ABSTRACT
This chapter unpacks the ensuing tension that exists between the data world and the policy world—exploring how the availability of data is pushing development of better policies, understanding how the demand for data by policymakers is forcing institutional research offices to expand their data warehouses and analytics capabilities, and looking at how to leverage data to create policy environments supportive of student success. It presents the argument that the historic focus on the institution, rather than on the student, creates a spiderweb of policies that at best fail to effectively support the success of modern college students and, at worst, actively inhibit their success. The intention here is to provide a high-level overview and introduction of the topic at hand, as it is not possible within the boundaries of this chapter to thoroughly address all the issues associated with the changing data landscape.
