In support of the work of the Commission, NECHE gathers a large amount of data on institutional performance measures such as enrollment, finances, and student success. At its meeting in June 2022, the Commission approved the creation of a Data and Research Advisory Committee to ensure that the data it gathers and analyzes are appropriate and useful for meeting the needs of its various stakeholders. The purpose of the Data and Research Advisory Committee is to advise and make recommendations to the Commission on the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data and other information to support NECHE’s dual mission to ensure the quality of higher education and to foster institutional improvement, as well as to identify potential research questions for analysis.

The Data and Research Advisory Committee will consider ways that data and research can effectively support three distinct, yet interrelated stakeholder groups:

1) its member institutions, supporting them in understanding and improving institutional effectiveness, including student learning and success;

2) the Commission, evaluating institutional performance and improvement through its accreditation processes and considering areas of further research and analysis;

3) the public, providing useful information to external stakeholders via its website and other media.