As part of Wayne State University’s accreditation process, the Division of Academic Affairs recently launched a quality initiative to address data infrastructure and literacy across campus.
For each 10-year accreditation cycle, Wayne State proposes a quality initiative to submit to the Higher Learning Commission, its institutional accreditor. Accreditation is critical for dispersing federal student financial aid and assuring a quality education that is nationally recognized by employers, licensing boards, other colleges and more. Wayne State’s next accreditation site visit is scheduled for October 2026.
Informed by broad consultation with faculty, staff and university leadership, this cycle’s quality initiative focuses on increasing access to data and training faculty and staff and empower those individuals to use data to enhance student learning and outcomes.
“As a research-intensive (R1) institution, it is in our DNA to participate in innovation, discovery and data-informed decision making,” said Laurie M. Lauzon Clabo, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Student success is not a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why we need to make effective use of multiple sources for data to create plans that support our students in achieving their best possible outcomes.”
Rolling out in phases, the Data-Informed Quality Initiative focuses on three key components:
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Data Infrastructure: building a system that ensures institutional data is clean, relevant, current and accessible.
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Data Literacy: educating and training individuals across campus and at all levels to effectively question, interpret, and utilize data.
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Data-Informed Decision-Making: designing and implementing data-informed interventions to improve student outcomes.
One area that the initiative will specifically target is strategies toward inclusive excellence. By improving data infrastructure and literacy throughout the campus, Wayne State faculty, staff and leadership will be better equipped to identify and address gaps in educational outcomes and enhance academic achievement for all.
“Diversity enriches our community, and Wayne State’s pursuit of equity enables our students, faculty and staff to thrive,” said Donyale Padgett, interim vice provost for inclusive excellence and a member of the Quality Initiative Leadership Team. “Developing data-informed DEI strategies that bring us closer to our mission of inclusive excellence is important work that needs to be linked across the university campus.”
Even before the proposal was developed, there was a concerted effort to bring in ideas and support from stakeholders across the entire university campus. A Quality Initiative Advisory Committee (QIAC), which was selected by the leadership team, has helped plan, consult and distribute critical information across campus. The QIAC members come from across the university, including Enrollment Management, the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement, Office of Teaching and Learning, WSU’s schools and colleges, and more.
The QIAC also played a key role in selecting the 29 fellows who will participate in the Data Literacy Institute, a 12-week program at the core of the Data Literacy component. Through the institute, which launched on Jan. 9, the Provost’s Data Literacy Fellows will gain hands-on experience with data tools and best practices, collaborate with colleagues across campus, and become leaders in promoting data-informed decision-making at WSU.
The fellows earned their spots in the Data Literacy Institute through a highly competitive selection process. The cohort includes seven faculty members, 11 staff members and 11 administrators. Nine schools and colleges are represented as well as various academic support units, including housing, advising, enrollment, admissions, the registrar’s office and public safety.
Once the Data Literacy Institute is complete, fellows will work across campus to educate colleagues, peers and students on how to derive meaningful information from data. Wayne State’s campus community will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and training sessions led by the Data Literacy Fellows. The data infrastructure will serve as a tremendous resource once it’s available, empowering the campus community to design and implement data-informed initiatives and programs that advance student success.