Director of Institutional Research University of La Verne Ontario, California, United States
Session Abstract: How can Institutional Research make data meaningful for non-technical audiences? This session showcases how the University of La Verne developed an Institutional Factbook in Power BI to strengthen data literacy across campus.
Topics include cleaning Banner data in SQL for consistency, designing Factbooks on demographics, enrollment, degrees, classifications, and retention/graduation, and simplifying dashboards to reduce barriers for non-technical users.
Attendees will see how design choices—such as minimizing dropdowns and presenting clear visuals—helped deans, program directors, and accreditation committees use data confidently in planning and self-studies.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Apply strategies for cleaning Banner data in SQL.
Use design principles for accessible dashboards in Power BI.
Support non-technical stakeholders in applying data for accreditation, student success, and decision-making.
Keywords: Data Literacy, Institutional Factbook, Data Communication, Stakeholder Engagement
