Data Sources
Within UTTC, there are three primary means currently utilized for gathering, maintaining, and reporting institutional data. They are student enrollment reports, the AIHEC-sponsored American Indian Measures of Success (AIMS)/AIMS Key Indicator System (AKIS), and the internal annual fall student survey. With the exception of the annual fall student survey, the data gathered is derived from the Jenzabar system. Jenzabar is both the company and the data-management system utilized by United Tribes Technical College. Jenzabar uses the Infomaker program to access and configure data for reporting purposes. This information system is able to generate both real-time and time-specific data on various populations and for various purposes.
The current types of data being gathered are primarily of a demographic nature but also seek to illuminate the UTTC college student experience. United Tribes Technical College serves a unique population of students who often come from disadvantaged circumstances. This information is critical to understanding the need for services for the UTTC student. Following is a brief synopsis of the various sources of data and their primary role in data gathering:
Enrollment Services
Various data is gathered by the staff of enrollment services for reporting functions. This information is demographic in nature, consists of current-year student data, and is used primarily for federal and grant funding reporting purposes. Data is required for IPEDS (integrated postsecondary education data system), Carl Perkins, U.S. Department of Education, and the Office of Indian Education Program of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, among others.
AIMS/AKIS
The American Indian Measures of Success (AIMS)/AIMS Key Indicator System (AKIS) project is sponsored by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and was founded through a grant from the Lumina Foundation with two goals: (1) to define relevant quantitative and qualitative indicator data of American Indian student success, and (2) to develop and implement a strategy for collecting, analyzing, and presenting annually the success indicator data using electronic information management tools. The system consists of quantitative measures (Part A) and qualitative measures (Part B) for each of the nation’s tribal colleges (TCUs), including United Tribes Technical College. The eight types of indicator data for Part A include overall institutional profile; financial resources and student costs; physical resources; student enrollment and graduation by major group; course enrollment and completion; student activities; personnel demographics, professional development, and research; and students with disabilities enrollment and graduation rates. Indicator data for Part B include achievement highlights and future planning; education participation; student preparedness; online and distance education and instructional technology; student research, extracurricular, community and cultural activities; stories of success and overcoming barriers; faculty, staff, and administrator accomplishments; and outstanding alumni.
The information gathered by the AIHEC AIMS/AKIS project is published and disseminated through an annual “factbook”, available through AIHEC or the sub-contractor, Systemic Research, Inc. United Tribes Technical College also maintains this data within the institution each year.
Annual Fall Student Survey
The purpose of the UTTC Fall General Student Survey is to gather data regarding the ‘typical’ United Tribes Technical College student. This data is used for program development, grant acquisition, student research projects and other informational purposes for the educational improvement of the college. The annual fall student survey constitutes a representative sample of the total student population each fall. The survey seeks to obtain information about student lifestyle and experience; information not gathered anywhere else on campus. This information includes native language and culture; beliefs about Native identity; educational experiences; technology use; beliefs about citizenship and current issues; and wellness and mental health experiences. The data is gathered and maintained by the UTTC Office of Research.
