SC Commission on Higher Education Enhances Transparency with New Data Resources

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (SC CHE) has recently announced the release of several new and updated data resources, significantly boosting transparency and providing valuable insights into the state’s higher education landscape. These resources, now available on the SC CHE website, are designed to aid researchers, institutional administrators, state decision-makers, and the public in understanding key trends and metrics.

Driving Informed Decisions Through Data

The SC CHE’s commitment to data-driven decision-making is evident in the breadth and depth of the newly released resources. These tools offer a comprehensive look at various aspects of higher education in South Carolina, from distance learning trends to financial aid patterns and institutional performance.

Key Resources Released by the SC CHE:

• Distance Education Dashboard:
  • This dashboard, developed by the SC CHE, provides a thorough analysis of distance education trends within South Carolina.
  • It compares these trends to the 15-state Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB) region, utilizing data from the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
  • The SC CHE emphasizes the importance of this resource in identifying areas where more robust data collection is needed.
• Academic Programs and Career Clusters Dashboard:
  • Designed to support institutional administrators and state decision-makers, this tool, provided by the SC CHE, offers detailed insights into academic program trends from 1992 to 2024.
  • It connects these trends to relevant career clusters and workforce regions, providing a crucial link between education and employment.
  • The SC CHE hopes this will allow better alignment of academic programs with the state’s workforce needs.
• Merit and Non-Merit Aid Factbook:
  • This updated analysis, compiled by the SC CHE, combines data from the CHE Management Information System (CHEMIS) and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
  • It includes student-level demographic details to track trends in merit and non-merit scholarships from 2008 to 2023.
  • The SC CHE’s factbook provides detailed information on award amounts, financial aid trends, institutional data, and the cost of attendance.
• 2024 Institutional Factsheet:
  • The SC CHE’s latest factsheet provides an up-to-date snapshot of institutional characteristics and performance metrics.
  • This resource offers key information on institutional data for the year 2024.

SC CHE’s Role in Promoting Transparency

By releasing these data resources, the SC CHE is fulfilling its mission to promote transparency and accountability in higher education. These tools empower stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions, ultimately contributing to the advancement of higher education in South Carolina. The SC CHE hopes that these resources will provide valuable insights into the state’s higher education landscape for research and decision-making purposes.