Data at the heart of STAIR’s mission
Office of Strategic Analytics and Institutional Research is a resource for Miami University community
•
Published
Data at the heart of STAIR’s mission
Office of Strategic Analytics and Institutional Research is a resource for Miami University community
•
Published
The name may be new, but the mission remains data informed.
Miami University’s Office of Strategic Analytics and Institutional Research (STAIR) is focused on creating a culture of decision-making rooted in data.
Formerly known as the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness and housed within Academic Affairs, STAIR is now a part of the Office of the President.
“We want data to be more integrated across the entire institution,” said Padma Patil, associate vice president of STAIR and Miami’s chief data officer. “Our goal is for Miami faculty, staff, and students to recognize how important data is and to develop skills and competencies around data into their work.”
As the university’s central institutional research unit, STAIR is responsible for external reporting obligations, as well as supporting planning and decision-making processes through analysis.
Using data strategically and collaboratively is at the core of STAIR. The Fact Book, Common Data Set, and custom analyses are among the tools provided by STAIR.
“I would really like this office to be a resource, whether it’s training, education, or direction on how the Miami community can utilize and benefit from data in their work,” Patil said.
The change to STAIR became official on Dec. 1. Patil said the office’s new title needed to be clear.
“You want it to be something that can be explained,” she said. “Through initiatives like MiamiTHRIVE, we see how different components of the university are interlinked, and data provides a good way of understanding that. Oftentimes there is a default of data being used as a snapshot to explain something. We use data to shape decision-making and strategy and to achieve goals. The strategic piece is always important in how we view data.”
Miami University’s Office of Strategic Analytics and Institutional Research (STAIR) is focused on creating a culture of decision-making rooted in data.
Formerly known as the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness and housed within Academic Affairs, STAIR is now a part of the Office of the President.
“We want data to be more integrated across the entire institution,” said Padma Patil, associate vice president of STAIR and Miami’s chief data officer. “Our goal is for Miami faculty, staff, and students to recognize how important data is and to develop skills and competencies around data into their work.”
As the university’s central institutional research unit, STAIR is responsible for external reporting obligations, as well as supporting planning and decision-making processes through analysis.
Using data strategically and collaboratively is at the core of STAIR. The Fact Book, Common Data Set, and custom analyses are among the tools provided by STAIR.
“I would really like this office to be a resource, whether it’s training, education, or direction on how the Miami community can utilize and benefit from data in their work,” Patil said.
The change to STAIR became official on Dec. 1. Patil said the office’s new title needed to be clear.
“You want it to be something that can be explained,” she said. “Through initiatives like MiamiTHRIVE, we see how different components of the university are interlinked, and data provides a good way of understanding that. Oftentimes there is a default of data being used as a snapshot to explain something. We use data to shape decision-making and strategy and to achieve goals. The strategic piece is always important in how we view data.”
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg.