ESRA's Mission
Enrollment Systems, Research and Analysis (ESRA) is a unit within Enrollment Management made possible by the University’s highly selective Innovation Grant funding program. ESRA’s dual mission is to centrally support systems, analytic tools and other ancillary software that Enrollment Management and its six sub-units are tasked with managing on behalf of the University and to engage in research that supports and enhances the University’s strategic goals.
Systems Oversight - As the University’s complement of specialized recruitment, retention, credit articulation and financial aid technology solutions expands, centralized stewardship is critical. The University is obligated to ensure student systems maintain optimum operational conditions; that solutions interfacing with student systems do not compromise data integrity; and that analytic tools are developed beyond initial implementation stages to address University goals and inform strategic decision-making. To that end, and with years of SIUE-specific student system knowledge at its disposal, ESRA is tasked with staying current on both changes to existing systems and emerging systems needs.
Research – From market research initiatives related to new program development in areas of high demand, to analysis of trends in admissions, enrollment, financial aid disbursement and retention, maximization of the University’s current research tools is another of ESRA’s top priorities. The University maintains a diverse collection of research tools, including Blackboard Analytics, Argos, Starfish, EMSI Labor Market Research, National Student Clearinghouse Student Tracker and College Board’s Admitted Student Questionnaire. With these tools and more, ESRA responds to complex questions impacting the University.
Collaboration – ESRA values and fosters collaborative relationships with stakeholders across campus. As departments research new software solutions to optimize their operations, ESRA seeks to be of service in reviewing software specs, modeling business processes and participating as a partner in implementation. Additionally, ESRA can often provide support for academic departments’ reporting and analysis needs and direct data requests beyond our scope to the appropriate outlet.
