Enhancing Institutional Research: A Fact Book Approach with Tableau

1. Clemson University Interactive Fact Book South Carolina Association for Institutional Research January 28-29, 2019 Greenville, SC Juan Xu Joe McLaughlin Melissa Welborn Ronnie Chrestman

2. Overview • Background • Standing on the Giants’ Shoulders • Considerations for the New Fact Book • Retention and Graduation • Data Preparation • The Reports • A Demo • Discussions and Future Improvements

3. Background • Purchase of Tableau Server • Decision to Present Fact Book Using Tableau • Vendor Solution and User Feedback • What did it look like from the Vendor? (from Tableau Server or a picture) • Major Feedbacks: Trend and student profile for a specific year combined in one page, overwhelming, difficult to navigate • The Decision to Make • Continue with the Vendor (Pros and Cons) • Self-Reliance (Pros and Cons) • Communication, Communication, and Communication!

4. Standing on the Giants’ Shoulders • What we have • Aggregated data tables – ideal for fact book • An introduction of the data tables in My SQL server • Existing “fact book” using PHP programming (sample page) • Draft tableau fact book – TOC design, established links to my SQL database, ready-set data calculations and value labels • Similar products from peers • Community of Tableau Learners

5. Standing on the Giants’ Shoulders (Cont.) • What we need to have • Revised Presentation • Longitudinal overview • Retention/Graduation • Improved Navigation • Data Definition • Bottom line: Building on the team’s experiences and strength

6. Considerations for the New Fact Book • Design stage • Accuracy • Consistency • Flexibility • KISS • Systematic Updates • FERPA • Posting: Tableau Server or Tableau Public

7. Retention and Graduation • Background • Data preparation • Data Source - Student Enroll and Completions files that had been previously submitted to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education • Over 49,000 records of entering students • Fall 2009-Fall 2018 including Spring Terms • Over 290,000 student returning records • Over 33,000 graduation records

8. Retention and Graduation-Cont. • What do we track? • 1st Year to 2nd Year Retention • 2nd Year to 3rd Year Retention • 2-Year Graduation Rate • 3-Year Graduation Rate • 4-Year Graduation Rate • 5-Year Graduation Rate • 6-Year graduation Rate

9. Retention and Graduation-Cont. • Comparison Data • First Time Freshmen • Under Represented Minorities vs. Non-Under Represented Minorities • In-State vs. Out-of-State • First Generation College vs. Non-First Generation College • Transfer Students • South Carolina Technical College Transfers vs. Non-South Carolina College Transfers • Bridge Students vs. Non-Bridge Students • College Level • Department Level

10. Retention and Graduation-Cont. • The Report • Key Features • Limited Parameters • Institutional • Flexibility • Rate and Cohort Numbers

11. A Demo • Key Features • Navigation to Main Page • Reset Filters • Uses Both Tables and Graphs • Treatment of Small Cells • Continuous Improvement

12. Discussions and Thoughts about Future Improvements Discussions: • Mask Small Cells? Future Considerations: • Profile on Employee Reports • A Different Look for Table of Content? • Inclusion of Financial Information Acknowledgements: • The Whole IR Team • Support from Other Departments • Peer Institutions

13. Questions? • Thanks! • Contact information: Juan Xu, PhD Director, Office for Institutional Research Clemson University jxu2@clemson.edu (864)656-0585