Institutional research is research conducted within an institution of higher education in order to provide information which supports planning, policy formation, and decision making (Saupe 1981).
The essential mission of the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE) is to provide a broad foundation of information and analytical support for use in university planning, assessment and administrative activities that assists the university in accomplishing its mission. OIRE assumes primary responsibility for analyzing, interpreting and in some cases collecting data about student populations and faculty census data; transforming and interpreting data into usable information, providing summary reports to inform campus decision-making, planning and assessment. In addition, institutional research is carried on in every division, college, and department of the university. OIRE also provides assistance and guidance to others involved in the institutional effectiveness and institutional research responsibilities in order to improve these functions.