UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — To better reflect the breadth of its work, the Penn State Office of Planning and Assessment (OPA) will be renamed the Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research, effective Dec. 1.
“This name change reflects the office’s growing strategic focus on issues of significant institutional interest and assessment efforts across the University,” said Nick Jones, executive vice president and provost. “Since Lance Kennedy-Phillips came to Penn State in October of 2015, he has evolved the office to ensure institutional research is a key component of our planning and assessment efforts. We thank him for his leadership in integrating and synthesizing Penn State's many institutional planning and assessment initiatives.”
The office’s institutional research focus combines the official data collection and reporting function that had been coordinated by the University Budget Office; the Business Intelligence team, formerly part of Penn State IT; and OPA’s previous work performing institutional research studies, to form a more comprehensive institutional research enterprise that connects data management, analysis and reporting under one organization.
Karen Vance, who was named assistant vice provost for institutional research in September, will lead Penn State’s consolidated data and institutional research services in support of University-level initiatives.
“The new office will have an increased emphasis on being an objective source of information for University decision-makers, and better connect institutional data to Penn State’s strategic priorities,” said Lance Kennedy-Phillips, vice provost for planning and assessment. “Our mission is to empower the Penn State community to use rigorous evidence and insights to realize the University’s land-grant mission.”
Kennedy-Phillips said that the office’s updated name reflects the central role it plays related to three key functions: coordinating and leading strategic planning activities for the University; coordinating the assessment of student learning outcomes across the institution; and providing support to University leadership through data collection, analytical activities and research projects. The office also serves as Penn State’s liaison to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.