Progress Over Perfection: Adaptive Data Governance with Dr. Tara Webb

Progress Over Perfection: Adaptive Data Governance with Dr. Tara Webb

Data governance doesn't have to be intimidating. All too often, the topic induces sighs and eye-rolls across higher education campuses. But what if data governance was viewed not as a set of restrictive rules, but as a framework to empower your colleagues and maximize institutional value? In this episode of Data Stakes, host Debbie sits down with Dr. Tara Webb, Associate Vice President and Chief Data Officer at Rhodes College, to demystify the complexities of data governance. Drawing from her highly acclaimed presentation at the 2025 AIR Forum, Dr. Webb shares her "Adaptive Data Governance" framework—an iterative, just-in-time approach that prioritizes progress over perfection. Whether you are trying to convince skeptical colleagues to buy into a new process or are looking for ways to build a single "source of truth" on your campus, this episode is packed with practical, actionable advice for professionals at any stage of their data maturity journey. Key Takeaways in this Episode: * A Practical Definition: How to frame data governance around people, knowledge, and processes to maximize strategic value and minimize institutional risk. * The Iterative Approach: Why trying to build a "perfect" governance model upfront usually fails, and how to start small to score meaningful, visible wins within your first year. * Empowering Data Stewards: Strategies to engage busy colleagues without overwhelming them with "homework" (including Dr. Webb’s bi-weekly working session model). * Measuring Success: How to assess the effectiveness of your data strategy by looking at both operational workflows and cultural shifts. * Recommended Resources: A look into the tools that can guide your journey, including the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) and the AIR Change with Analytics playbook. Resources & Links Mentioned: * Explore the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) resources, including the Leading Change with Analytics workshop series and playbook at AIRweb.org [http://AIRweb.org]. * Want to be the next guest on Data Stakes? Reach out to Debbie at dfelps@datateligent.ai [dfelps@datateligent.ai] to share what you’re working on!

"Dating" Your Data Vendor: Building Lasting Tech Partnerships in Higher Ed

Is your institution’s latest data technology rollout feeling more like a failing relationship than a lasting partnership? You aren't alone. In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie sits down with John Ingram—Assistant Director of Institutional Research at Delaware Valley University and chapter author of the upcoming book, Priority Partners: Turning Vendor Spending into Mission Strengths. John and Debbie dive deep into the often-overlooked "Effectiveness Equation" of vendor management in higher education. Using a highly relatable dating analogy, they explore why technical success doesn't always equal operational success. Together, they unpack how institutions can show up as better partners by defining success early, prioritizing data governance, and understanding that lasting alignment—not just flashy tools—is the true foundation of a multi-year tech marriage. Whether your campus is vetting a new data system or actively trying to rescue an off-track implementation, this episode provides actionable advice and a practical framework to ensure both you and your vendor are driving toward the same goals. Key Takeaways in this Episode: * The Effectiveness Equation: Why outcomes are driven by shared understanding and alignment, not just software. * Dating Your Vendor: How to navigate the transition from the "first date" demo phase to a committed, long-term tech marriage. * Defining Success Early: Why institutions must establish clear ownership and expected outcomes before signing a contract. * The Effectiveness Canvas: A practical tool to evaluate your vendor relationship across roles, data, communication, and hidden work.

Beyond Compliance: Building a Data-Driven Accreditation Culture with Dr. Ken Matthews

In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie is joined by Dr. Ken Matthews, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness at St. Cloud Technical and Community College, to discuss how higher education institutions can transform accreditation from a simple compliance checklist into a powerful engine for institutional growth. They dive into the intersection of knowledge management, strategic planning, and the evolving challenges facing higher ed today. Key topics covered in this episode: * Rethinking Accreditation: Why viewing accreditation as an opportunity for deep self-reflection helps institutions better align with their core mission and promises to students. * The Human Element of Data: The critical need for Institutional Research (IR) and Institutional Effectiveness (IE) professionals to build campus relationships, establish trust, and look past the numbers to understand the full context of their data. * Agile Enrollment Strategies: Why traditional statistical modeling is giving way to scenario planning to help institutions navigate unpredictable variables, such as rapid surges in dual enrollment. * Aligning Campus-Wide Goals: How adopting a framework of "Wildly Important Goals" (WIGs) can successfully integrate disconnected campus plans (IT, facilities, academic) and get the entire institution rowing in the same direction toward student retention. * The AI Frontier: A candid look at the rapid integration of artificial intelligence in education, the ongoing concerns regarding academic integrity, and how institutions must adapt their learning assessments to keep pace.

Escaping "Neutral" Data: How to Embed Futures Thinking into Institutional Strategy

Episode Summary Higher education is evolving at a faster rate than anyone could have anticipated. How can institutions move past simply reacting to change and start actively anticipating it? In this episode of Data Stakes, Debbie sits down with Dr. Viviana Unda, Head of Institutional Research and Planning at El Camino College, to explore the transformative power of "Futures Thinking" in higher education. Drawing on her recent coursework from the University of Cambridge, Dr. Unda breaks down the crucial differences between standard forecasting and strategic foresight. Together, they discuss how to build campus buy-in for future-focused initiatives, why data visualizations are never truly "neutral," and how applying frameworks like the Futures Triangle can revolutionize how institutional research teams tell data stories. Dr. Unda also shares exclusive insights from her upcoming chapter in Priority Partners, offering practical advice on building stronger, outcome-aware relationships with third-party vendors. Key Takeaways & Episode Highlights * [00:00] Introduction: What is Futures Readiness and why does it matter right now? * [03:28] Strategies for building campus buy-in and utilizing early adopters for new governance initiatives. * [06:59] Breaking down the principles of futures thinking: Strategic foresight vs. forecasting, systems thinking, and confronting cognitive biases. * [17:00] The Futures Triangle: Applying the "push of the present, pull of the future, and weight of history" to data visualization. * [18:44] Why data visuals are never neutral and what the future of "embodied data" experiences might look like. * [22:54] A curated list of books, toolkits, and podcasts to help you and your team develop strategic foresight. * [31:35] Priority Partners: How to use data and evidence to establish better, mission-driven relationships with vendors. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: * Organizations & Toolkits: Institute for the Future, ASAE ForesightWorks (50 Drivers of Change), UK Office of Science Futures Toolkit. * Reports: EDUCAUSE Horizon Report (Data and Analytics Edition), OECD Trends Shaping Education. * Books: Imaginable by Jane McGonigal, Four Steps to the Future by Richard Lum, Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick. * Events: The Future Summit (California Community Colleges). * Podcasts: The Think Forward Show, The New Abnormal. About the Sponsor Data Stakes is sponsored by the Data Analytics Alliance for Higher Education. Visit our website to learn more about our upcoming quarterly meeting featuring Dr. Brent Drake from the John Gardner Institute, where we'll be discussing the impact of AI on data analytics. Have questions about today's conversation? Reach out to Dave Phelps at Datatelligent.

Connecting the Dots: How Ozarks Tech Links Data, Budgets, and Strategy

In this episode of Data Stakes, host Debbie Phelps explores how to transform high-level institutional strategy into tangible daily practice. She is joined by Dr. Callie Holden (College Director of Strategic Planning and Grant Development) and Misty Tollett (Director of Strategic Planning) from Ozarks Tech, a two-year technical community college in Springfield, Missouri. Callie and Misty share the journey of building Ozarks Tech's integrated planning model—a streamlined approach that brings student learning assessment, departmental planning, program review, and budget requests into one cohesive, user-friendly cycle. They discuss the importance of democratizing campus data, proving that you don't need complex dashboards to tell a compelling story, and explain how the planning team partners seamlessly with Institutional Research to drive data-informed decisions. To wrap up, the guests highlight the invaluable professional development and networking opportunities available through MidAIR (the Midwestern Association for Institutional Research) for higher education data professionals. In this episode, we cover: * The Integrated Planning Model: How to consolidate conflicting timelines into a single, complementary 3-year cycle. * Data for the Masses: Moving away from complicated charts to accessible, 10th-grade reading level data points that help every department see their story. * Budgeting with Purpose: Why every budget request must directly tie back to a departmental or institutional strategic goal. * IR & Strategy Collaboration: How planning departments and Institutional Research (IR) can split the data puzzle to better serve the campus. * MidAIR: Upcoming virtual and in-person conferences, resources, and community support for IR professionals in the Midwest.