Customer story · University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Measuring institutional performance with Argos dashboards and data cubes
To bring its “Fast Forward” strategic plan to life, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock used Argos Dashboards and OLAP Data Cubes to give users and executives real-time access to the KPIs behind it.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Public 4-year university
Argos
- Easier access to dataUsers and executives reach UALR data directly.
- Questions answered quicklyAdministrators answer their own questions with dashboards and cubes.
- Faster decisionsReal-time dashboards support quicker decision making.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock at a glance
1927
Founded
13,000+
Students
1,800+
Faculty and staff
50+
Undergraduate programs
50+
Graduate programs
01
The challenge
The plan was set. Measuring it was the hard part.
Like most institutions, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) has a comprehensive strategic plan to measure and improve all aspects of institutional performance. Named “Fast Forward,” it touches all stakeholders at the university, including students, staff, faculty, and executives.
Also like most institutions, UALR faced serious challenges measuring and disseminating all of the components and information that make up “Fast Forward.” Before the plan could become a reality, UALR had to work out how to measure its goals, and which systems housed the data to report on.
Which KPIs?
Key Performance Indicators can be difficult to clearly identify and measure.
Where is the data?
UALR had to identify which systems housed the data behind each goal.
What does it mean?
Users needed a dictionary of metrics to understand definitions and context.
“We knew that we needed performance metrics but determining these metrics was difficult. It took a team effort to accomplish this determination.”
Jeannie Winston · Vice Chancellor for Information Services
Once the metrics and KPIs were designed, one major hurdle remained: how to provide real-time access to the KPIs and the data behind them, in an easy-to-understand format that would give users actionable data to address and enhance institutional performance.
02
The solution
Dashboards for the plan, cubes for the questions
Already a satisfied Argos user, UALR chose the Argos Advanced Features set: Dashboards, Data Cubes (OLAP), Scheduling & Delivery, and Application Integration (API). Together they provided the platform for making “Fast Forward” accessible to all users.
Argos Dashboards offer easy-to-understand graphs, charts, and gauges that let users quickly discern UALR’s performance as it relates to their area. Interactive, drillable views give users flexible ways to see the information that is most important to them, supporting real-time decision making and true insight into UALR performance.
“We found that the Argos Dashboards are easy to develop and was easy to use to get quick answers to questions.”
Nathan Nolan · Associate Director of Project Management & Development
Pivot tables on steroids
Argos OLAP Data Cubes provide multi-dimensional views of the university’s data, fast ad hoc analysis, on-the-fly charting, and slicing and dicing of complex data, all based on user specifications.
UALR uses them to determine the number of graduates and students enrolled for the term by major, which shows enrollment and retention rates. The cubes also provide detailed information on the number of grants by academic program, and on recruiting rates.
With the Evisions CO-OP User Community, an online library of pre-built dashboards and OLAP cubes, UALR was able to get up and running quickly, strengthening the “Fast Forward” plan.
“
The Argos OLAP Data Cubes gave us a multi dimensional view of the University’s data including enrollment and grant information. With Argos it was easy to chart or slice and dice this information.
Megan Weatherford · Business Analyst, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
03
The results
Executives answer their own questions now
Users and executives can now quickly answer their own questions with Argos, which allows easy access into UALR data.
Users have access to enrollment trend information; the number of graduates year over year by major or degree; financial aid disbursement information; and how awards are distributed by type, student, ethnicity, and age. That general availability lets UALR determine student success rates, graduation rates, scholarship and grant awards, and funding information, promoting quick decision making.
Enrollment trends
Graduates year over year by major or degree, on demand.
Financial aid in view
Disbursements and award distribution by type, student, ethnicity, and age.
Retention rates
Data cubes show enrollment and graduates for the term by major.
Grants and funding
Grant counts by academic program, alongside scholarship and funding information.
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