Common Data Set: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Common data definitions for US colleges and universities}}

{{Orphan|date=September 2008}}

{{multiple issues|

{{refimprove|date=July 2010}}

The '''Common Data Set''' is a product of the Common Data Set Initiative, "a collaborative effort among data providers in the higher education community and publishers as represented by the [[College Board]], [[Peterson's]], and [[U.S. News & World Report]]." The stated goal is to provide accurate and timely data to students and their families while decreasing the workload of administrators. In producing their popular publications and rankings, these publishers "ask the same core questions" of institutions using the Common Data Set to define those questions and their responses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airweb.org/page.asp?page=102 |title=AIR Alert #1 |author=Association for Institutional Research |date=1997 |accessdate=March 23, 2010}}</ref> These data are also used in public accountability efforts such as the [[Voluntary System of Accountability]]'s [[College Portrait]].<ref>{{cite |url=http://www.voluntarysystem.org/index.cfm?page=about_cp |title=About the College Portrait |date=2010 |accessdate=MArch 23, 2010 |author=Voluntary System of Accountability Program}}</ref>

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==Annual CDS Survey Results==

The '''Common Data Set''' ('''CDS''') is aan annual product of the Common Data Set Initiative, "a collaborative effort among data providers in the [[higher education]] community and publishers as represented by the [[College Board]], [[Peterson's]], and ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]''."<ref>{{cite web|title=Common Data Set Initiative|url=http://www.commondataset.org|publisher=Common Data Set Initiative|accessdate=14 May 2015}}</ref> The stated goal is to provide accurate and timely data to students and their families while decreasing the workload of administrators. Publishers Inuse producingthe theirstandards popularand publicationsdata anditems rankings,defined theseby publishersthe CDS to "ask the same core questions" of(in institutionsaddition usingto thetheir Commonown Dataproprietary Setones) towhen definemaking thosetheir questionsrankings and theirpublications responsesof institutions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airweb.org/page.asp?page=102 |title=AIR Alert #1 |author=Association for Institutional Research |dateyear=1997 |accessdate=March 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613074502/http://airweb.org/page.asp?page=102 |archive-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> TheseResponse data are also used in public accountability efforts such as the [[Voluntary System of Accountability]]'s [[College Portrait]].<ref>{{citecitation |url=http://www.voluntarysystem.org/index.cfm?page=about_cp |title=About the College Portrait |dateyear=2010 |accessdate=MArchMarch 23, 2010 |author=Voluntary System of Accountability Program}}</ref>

Each year the Common Data Set Initiative makes small changes to the "survey" submitted for every contributing college and university to complete. While the resulting database of all responses is not available for download, individual colleges and universities typically publish their individual responses on their own website.

These individual responses can provide valuable information for students applying to a particular college or university. For example, section C7 - "Relative Importance of Common Academic and Non-Academic Admission Criteria" indicates the weight the admission process for that college places on items like "Class Rank", "GPA", and "Extra-Curricular Activities". Another example is Sections C9 to C12 which gives a statistical breakdown of SAT/ACT scores, Class Rank, and GPA for the current freshman class. This can be a good indicator, espcially for the more selective colleges and universities, of the typical scores needed for admission.

==Survey Sections and Topics==

The CDS annual survey includes the following major sections, identified by major sections (A-J) and subsections (0, 1, 3, ...):

*A - General College Information

** Address, Classification of Undergraduate Institution, Academic Year Calendar, Degrees Offered

*B - Enrollment and Persistence

** Current Institutional Enrollment - Men and Women, Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category, Number of Degrees Awarded, Graduation Rates, Retention Rates

*C - First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Admissions

** Freshman Student Applicants (Admitted, Enrolled, Wait-Listed), Relative Importance of Common Academic and Non-Academic Admission Criteria, Admission Requirements (Diploma, GED, College Prep Program), HS Academic Subject Requirements, Open Enrollment, SAT & ACT Polices (Requirements, Deadlines), Existing Freshman Class Statistical Profile (SAT & ACT Scoring Breakdown, Class Rank Breakdown, HS GPA Breakdown), Average GPA, Admission Policies (Application Fees, Closing Dates, Notification Date(s)), Other Admission Policies

*D - Transfer Admissions

** Transfer Students Accepted or Not, Number from Last Year, Transfer Enrollment Term(s), Other Transfer Requirements and Deadlines, Transfer Credit Policies

*E - Academic Offerings and Policies

** Special Study Options, Academic Areas Required for Graduation

*F - Student Life

** Freshman Information (Fraternities, On/Off Campus Housing, Full/Part-Time), Activities Offered, ROTC, Housing Types Offered

*G - Annual Expenses

** Undergraduate Full-Time Costs (Tuition, Required Fees, Room and Board), Changes in Tuition by Instructional Program, Estimated Expenses for Residents and Commuters, Per-Credit Hour Fees

*H - Financial Aid

** Need-Based and Non-Need Based Financial Aid Offered in $'s, Number of Enrolled Students and Average Aid Awarded (Need and Non-Need Based), Financial Aid Filing Deadlines, Types of Aid Available, Scholarships and Grant Available, Criteria used in Awarding Institutional Aid

*I - Instructional Faculty and Class Size

** Faculty Demographics (Men/Women, Degrees, Full/Part-Time), Student-to-Faculty Ratio, Class Counts by Section/Sub-Section Size

*J - Degrees Conferred by Disciplinary Areas

==Annual CDS Surveysurvey Resultsresults==

Each year, the Common Data Set Initiative makes small changes to the "survey"surveys submitted for every contributing [[Higher education|college and university]] to complete. While the resulting database of all responses is not available forto the downloadpublic, individual colleges and universities typically publish their individual responses on their own [[website]].

These individual responses can provide valuableuseful information for students applying to a particular college or university. For example, section C7 - "Relative Importance of Common Academic and Non-Academic Admission Criteria" indicates the weight the admission process for thatthe college places on items like "Classclass Rank"rank, "[[Grading (education)|GPA"]], and "Extraextra-Curricularcurricular Activities".activities, while Another example is Sectionssections C9 to C12 which givesgive a statistical breakdown of [[SAT|SAT/ACT]] scores, Classclass Rankrank, and GPA for the current freshman class. Taken Thistogether, these can be a good indicator, espciallyof what is typically needed for the[[College moreadmission|admission]]. selectiveFurther collegessections illustrate the typical costs and universities,potential ofaid an applicant might receive based on the typicalcurrent scores[[College neededfreshman|freshman forclass]] admission[[statistics]].

==Survey Sectionssections and Topicstopics==

The CDS annual survey includes the following major sections, identified by major sections (A-JA–J) and their subsections (0, 1, 32, ...):

** A – General College Information: Address, Classification of [[Undergraduate]] Institution, [[Academic year|Academic Year]] Calendar, Degrees Offered

** B – Enrollment and Persistence: Current Institutional Enrollment -– Men and Women, Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category, Number of Degrees Awarded, Graduation Rates, [[Retention Rates]]

** C – First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Admissions: Freshman Student Applicants (Admitted, Enrolled, Wait-Listed), Relative Importance of Common Academic and Non-Academic Admission Criteria, Admission Requirements (Diploma, GED, College Prep Program), HS Academic Subject Requirements, Open Enrollment, SAT & ACT PolicesPolicies (Requirements, Deadlines), Existing Freshman Class Statistical Profile (SAT & ACT Scoring Breakdown, Class Rank Breakdown, HS GPA Breakdown), Average GPA, Admission Policies (Application Fees, Closing Dates, Notification Date(s)), Other Admission Policies

** D – [[College transfer|Transfer Admissions]]: Transfer Students Accepted or Not, Number from Last Year, Transfer Enrollment Term(s), Other Transfer Requirements and Deadlines, Transfer Credit Policies

** E – Academic Offerings and Policies: Special Study Options, Academic Areas Required for Graduation

** F – Student Life: Freshman Information ([[Fraternities]], [[Campus housing|On/Off Campus Housing]], Full/Part-Time), Activities Offered, [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps|ROTC]], Housing Types Offered

** G – Annual Expenses: Undergraduate Full-Time Costs (Tuition, Required Fees, Room and Board), Changes in Tuition by Instructional Program, Estimated Expenses for Residents and Commuters, Per-Credit Hour Fees

** H – Financial Aid: Need-Based and Non-Need Based [[Student financial aid in the United States|Financial Aid]] Offered in $'s, Number of Enrolled Students and Average Aid Awarded (Need and Non-Need Based), Financial Aid Filing Deadlines, Types of Aid Available, Scholarships and Grant Available, Criteria used in Awarding Institutional Aid

** I – Instructional Faculty and [[Class size|Class Size]]: Faculty Demographics (Men/Women, Degrees, Full/Part-Time), [[Student-to-teacher ratio|Student-to-Faculty Ratio]], Class Counts by Section/Sub-Section Size

*J -– Degrees Conferred by Disciplinary Areas

== See also ==

* [[Common data model]]

==References==

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==External links==

* [http://www.commondataset.org Common Data Set InitiativeOfficial website]

[[Category:Educational organizations based in the United States]]

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