Office of Institutional Research

Our mission is to build a culture of inquiry and foster data-informed decision making by providing research services, expertise, and coaching to the National University community in support of the college’s institutional effectiveness. The National University Office of Institutional Research conducts a variety of research activities in support of the college’s mission, strategic directions, and initiatives, and responds to ad hoc research and consultation requests from the campus community.

Our work is guided by the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Code of Ethics and Professional Practices and the American Evaluation Association Guiding Principles for Evaluators.

What We Do

At the National University Office of Institutional Research, we provide research consulting, support, facilitation, and technical assistance to college faculty, staff, administrators, and students. In addition, we provide research support and reporting for accountability reporting efforts related to accreditation, federal requirements, grants, and statewide initiatives.

To support data-informed decision making across the college, we provide several specific services, including:

• Research design
• Program/project evaluation
• Program review research support
• Workshops and training on various topics related to research and institutional effectiveness

College-wide research for institutional planning

Research FAQs

How do I request research services?

To request research services, please complete a Data Request form via the links below. If you would like assistance completing the form, please contact the Office of Institutional Research at (858) 642-8685.

How are research projects prioritized?

We aim to serve the entire campus community and meet the needs of all campus research requests. The research office manages several projects at any given time and uses a few guidelines to prioritize research projects. Accreditation, accountability, and compliance reporting are among the highly prioritized projects. College-wide research projects that inform program planning are also among those highly prioritized. Ad hoc requests for research are prioritized based on variety of factors, including:

• Relevant external deadlines (e.g., grant reporting or application deadlines)
• Intended use of research results
• Relation to college mission and strategic directions/initiatives

Each research request is unique, and we will do our best to provide you with the research support you need in a timely manner.