The start of a new academic year is a great time to launch a new initiative, which is why I’m excited to discuss the recently released Change with Analytics Playbook in this week’s issue. Everyone loves talking about data, right? After that, we’ll look at new guidelines for 3-year degree programs and close with a survey about high school student plans after graduation.   

After reading today’s issue, use the comments section to let us know how you might use the analytics playbook at your institution.  

A quick programming note: The HEat Index will be taking a break next week. We’ll be back in your inboxes the following week.  

An Analytics Playbook 

From Change with Analytics | Empowering Higher Education Through Data-Informed Decision Making   

Three higher education organizations have released a guide to help institutions build and maintain a data culture.    

Our Thoughts 

Hats off to the Association for Institutional Research (AIR), EDUCAUSE, and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) for creating this playbook after releasing their Joint Statement on Analytics in 2019. Using data to help inform decisions at all levels of the institution is featured prominently in the 2024 EDUCAUSE Top 10.   

There is little doubt about the importance of data for institutions today, but using data effectively across campus can be challenging. I think that’s why I love this playbook. It recognizes those challenges and offers institutions actionable steps to overcome them. It also emphasizes that everyone has a role to play in building an analytics-enabled institution. By focusing on roles and not job titles, this playbook empowers people at institutions who are ready to start the analytics journey but have been waiting on a “leader” to lead it. Instead, they can use this playbook to find success with analytics. Seems like a win-win to me.  

3-Year Degrees 

From Largest accreditor to review “reduced credit” bachelor’s degrees | Inside Higher Ed   

The Higher Learning Commission has released new guidance and an application for institutions wishing to offer bachelor’s degrees of fewer than 120 credits.    

Our Thoughts 

Personally, I do not think we can discuss the challenges facing higher education without considering 3-year bachelor’s degrees. Outside of the U.S., 3-year bachelor’s degrees are more common than you might think, even if U.S. institutions and their accreditors have been slow to embrace them as viable options. However, it is a pathway that directly addresses a recent, common concern about higher education – the time it takes to complete a degree and enter the workforce.  

One of the challenges facing 3-year degrees is demonstrating that students enrolled in them meet the same educational standards and learning outcomes as the more traditional, 4-year degree program. However, initiatives such as the College-in-3 Exchange are working to help institutions understand how to demonstrate this while providing a supportive environment for participating institutions.   

If you want to learn more, we featured 3-year bachelor’s degrees on episode 6 of our Evisions podcast, ForecastED. Give it a listen! 

High School Grads Consider Other Paths 

From Survey: What will Gen Z high school grads pursue if not college? | University Business  

A recent study found that 43% of Gen Z high school grads plan to pursue something other than college after high school.    

Our Thoughts  

While it is just one survey, it is not great news for higher education, especially as we approach the demographic cliff next year. After reading the survey, it seems that students are disengaged from their high school studies and may feel that postsecondary education will be more of the same. If true, this presents an opportunity for institutions to adjust their strategies by offering more engaging, career-relevant learning experiences.  

Although high school students may have different educational aspirations than college, the data still indicates that postsecondary credentials offer a good return on your investment. Institutions must do a better job of understanding and engaging with the evolving priorities of future students and demonstrating that their investment is worth it. Doing this will help ensure that postsecondary education remains relevant to this generation and beyond.