Institutional Research

The Office of Institutional Research

The mission of the Office of Institutional Research is to provide objective, accurate and timely management information to improve planning and decision-making. Ideally this information will improve teaching and learning as well as services to students, resulting in a positive market position.

Institutional Research (IR) is a set of research activities carried out at colleges and universities. IR aims to collect, analyze and report data on students, faculty, and staff; educational activities, programs and facilities; and administrative and support services to provide accurate information for planning and decision making.

This office reports to the provost and conducts research for academic divisions and programs, student services, finance, marketing, recruitment and other college offices. Additionally, the IR Office reports college data to external sources, such as the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and federal government departments. Research projects are occasionally submitted for publication to contribute to the scholarly literature in the field.

What are the five broad IR functions at MATC?

Tracks and Reports Student Enrollments Data

The Office of Institutional Research gathers, tracks, maintains and reports data on student enrollments - from recruitment, marketing and retention to program involvement, graduation and placement. This function embodies the "enrollment funnel process." IR also reports on specific program trends as part of a quality review process for making continuous improvements.

Maintains Data Related to Financial Status of the Institution

The Office of Institutional Research maintains data related to the financial status of the institution by working with the college's Finance Office and the WTCS Office. It aids the determination and allocation of funds for institutional functions and resources, including instructional development and faculty and staff salaries. It interfaces with the Grants Office and Office of Corporate Learning for similar reasons.

Produces Analyses of College, Program and Service Functions

IR produces analyses of college, program and service functions, systems and processes for internal clients, as a way to guide decision-making. These include satisfaction studies and environmental scans of the college as well as a wide range of enrollment trends and analyses measuring student success (e.g., course completion, GPA, academic standing, college transition, and transfers) and evaluation of specific programs and services. It shares findings with top management, divisions, departments and planning committees at the institution.

Prepare Data for Accreditation

Accreditation is a significant issue for all educational institutions and IR plays a central role in preparing data for assessing continuous organizational improvements and for making college submissions to accrediting bodies. The Office also is a contact point for reports and surveys requested from governmental and non-governmental agencies, including the United States Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission.

Aid Organizational Evaluation

All educational institutions need common guidelines, procedures and measures for strategic planning purposes. To facilitate this important requirement, IR develops standardized data definitions, calculations and data sets that help the institution employ meaningful measures that aid organizational evaluation.

Facts and Figures

MATC FY2023 College Dashboard (pdf)

Student Right-to-Know

Resources

WTCS - http://www.wtcsystem.edu
IPEDS Data Center - http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter

Institutional Research Staff

Yan Wang, Ph.D.
Office M222
Director, Institutional Research
Office (414) 297-8509
Fax (414) 297-7401
WangY@matc.edu

Olya Finnegan, MS
Office M222
Manager, Research and Reporting
Office (414) 297-8712
Fax (414) 297-7401
finnegao@matc.edu

Jessica Medina, BS
Office M222
Administrative Assistant III
Office (414) 297-8456
Fax (414) 297-7401
medinj39@matc.edu

Dan Turpin, BS
Office M222E
Data Analyst
Office (414) 297-6404
Fax ((414) 297-7401
turpind@matc.edu

Connie Russell, AAS, BA
Office M222
Administrative Assistant III
Office (414) 297-6108
Fax (414) 297-7401
russellc@matc.edu

John Schliesmann, MED
Office M222
Coordinating, State Reporting
Office (414) 297-6715
Fax (414) 297-7401
schliejc@matc.edu

Chue Vang, MSED
Office M222
Data Analyst
Office (414) 297-6299
Fax (414) 297-7401
vangc93@matc.edu

Kamille Hall, MPA
Office M222E
Data Analyst
Office (414) 297-7003
Fax (414) 297-7401
hallk14@matc.edu