Institutional Research and Effectiveness

Covenant College is a faith-based institution of higher education. Its mission is to explore and express the preeminence of Jesus Christ in all things. The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness supports this mission by conducting research and providing data that enables the college to more effectively and wisely pursue its stated goal of educating Christians to engage culture and cultures, to examine and unfold creation, and to pursue biblical justice and mercy in community.

The IR/IE office places a high value on conducting its research and analysis with integrity and precision, a value rooted in the biblical mandate to do all work “as to the Lord.”  It also seeks to enable the leaders of the college as well as faculty and staff to continuously improve student learning outcomes and students’ experience as members of the Covenant community.

Annually, the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness coordinates the collection and evaluation of assessments that report student learning or program outcomes, information on the achievement of outcomes, and the actions planned for improvement. Assessment reports are collected from the following:

• all academic programs
• administrative support services (development, marketing and communications, accounting, business operations, human resources, etc.)
• academic support services (library, math center, writing center, center for calling and career, etc.)
• student support services (athletics, student development, health services, chapel program, admissions, etc.)

Standardized tests such as the E-Proficiency Profile, the Major Field Test, and the Area Concentration Achievement Test are also administered by the IR/IE office, allowing the college to gauge how well students have mastered a particular subject and whether they have made overall progress in skill areas such as critical thinking. Results of these tests are also used for benchmarking against national norms.

Additionally, the IR/IE office uses various measures (including the Bible and Theology Exam and the Reformed Distinctives Inventory) to provide insight into how well the College is doing in meeting its goal of helping students make significant progress toward maturity in the following areas: (1) Identity in Christ; (2) Biblical frame of reference; (3) Christ-like service.

The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness provides institutional data to IPEDS, the Common Data Set, and U.S. News and World Report for consumption by the public. The office is also responsible for compiling other official data each year, including enrollment data and retention and graduation rates.