Student Success

Data-Driven Decision Making

CSUN Counts

What

CSUN is working toward greater reliance on data-informed decision making in innovating and improving student success initiatives. To that end, CSUN purchased an enterprise server license for business intelligence software (Tableau), which has allowed the Office of Institutional Research to more easily share university data with the campus community, through data dashboards in CSUN Counts (www.csun.edu/counts). IR began with converting its existing public data inventory, CSUN by the Numbers, to dashboards in CSUN Counts in Fall 2016, and has continued to develop additional dashboards in support of student success (some of which reside on the CSUN Counts server, which requires authentication using CSUN credentials). Beginning in Fall 2016, student success data tools workshops have been offered to Deans, Associate Deans, MARs, Advising Directors, Department Chairs, members of the Provost’s Council, new assistant faculty members, GRS’s, Student Affairs staff, and Data Champions.

Who

Project Lead: Janet Oh

When

The development of student success dashboards began in Fall 2016 and is ongoing. Student success dashboard workshops also began in Fall 2016 and are ongoing.

Outcomes

Over 300 people have attended a student success data tools workshop.  Since it’s launch, CSUN Counts has had over 19,000 visits, averaging over 200 users a day. 

Resources

CSUN Counts website

Data Champions

What

Beginning Fall 2016, deans worked with their associate deans and department chairs to identify faculty to serve as Data Champions for their college.  Data Champions receive professional development on student success efforts and data tools in the Fall, and are then responsible for “championing” the data tools to their colleagues and working on a student success data project for their college in the Spring.  This program is central to our campus efforts to engage faculty in our student success work.

Who

Project Lead: Janet Oh

When

Data Champions launched in Fall 2016, and a new cohort has been appointed in Fall 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Outcomes

Over 80 faculty and staff have served as Data Champions since its inception.

Resources

Data Champions website [link coming soon]