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On February 1, 2006, Deborah A.
Freund, then vice chancellor and provost, announced the creation of the Office of
Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA). Barbara (Bobbi) A. Yonai, who was serving as
director of the Center for Support of Teaching and Learning (CSTL), was chosen to lead the
new office.
With this announcement, Syracuse University’s history of
institutional research had come full circle. Prior to 1985, an office of institutional
research existed but was dissolved and a distributed model was adopted by the University,
with the Office of Budget and Planning providing coordination. Institutional research needs
were met by a variety of campus units, one of those being CSTL. The 1998 Middle States
Visiting Team Report indicated that the “current configuration meets the needs of the
institution at this time,” but advised the University to “monitor the demand and modify or
alter its current configuration” if necessary. In spring 2005, a committee was formed to
identify strengths and weaknesses of the current structure. The committee concluded its work
by recommending the formation of an office to coordinate all institutional research efforts
for the University.
It was determined that CSTL, with Bobbi Yonai as director, would
form a strong foundation for an institutional research office. CSTL, in the 30 years since
its inception, was known for its expertise in three areas—the study of teaching and
learning; the evaluation and assessment of courses and programs; and research-related
initiatives important to the University, including generating attrition and retention data
and coordinating SU’s participation in many national research studies. Considering the
focused direction of the new office, CSTL’s responsibilities for faculty development and
video production were separated from OIRA.
Today, OIRA is a centralized unit focused on providing research
services to the University, primarily in support of assessment requirements and other
data-driven, outcome-based needs. The office also continues to provide direction and support
to University personnel in their research and assessment activities. The office’s work is
guided by its mission statement and policies which were adopted by a University-wide
steering committee in July 2006. OIRA reports to Associate Provost Sandra Hurd.
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