The Evidence Imperative: Reflections on How Volatility and Data Are Reshaping the Relationship Between IR and College and University Presidents

Abstract

Colleges have access to more data than ever before, and to unlock its full potential, the right culture, processes, and technologies are needed. Given the pressures now facing campuses, the demand for evidence‐based approaches to strategy have intensified. As a result, more attention has been placed on the importance of the relationship between Senior Leaders and IR, which, if fully harnessed, can help to ensure the viability of institutions nationwide. Yet, recent surveys and literature suggest that for this relationship to thrive, more must be done to ensure that IR is considered as an important functional area at a time when data‐informed decision‐making has become increasingly vital. To that end, the purpose of this chapter is to offer ideas for how executives can champion data‐informed decision‐making and the ways in which IR functions must take on greater leadership through an integrated and collaborative approach focused on analytics.