Institutional Research (IR) provides leadership and support in research-related activities to members of the NOVA community engaged in planning and evaluating the institution's success in accomplishing its mission.
About Institutional Research
Areas of Focus
Data/Data Analysis
IR is the official source of NOVA’s institutional data and is responsible for ensuring data integrity. The office provides data and data analysis to the college president, senior administrators, committees and the college community in general. IR regularly publishes information on various sectors of the College, posting these publications on this website. The office is responsible for reporting requirements at the federal and state levels.
Research Studies
IR conducts research studies and publishes its findings in the form of research reports, research briefs, data reports and fact sheets. Research study topics include a wide area of subjects, such as student performance, developmental studies and enrollment patterns. IR periodically conducts external environmental scanning that focuses on local demographic changes, labor market trends and local business needs.
Research Support
The office provides research support to faculty and staff and, in some instances, to students. Research support takes many forms including developing survey instruments using statistical techniques in research, helping to analyze data and conducting various types of evaluations. The office also provides support with writing grant proposals, statistical analysis, tracking student performance and conducting doctoral studies.
Special Initiatives
At the request of the college president and the Administrative Council, the office conducts special studies on an ongoing basis. These studies focus on a variety of subject areas, such as changing enrollment patterns, evaluating major areas of college services and providing or completing needs assessments before policy decisions are made at the college. In addition, OIR takes a leadership role in major college initiatives, such as Achieving the Dream (ATD) and the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE).
Enrollment Planning
IR maintains the official enrollment data for the college, monitors enrollment trends, and provides campus enrollment targets for planning purposes.