

This chapter describes the National Student Clearinghouse and discusses opportunities and challenges for tracking community college students. It also presents a system perspective on using clearinghouse data to promote more comprehensive student and graduate tracking. (Contains 2 tables.)

This chapter examines lessons learned by states that are using student unit record (SUR) data to improve outcomes for community college students and recommends steps states can take to strengthen their use of SUR databases to benefit students and communities. (Contains 1 exhibit.)

Discusses the role of follow-up studies in tracking student progress. Underscores the importance of gathering data about student intentions, and using the data in analyzing follow-up findings. (DMM)

Discusses the historical development of community impact studies and explains the purpose, planning, and methodology of these studies. Describes Eastfield College's community impact assessment process and the use of the findings. Lists the goals which had been met according to survey respondents and mentions the benefits gained from the study. (DD)

Discusses trends in two-year college research, defines research, and poses questions that must be answered before research can be used effectively in management. Outlines steps in a decision-making system that converts data into planning concepts. Explains the need for a master plan and describes the master-planning process. (DD)

Describes LONESTAR, a longitudinal tracking system developed for a consortium of Texas community colleges in response to a new state mandate on remedial education. Looks at the features of LONESTAR that respond to short-term reporting requirements and facilitate long-term tracking of students. (DMM)

Illustrates how proprietary schools and community colleges have used market research techniques to identify marketing problems, determine student characteristics, measure market penetration, understand market position vis-a-vis the competition, and assess applicants' perceptions. (AYC)

Argues that community colleges must be able to incorporate information about themselves and their clientele into delivery systems, operational strategies, and strategic planning. Underscores the importance of program evaluation in institutional planning and of needs assessments as a vital communications process between service area and college.…

Presents a marketing model for private junior colleges, including a research component to analyze the college, its students, and its competition; an assessment of the academic program, student services, and finances; a communications strategy for recruitment, public relations, and image enhancement; and an evaluation component. (DMM)