Our Mission
The Center for Student Analytics (CSA) empowers the use of data analytics in pursuit of student success at USU by: 1) guiding the optimization of student-facing programs, services, and coursework, 2) facilitating collaborative use of data across university organizations and departments, and 3) fostering a culture of intentional decision making.
To these ends, the Center is committed to the following activities:
- Data Collection & Access
- Data Science & Modeling
- Data Visualization & Workflows
- Socialization of Analytics Tools
- Empowerment of Human Action
- Advocacy & Innovation
Contact Us
Center for Student Analytics (CSA)
Distance Education Building (DE) - Suite 003
5100 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322
(435) 797-0623
analytics@usu.edu
Strategically Aligned
The Center supports each of USU’s core themes of learning, discovery, and engagement:
Learning
Analytics magnify the data collection that occurs in the student information system and learning management system in high quality tools that support the institution’s affirmation of “student-centered” learning.
Discovery
Analytics enhance the institution’s ability to carry out high quality research related to the innovation of best practices in higher education and enhanced practice that supports student success.
Engagement
Analytics facilitates engagement with stakeholders throughout the University and larger USHE system in active collaboration and advocacy for an improved system of higher education and level of student service.
Our Team
We're organized, goal-driven data professionals interested in wrestling with big questions and providing even bigger insights into student success.
Collaboration At Work
Our work is collaborative and relies on input and resources from advisory groups and partners at USU, other universities, and business/industry organizations.
Advisory/Working Groups
Student Support Advisory Group
This advisory group is comprised of members of the Student Achievement Collaborative (SAC), designed to meet institutional retention and completion goals while emphasizing the University’s commitment to access and student achievement.
Learning Analytics Working Group
This working group is comprised of various constituents from across the university to identify effective design and delivery practices using analytics that facilitates engaged and transformative student learning.
Partners
We partner with the following USU and external organizations in our work.
External
- Amazon Web Services
- Civitas Learning
- Instructure
- Tableau (Salesforce)
Our History
Established in 2016, the Center for Student Analytics was a response to emerging trends of 21st century innovation that highlighted the ability of machine learning and predictive analytics to enhance an institution’s capacity to serve students. The Center was organized as a service entity at USU, to provide professional empowerment and opportunities for enhanced data literacy to other administrative units on campus and, when appropriate, to other USHE and partner institutions.
2014
USU began aggregating data from Canvas to develop analytics/dashboards around teaching and learning.
2015
Worked with Instructure to provide data back to institutions – Canvas Data (USU presentation at InstructureCon 2015).
2016
The Center for Student Analytics (CSA) was created by President, Dr. Noel Cockett and Executive Vice President, Dr. Robert Wagner.
2016
An RFP for a university-wide analytics solution for student success & retention was facilitated – Signed contract with Civitas Learning (deployed in 2017).
2019
The Center was recognized for excellence in evaluation by NASPA, by receiving an Honorable Mention Award at its annual award ceremony in Florida. The inaugural Student Insights Report, highlighting 20 of the most useful insights, was organized and distributed.
2020-21
A second edition of the Student Insights Report was organized and distributed. The COVID-19 pandemic and leadership/staff vacancies, significantly impacted the work of the Center.
2022
The Center (v2.0) was reorganized with new leadership, personnel, tools, and strategic activities in support of focused university goals in student learning, retention, completion, and inclusion.