TIFFIN, Ohio — A federal grant is expected help a local university keep better track of students who are in need of assistance.
Heidelberg University was recently awarded a more than $2 million federal grant from the Department of Education's Title III Strengthening Institutions Program.
The funding will be used to create a consolidated system that can cross reference all of the student data stored on various computer systems and data servers.
"We have information about student grades, we have information about student registration, we have information about where they live on campus, how often they're going to the dining hall, whether or not they're using academic support services," Dr. Courtney DeMayo Pungo, Assistant V.P. for Academic Affairs, said.
With this system in place, Heidelberg will be able to analyze the data, and see if there are any indicators the student may be at risk of not graduating, dropping a class and many other problems that could arise.
"Be able to identify students that need help, and in some cases they might not even realize that they need help," Chief Information Officer Tobey Robison said.
The grant is also allowing Heidelberg to hire five new staff members, including two in I.T., two in the Center for Teaching and Learning and one data analyst who will manage the data and see if it can be used for any other student benefit.
"[The system will determine] what other factors, and what other things on campus may perpetuate that cycle, or can be done to close that achievement gap and make sure that every single one of our students has opportunities to succeed," DeMayo Pugno said
Everything involved with that cloud data warehouse will be installed and implemented in January after the university's winter break.
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