Using student data responsibly : how to protect, analyze, and act on the information you have

Summary: "Colleges nationwide are increasingly looking to harness data -- especially on their students -- to make strategic and cost-effective decisions. Using predictive analytics in advising, or data on students' needs, for example, can raise retention and graduation rates, close equity gaps, and bring in revenue. But colleges must weigh their ability to know more than ever about their students against potential ethical missteps and privacy risks. And they must figure out which data are useful in the first place. Student data collected or used unwisely can do more harm than good. This special report will describe how to make full use of the data you have while avoiding risks and not breaking the bank. Read this report to: Determine which data will be most useful to collect; Learn how to collect data responsibly and what infrastructure you'll need; Find out how best to communicate with students about data collection; Build a campus culture that recognizes the benefits of data-informed decision-making; Understand how to avoid bias when analyzing data, and the ways in which data can be misleading; Learn how to protect data from cyberattacks, including what questions to ask when forming partnerships with vendors; Identify existing resources you can use to ensure the financial sustainability of your efforts."--Publisher description.