Planning, Analytics & Decision-Support

• The IPEDS Data Center allows users to retrieve federal IPEDS data on topics such as enrollment, retention, financial aid, staffing, and much more.
• The IPEDS Trend Generator is a quick and easy way to see IPEDS data over time. 
• The primary purpose of the Fast Facts website is to provide users with concise information on a range of educational issues, from early childhood to adult learning. 
• College Navigator allows users to view IPEDS data for specific institutions or by institutions meeting specific criteria. 
• Quick Stats gives you quick and easy access to selected statistics collected by the U.S. Census Bureau through the American Community Survey. 
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. 
• Data.gov provides data, tools, and resources to conduct research, develop web and mobile applications, design data visualizations, and more.
• SREB's Data Center provides a wealth of state-by-state information about state demographics, governments, elementary and secondary education, colleges and universities, and significant trends affecting them. 
• South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) provides data related to higher education institutions in our state.

Data and Access Requests are made online using the Institutional Data & Reporting Request form.

This form is only available to be used by employees of the university for institutional data requests.

All data provided will adhere to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The Lander Population Survey Distribution policy includes guidance on survey planning, survey approval, and distribution of surveys through university channels. To obtain approval for survey distribution, please complete the Lander Population Survey Distribution Approval Form.

The Release of Student Information to Third Parties policy includes guidance for Lander employees when student information has been requested by a third party. 

Matt Braaten
Assistant Vice President for Planning, Analytics & Decision-Support
(864) 388-8827 | mbraaten@lander.edu

The Assistant Vice President for Planning, Analytics & Decision-support (AVP) provides high-level, analytically-based decision support for the Office of the President and leads the Planning, Analytics and Decision-support team to build and expand the information architecture necessary to track executive-level goals to the mission and vision of the university.  Working closely with the President’s Cabinet and Board of Trustees, the AVP also serves as the university’s Policy Coordinator, overseeing all aspects of university policy review and approval.

Mac Kirkpatrick 
Director of Institutional Research
(864) 388-8090 | mkirkpatrick@lander.edu

The Director of Institutional Research directs the activities of institutional data reporting and statistical analysis needed to meet the agency's internal and external reporting needs.  In this role, Mac serves as the university's Institutional Keyholder for the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS survey system, the principal contact for reporting to the National Student Clearinghouse, and the primary contact for the Commission on Higher Education Management Information System (CHEMIS).

Taylor Johnston 
Decision Support Systems Manager
(864) 388-8914 | tjohnston@lander.edu

The Decision Support Manager builds and maintains the information architecture necessary to support the increased demand for decision-support, business intelligence, and institutional research reporting for the Office of the President.  In this role, Taylor develops and maintains a growing set of the university’s decision-support dashboards, reports, and data libraries and is the primary contact for internal and external data requests.