Very informative. Thanks Pat.
dick

[log in to unmask] wrote:

> I really can't respond to your question #2, but for #1, we have had an
> option for unknown for quite some time now for employees.  We gather our
> data from forms that are required after a person is employed (can't do this
> in the pre-employment stage, though we ask for people to voluntarily give
> it to us so that we have an idea about our applicant pools).  We have a
> very good response rate from  faculty and administrative/professional staff
> using these forms.  It is not so good from clerical/technical and
> bargaining unit staff.  On occasion, we complete data from observation, but
> that is a rare circumstance where that happens.
>
> On surveys with no place for an unknown, I generally write it in if at all
> possible (of course, you ususally can't do this with internet survey
> responses) so as to respond with a total workforce number that is complete.
> Then, I figure it's up to the person requesting the information to build it
> into what they are doing as best fits their purposes.
>
> Hope this is helpful to you.
>
>                     "Richard W.
>                     Stratton"                  To:     [log in to unmask]
>                     <[log in to unmask]>           cc:
>                     Sent by: "Ohio             Subject:     Need some help on 2 issues
>                     Association for
>                     Institutional
>                     Research (Ohio
>                     AIR)"
>                     <[log in to unmask]
>                     UOHIO.EDU>
>
>                     03/09/00 07:51 AM
>                     Please respond to
>                     "Ohio Association
>                     for Institutional
>                     Research (Ohio
>                     AIR)"
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>     First I am please to announce that Dr. Thomas Gaylord has joined the
> University of Akron as Vice President for Information Technologies,
> Libraries, and Institutional Planning. Part of his responsibilities will
> be Institutional Research so I now report to him. He has long a varied
> experience in IR and I look forward to exciting times ahead.
>     Now for my questions:
> 1)    A recent change in our software system now allows the
> race/ethnicity of employees to be unknown. In the past we apparently
> assigned a race/ethnicity category to those who left it blank. A query
> of the HEI database indicates the number of employees reported with
> race/ethnicity as unknown varies greatly. Is there good reason to try to
> minimize the number of unknowns? If so how do you accomplish a high rate
> of self identifications? If you have a large number of unknowns, how o
> you treat them on surveys and reports that do not provide for an unknown
> category?
> 2)    I am compiling a list of possible Key Performance Indicators for a
> new Decision Support project. Is there any widely accepted source for
> KPIs that I could consult to be sure I am not missing an obvious
> candidate? OH by the way I need this before my 4 pm meeting Friday. (I
> got the request yesterday)
>
> As always I appreciate the collegiality and friendliness of this
> organization and thank each of you for you help. Hope to see many of you
> on Monday at the Spring Conference.
>
> Dick
> --
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Richard W. Stratton             http://www.uakron.edu/ips
> Director
> Institutional Research          Voice:  (330) 972-7897
> The University of Akron         FAX:    (330) 972-5989
> Akron, OH 44325-4712            e-mail  [log in to unmask]

--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard W. Stratton             http://www.uakron.edu/ips
Director
Institutional Research          Voice:  (330) 972-7897
The University of Akron         FAX:    (330) 972-5989
Akron, OH 44325-4712            e-mail  [log in to unmask]