Office of Program Analytics


Program Analytics

The Program Analytics team serves as your on-campus resource for data analytics related to new program development, current program health checks, and opportunity data support.

We strive to provide support for potential and existing programs at Sam Houston State University to help best serve prospective and current student needs, as well as local and regional community demand.

Please, submit at Program Analytics Request if it is your intention to:

  • Propose a new degree program, certificate, or minor
  • Examine the competitive landscape of a specific program in Texas or the Nation
  • Acquire a real-time market analysis of a specific industry or target occupations relating to a current or prospective program
  • Gather current program data analytics (e.g., enrollment, graduates, retention, student migration, etc.)
  • Identify marketable skill gaps in the workforce that current or potential curriculum could fill

For any additional questions or custom analytic support, please contact our team:

Paige A. Mertz
Associate Director of Program Analytics
936-294-4013
paige.mertz@shsu.edu
Tracy Ann Richardson
Program Analytics Specialist
936-294-4184
richardson@shsu.edu

New Program Development Support

The Program Analytics team provides a required Program Analytics Report to support the first of three stages in degree program development, and a required Program Analytics Summary in a more expedited process to support new minor and certificate development. To begin any new Program Development process, please submit a Program Analytics Request.

If you have further questions, or would like to see more detailed flow charts of different program development processes (i.e., new graduate or undergraduate degree programs, 3+2/4+1 programs, minors, or certificates), please visit the Academic Planning and Program Development webpage or contact ProgramDev@shsu.edu.

The Program Analytics team is also happy to help with supplemental or exploratory data support for your program development planning, including labor market, feasibility research for potential programs, competitive landscape analysis, etc. To learn more about these ‘a la carte’ services, please see Opportunity Data Support.

Degree Program 3-Stage Proposal Process

timeline

Notes:
1 The Academic Planning and Program Development (APPD) team coordinates the new degree program proposal process and is the primary contact throughout each stage 
1 DCC: Department Curriculum Committee; CCC: College Curriculum Committee; UCC: University Curriculum Committee; AAC: Academic Affairs Council; BOR: Board of Regents
2 Program Analytics data (Program Analytics Reports) expire one year from delivery. If the new program development process takes longer than one year, a new Program Analytics. Report must be completed, and Stage 1 must be refreshed and resubmitted.


Opportunity Data Support

The Program Analytics team is happy to help with any analytic support outside of formal new program development or current program health check processes. This may include exploratory data analytics for preliminary program development, data support for grants or special projects, strategic planning, or marketing plans, etc.

Our analytic support includes, but is not limited to:

  • Workforce demand
  • Potential industry partnerships
  • Program alumni professional profile data
  • Program areas of interest
  • Workforce skills demand and skill gap analysis
  • Market saturation
  • Concentration/track support
  • Labor market projections
  • Feasibility/exploration for potential new programs
  • Regional and national competitive landscape analysis
  • Marketable skills and curriculum opportunities
  • Online vs. face-to-face program trends
  • Program occupational mapping
  • Student demand research
  • Current program/department data analysis
  • Pipeline program development

Submit a Program Analytics Request and select Looking for Opportunities for My College/Department to get started!


Program Health Checks

The purpose of program Health Checks is to support existing programs by providing data that will supplement faculty’s program expertise and offer opportunities to grow, adapt, and refine existing programs to better align with student demand, the rapidly changing workforce, and competitive landscape.

Above all else, our Program Analytics team is here to provide support for your college and department.

2023 Health Check Process

2023 health check process

Note: Program Analytics team facilitates this process via email with respective Chairs and Deans. Although a suggested process timeline is proposed, this Health Check process is supplemental, therefore dates/deadlines for Chair and Deans’ review notes are flexible within reason, to acknowledge Colleges’ priorities for internal projects and assigned duties.

Program Health Check Timeline

Program health check timeline 2023

Program Health Check Metrics

The Health Check process is not limited to a data pull and is not meant to be an evaluation. We believe that Program Health Checks at SHSU should include context and insight from faculty, department chairs, and academic deans in order to provide a full picture necessary for effective strategic planning.

In 2023, a Health Check Baseline will be established for each program. This baseline will include data highlights that have been most helpful for colleges’ strategic planning in the past.

What Are We Analyzing?

In 2023, a Health Check Baseline will be established for each program. This baseline will include data highlights that have been most helpful for colleges’ strategic planning in the past.

program health table

What is the Purpose of Program Health Cheks?

The purpose of program Health Checks is to support existing programs by providing data that will supplement faculty’s program expertise and offer opportunities to grow, adapt, and refine existing programs to better align with student demand, the rapidly changing workforce, and competitive landscape.

Above all else, our Program Analytics team is here to provide support for your college and department.

Below is a more comprehensive list of metrics that could be included in program Health Check reports: *Upon Request