ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the key elements for a data-informed environment and serves as a guide. It provides practical suggestion and guidance for building a culture of evidence. The environmental context, including national initiatives, legislation, and institutional strategic plans, dictate the need for building strong, effective relationships. R. A. Voorhees and T. Hinds, wrote that: "Institutional researchers can accelerate the development of actionable data, but this requires a commitment to open dialogue across the campus and, often, a willingness to visit other units to form a deep understanding of the issues they face". Although a recent survey by the Association for Institutional Research found that reporting lines of IR offices are not predictive of the office's relationship with the institution, the way college staff interact with and have access to offices of institutional research will vary based on reporting lines. P. T Terenzini's foundational work on organizational intelligence in the field of institutional research can be easily applied to other professions.
