Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to many of our FAQ’s are found on the Institutional Research website and in the On-line Fact Book, On-line Queries, or the IR Reports Page therein.

Who are your clients?

Everyone has access to our on-line services and standard reports, except for a few items provided only to employees due to state and federal privacy laws.
Primary Clientele: The Government, Board of Regents, System Office, President, Vice Presidents, Deans, and Chairs regularly obtain our customized services.
Other employees, students, businesses, and the local community are provided assistance with data on the Institutional Research website, through previously published reports, and via the Texas State database as allowed by the Texas Public Information Act, FERPA, and other confidentiality laws. Institutional Research (IR) serves as the official source of Texas State University data, providing reports to many state and federal government agencies. IR also responds to numerous external surveys from private businesses—these survey responses are used in various publications and college guide books.

What standard publications does IR produce?

Information Packet – A brochure providing information about the history of the IR office, services provided, and IR staff; a bookmark with a concise summary of services, policies, and helpful web links; and a newsletter produced in the fall and spring semesters with descriptive statistics about the University, past/present IR projects, and recent study findings.
Mini-Fact Book - beginning in 2006, the Mini-Fact Book was replaced by the "Enrollment Highlights" booklet produced by the Office of Enrollment Management and Marketing. For copies, contact their office at (512) 245-1977.
Other Reports – numerous studies and reports regarding student, courses, faculty, staff, finances, and facilities are prepared by IR on a regular basis. Some of these are available on-line, while others are available in print. See our Reports page for a complete listing of the standard reports.

Can I get a printed copy of the On-Line Fact Book?

On-line Fact Book pages can be printed or copied and pasted into Excel or Word documents; instructions are provided in the help screen. The on-line Fact Book is over 10,000 pages long—too big to print all of it.
The Mini-FactBook See above.

Do you provide support data for the Academic Program Review (APR)?

Yes, APR tables are a subset of the Fact Book pivot tables and the link can be found on the Factbook main page.

Do you provide data for the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) initiative?

Yes, HSI tables are a subset of the Fact Book pivot tables and the link can be found on the Factbook main page.

How do I submit a customized request?

Customized requests are necessary when data or research is needed that is not available on the IR website or in a standard report; use the project request form on the IR Home Page to place a request. This form helps us keep track of your requests and respond in a timely and accurate manner. When possible, please plan to allow us at least a week to complete your request. If you request sensitive data about individuals, we will ask you to complete a confidentiality form, indicating you understand the importance of protecting individual privacy.

What training does IR provide?

Workshops on how to use our resources are regularly provided via Professional Development and Faculty Advancement Center programs. We also guest lecture in classes and visit with employee groups in individual departments and colleges.

Do you provide support for grant writing?

Grant support is limited to providing any support information that we can readily obtain. IR has insufficient staff to act as liaison between the grant agency and the faculty member or provide clerical support for the grant, including data entry or other activities outside of the scope of the IR mission.

Will you extract/analyze data for my school project, Thesis, or Dissertation?

School work is outside the area that IR normally supports. Class assignments are considered part of the student’s studies and should be completed by the student. If research for a project is deemed beneficial to the University, IR will sometimes assist faculty and staff with data extractions for a Thesis or Dissertation. In these instances, a written request from the student’s Dean or VP must be provided.

What surveying services do you provide? *

Survey design for official university business.
Survey distribution.
Survey data collection.
Survey data analysis.
Survey reports (interactive on-line or printed).
Survey guidelines have been developed to insure a framework of quality and consistancy in the survey process: See Survey Services.

* The client is responsible for paying costs associated with printing, postage, and other required materials as well as providing clerical support for data entry and envelope stuffing when needed.

Will you provide mailing labels or random samples for me?

Yes, if they are part of an official survey. Otherwise, contact Human Resources for employee address labels or the Registrar’s Office for student address labels.

Contact our office with any needs that are not addressed in this document—we will make every attempt to accommodate your request.