The “LSU System Dashboard” has been developed and designed to provide easy access to information about the entire LSU System. The Dashboard, which can be accessed through the LSU System Web site, contains statistical information on topics such as enrollment figures, financial aid, graduation rates and student demographics. “[The Dashboard] puts all of that type of information right at your fingertips,” said Albertha Lawson, director of institutional research and statistical analysis for the LSU System. Lawson said the Dashboard is intended to supply information to help in the decision-making process, much like the dashboard of a motor vehicle. The program uses information submitted to the Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System (IPEDS) by universities to make data comparisons between LSU and members of its “peer group,” which includes universities such as the University of Florida, University of Georgia and Mississippi State University. Willis H. Brewer, financial management analyst for the LSU System, helped put together the Dashboard along with Lawson. He said that while the Dashboard is mainly for faculty use to assist in making key decisions, students shouldn’t shy away from checking it out. “Students can use this as well, if they want to see how their institution compares to others,” he said. Brewer said with the increasing number of people using the Internet, it’s important to have information about the LSU System readily available online. “More and more people are using the Internet,” he said. “And [the Dashboard] just shows how LSU is being innovative.” Brewer said the program has been in development for about eight months, and several methods and ideas had been thrown around before deciding on the current format. “At first we were just going to do a fact sheet,” he said. “But we wanted this to be interactive and that’s where the idea [of the Dashboard] came up.” Brewer and Lawson presented the LSU System Dashboard to the Board of Supervisors at their meeting July 13, and the response by the Board was overwhelmingly positive. Board member Charles S. Weems said he thinks the Dashboard will be extremely useful. “I think it’s a terrific tool put together for use not only by the Board, but by members of the LSU family,” he said. Weems said the program gives a great way to monitor progress in reaching the Flagship Agenda set forth by the University.
_____Contact Tyler Batiste at [email protected]