Wayne State U. rolls out data quality initiative
Wayne State University in Detroit on Tuesday announced the school recently launched a new initiative aimed at improving its data literacy and data infrastructure.
According to a press release, the initiative includes a data-quality effort that will be submitted to the Higher Learning Commission, the school’s accreditor. The school says it also plans to increase access to data and training on data to “enhance student learning and outcomes.”
“As a research-intensive (R1) institution, it is in our DNA to participate in innovation, discovery and data-informed decision making,” Laurie Lauzon Clabo, the university’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, said in the release. “Student success is not a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why we need to make effective use of multiple sources for data to create plans that support our students in achieving their best possible outcomes.”
As part of the data program, the university, which enrolls about 24,000 students, says it plans to focus on “inclusive excellence,” addressing “gaps” in educational outcomes.
“Diversity enriches our community, and Wayne State’s pursuit of equity enables our students, faculty and staff to thrive,” Donyale Padgett, interim vice provost for inclusive excellence, said in the release. “Developing data-informed DEI strategies that bring us closer to our mission of inclusive excellence is important work that needs to be linked across the university campus.”
The university is also planning to host a Data Literacy Institute, a 12-week program with 29 enrolled fellows. The institute, which launched on Jan. 9, is designed to provide its fellows with hands-on experience with data and best practices.
