Marin Clarkberg, Marne Einarson and Michael Matier from Cornell's Office of Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) have been honored with the Joseph Pettit Award from the Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE) for exemplary use of COFHE data to illuminate issues of significance to member schools, as well as the originality, elegance and value of their research for the university.

"It is particularly gratifying to be recognized by your peers for doing good work," said Matier, director of IRP. "But it is also gratifying to know that the surveys we conduct and analyze help Cornell's leaders by providing them with relevant information to contextualize decision-making."

The staff at IRP is known to many for Cornell's electronic fact book and common data set. The COFHE award was given specifically in recognition of IRP's work in administering and analyzing the results of the surveys they regularly conduct with entering and enrolled students, seniors, alumni and parents of enrolled students. The office's survey research is integral to the university's systematic examination of the undergraduate experience and is shared with the university's various decision-makers and those who directly interact with students.

These surveys are also administered at the COFHE member schools, so that comparisons between Cornell and its peers can be made. The results provide a window into the student experience that helps inform Cornell's program evaluation, policy deliberations and decision-making in such arenas as the residential initiatives, first-year advising services, classroom dynamics, curriculum structure, issues unique to specific segments of the student population, and a host of other student concerns. IRP also periodically surveys other segments of Cornell, including administering the recent Faculty Work-Life Survey requested by Provost Biddy Martin.

In nominating Clarkberg, Einarson and Matier for the COFHE award, Vice President for Student and Academic Services Susan Murphy highlighted the ease of access to the results of the surveys (at http://www.ipr.cornell.edu/IP_E_Survey_Overview.htm) and the recent IRP analysis that links data from the first-year survey through the senior survey.

"This widespread dissemination of the data and access by the public helps tell our story, both strengths and areas where we need to devote attention," she said.

Only three other Joseph Pettit COFHE awards have been given in the past eight years, out of a consortium comprising 31 private colleges and universities, including the Ivy League institutions, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Stanford and the University of Chicago. The award was named in honor of Joseph Pettit, longtime COFHE supporter, upon his retirement from Georgetown University.