Fresh off defeating Stanford to win the 2025 National Championship, the Florida State University Women’s Soccer team proved that elite execution starts with smart strategy. Celebrating on the field, trophy in hand, Head Coach Brian Pensky shared the secret behind their title run with FSU Provost Jim Clark: “You know how we won? We out-thought them.”

That game-winning mindset took center stage at the Turnbull Conference Center during FSU’s second annual Data Day Conference.

Hosted by the Office of Institutional Research and sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the daylong event brought together more than 250 faculty, staff, researchers and professionals to explore how data powers success across the university.

“One of the things I appreciate most about Data Day is that it brings together people from every corner of the university,” said FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “Faculty, administrators, analysts, researchers and technology professionals each bring a different perspective, but we share a common goal: using data to better serve our students, strengthen our institution and advance our mission.”

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Florida State University’s Office of Institutional Research (IR) has received the 2025 TaxWatch Government Productivity Award for a training program that equips employees across the university with new tools and skills — while saving Florida taxpayers millions of dollars. 

The TaxWatch Awards ceremony, held at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, recognized state agencies and workgroups who have enhanced services, improved efficiencies and delivered significant cost savings to taxpayers. In 2025, FSU’s Office of Institutional Research was one of just 10 entities honored for its contributions.

“This award highlights how the Office of Institutional Research is empowering employees to engage with data in ways that directly improve their work and strengthen FSU,” said Associate Vice Provost and Chief Data and Analytics Officer James Hunt. “It’s about meeting people where they are and giving them tools to succeed.”

“This award highlights how the Office of Institutional Research is empowering employees to engage with data in ways that directly improve their work and strengthen FSU. It’s about meeting people where they are and giving them tools to succeed.” 

— James Hunt, Associate Vice Provost and Chief Data and Analytics Officer

The IR training program was designed to equip FSU employees with critical data and technology skills tailored to the university’s specific tools and compliance needs. Leveraging Microsoft 365, the program automates scheduling, enrollment and digital badge issuance, offering accessibility and efficiency.  

By eliminating reliance on external sourced trainings, the program has saved over $100,000 in direct training costs. When factoring in enhanced productivity, employee retention and reduced outsourcing, it delivers an estimated $10 million in annual taxpayer savings. 

“I’m most proud that this program doesn’t just save money — it contextualizes training for the day-to-day operations of FSU and builds a culture of excellence,” said Institutional Research Program Director Lee Howell. “Employees gain skills directly applicable to their roles, departments benefit from faster and more accurate reporting, and the university is better equipped to serve the state of Florida. 

Offering a catalog of 10 courses, the trainings include sessions on tools such as Excel and Oracle Business Intelligence and are designed to support all skill levels — ranging from foundational ‘Day Zero’ sessions for beginners to advanced certifications for experienced users. 

In the past year, the team delivered 60 sessions to more than 860 employees across FSU’s Tallahassee, Panama City and international campuses in Florence, Italy and London, U.K.  

“We often see faculty members and facilities staff learning side by side in Excel trainings,” Howell said. “Everyone learns practical skills they can apply immediately — whether it’s a professor managing research data or a facilities team member tracking budgets. It’s a powerful way to build skills across roles and strengthen the entire university workforce.” 

A twelve-member team, composed of nine Institutional Research staff — Lee Howell, Andrew Brady, Samantha Nix, Heather Epstein-Diaz, Eclipse Ramsey, Katie Gipalo, Logan Poland, Gene Cilluffo, Zachary Stoffers, Caitlyn Jesse and Sarah Sikes — along with Human Resources collaborator Emily Kennelly, developed this ecosystem to meet FSU’s unique needs. Kennelly’s work as an instructional designer, particularly in the creation of digital badges, integrates IR’s offerings into FSU’s broader training infrastructure, strengthening connections to leadership development and ensuring the university workforce is better supported. 

“We’re empowering people across campus to pull their own data, use these tools effectively and apply them directly to the work they do at the university,” said Institutional Research Associate Director Andrew Brady. “Our goal is to show them how these resources fit into their unique roles, so they can make informed decisions and work more efficiently.” 

For more information on IR’s training programs, visit ir.fsu.edu. 

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Florida State University began a new collaboration among faculty and staff with its first-ever Data Day, a one-day conference hosted by the Office of Institutional Research and sponsored by the Office of the Provost.

The new event provided attendees with insightful talks, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities, empowering participants with data literacy and strategies to harness its transformative power.

“FSU Data Day is more than just a conference; it’s a declaration of intent,” said Associate Vice Provost and Chief Data and Analytics Officer James Hunt. “We are here because we believe in a bold vision to make Florida State University the most data-engaged campus in the country — and that means more than just producing reports or tracking metrics. It means creating a culture where data is trusted, used and shared. Where it sparks insights, drives collaboration and ultimately helps us serve our students and our community better.”

FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark emphasized the power that data brings in fostering collaboration and innovation by bridging institutions and driving meaningful partnerships, as reflected in the attendance of key stakeholders at the conference, including representatives from the Florida Board of Governors, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College.

“The great part about data is that it allows us to have partnerships and relationships across universities because when you’re working at this level, it’s not politics, it’s not ideology, it’s about understanding what’s going on in the world and understanding what’s going on at institutions,” Clark said.

With 20 workshops, talks and discussions to choose from, participants spent the day exploring how data is reshaping strategic priorities and improving operational efficiency across the university.

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Florida State University has appointed James M. Hunt as the inaugural associate vice provost and chief data and analytics officer. The new position signifies a pivotal advancement in FSU’s commitment to leveraging data and analytics to enhance the university’s strategic initiatives and overall performance.

“We’re excited to have James step into this new role,” said President Richard McCullough. “He has a wealth of experience in data and advanced analytics and a deep understanding of rankings and metrics. I greatly value his insights as we continue to advance FSU’s strategic goals and achieve even greater national prominence.”

Hunt has been an integral member of FSU’s Office of Institutional Research (IR) since joining the team as its director in 2016. This new position expands his role to include data empowerment, data governance and literacy, and administrative data science to retain FSU’s status as a leader in institutional data and analytics, according to Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark.

“With Dr. Hunt’s leadership, FSU is creating a culture that will help FSU address future challenges with historical and predictive data that will be leveraged to help determine which investments and initiatives will best advance the university.”

— Jim Clark, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

“With Dr. Hunt’s leadership, FSU is creating a culture that will help FSU address future challenges with historical and predictive data that will be leveraged to help determine which investments and initiatives will best advance the university,” Clark said.

As director of Institutional Research, Hunt helped to advance the university’s data capabilities and take the IR team to award-winning heights. The office has made substantial contributions to FSU’s strategic planning and improvements in statewide metrics, national rankings, academic program performance and student success, including FSU’s record retention and graduation rates.

“James has fundamentally changed how we leverage data for institutional success,” said Rick Burnette, senior vice provost and chief strategy officer. “His willingness to transform our data and analytics platform has increased access to timely and strategic data by three-fold. He is providing the foundation for a decision intelligence framework that will inject machine learning and AI into the analysis of institutional investments by predicting future outcomes of those investments. By exposing data and analytics early in the decision and assessment process, FSU is not just data informed, but data engaged.”

In addition, Hunt and his team are active leaders in enrollment management through their research on gateway course completions, impacts of tutoring and other topics, and by surfacing data to help explain student behavior and performance.

“I am excited for this new opportunity to empower faculty, staff and students with data that will help them improve their experience at the university,” Hunt said. “Thanks to efforts from the Office of Institutional Research, Information Technology Services, and many others, FSU has a strong foundation of collaborative data analytics and data-informed decision making. By investing in cutting-edge analytics tools and fostering an environment of data literacy, we can ensure that our community is equipped to harness the power of data in transformative ways and propel FSU as the most data-engaged university in the country.”

Hunt previously served as associate director of Greek Life in FSU’s Office of Student Affairs and later as the division’s assessment coordinator. He received both his master’s and doctoral degrees from FSU.

Hunt’s expertise and vision have been recognized beyond FSU. He serves as president of the Southern Association for Institutional Research and as a board member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Commission on Information, Measurement, and Analysis.

For more information about FSU’s Office of Institutional Research, visit ir.fsu.edu.

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The Florida State University Office of Institutional Research recently returned from the Southern Association for Institutional Research conference in Atlanta, where they made a remarkable impact, further enhancing the organization’s regional and national reputation.

Institutional Research (IR) provides official university data and information to the Florida Board of Governors, the federal government and rankings publications such as U.S. News and World Report. But more significantly, IR leverages these data and innovative analytics tools to empower the university community with comprehensive data and resources that not only guide decision-making but also are integral to FSU’s student success efforts.

“Data analytics from FSU’s Institutional Research team has been transformative in enhancing student success by providing actionable insights that drive informed decision-making,” said FSU Provost Jim Clark. “Their work empowers us to create targeted strategies that support our students’ academic journeys and overall well-being.”

The FSU IR team secured several prestigious accolades at the Southern Association for Institutional Research (SAIR) conference, including second place in the Best Interactive Report category, first place for Best Website and a clean sweep of the Best Innovative Practice Awards, taking home first, second and third places.

“FSU’s Office of Institutional Research stands out as one of the most innovative and impactful in the nation, driving our strategic initiatives with cutting-edge data analytics. Their work represents FSU’s entrepreneurial mindset applied to how we address problems leveraging data for decision intelligence that not only supports our academic goals but also elevates our university’s overall performance and reputation.”

— Rick Burnette, Senior Vice Provost

“FSU’s Office of Institutional Research stands out as one of the most innovative and impactful in the nation, driving our strategic initiatives with cutting-edge data analytics,” said Senior Vice Provost Rick Burnette. “Their work represents FSU’s entrepreneurial mindset applied to how we address problems leveraging data for decision intelligence that not only supports our academic goals but also elevates our university’s overall performance and reputation.”

Beyond receiving awards, the team’s influence was evident through their leadership in multiple pre-conference workshops and numerous presentations. FSU staff from Institutional Research, the Office of the Provost, and Institutional Performance and Assessment delivered multiple conference sessions. Burnette also served as a member of the conference’s opening session panel.

Members of the IR team also received recognition at the conference.

James Hunt, director of Institutional Research at FSU, served as the vice president and program chair for the event and was promoted to president at the conference.

“It was my incredible privilege to serve as the chair for SAIR’s 50th anniversary conference,” Hunt said. “The FSU IR team has an incredible legacy of leadership within SAIR and the institutional research field, and these recognitions are a testament to the work that IR staff do every day to lead FSU toward becoming a truly data engaged university.”

Program Director for Curricular and Student Success Analytics Samantha Nix was also recognized at the conference, being named to the SAIR board of directors.

Additionally, FSU IR team members played key roles in proposal review tracks, registration and session facilitation. Katherine Gipalo, student success analyst, chaired a conference track committee.

“With their outstanding performance, the FSU Office of Institutional Research solidified its reputation as one of the leading IR offices in the nation and among the very top in the southeast,” Hunt said.

For more information about FSU’s Office of Institutional Research, visit ir.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University’s Office of Institutional Research recently hosted a Data User Group meeting, during which 13 staff members were awarded the inaugural Institutional Research Data Literacy and Analytics Certificate.

The meeting featured a data-centric group of more than 300 faculty and staff members focused on enhancing campus data literacy, access and usage.

“This achievement highlights our dedication to fostering a data-informed culture and enhancing our team’s analytical skills,” said James Hunt, director of Institutional Research. “Congratulations to all the recipients.”

The Data User Group, formerly the Business Intelligence Power User Group, was founded by Andrew Brady and Heather Epstein-Diaz from the Office of Institutional Research. It began as a collaborative effort led by Institutional Research in partnership with Information Technology Services (ITS), Enrollment Management and Student Affairs to discuss enhancements and updates to the Oracle BI Reporting tool.

Epstein-Diaz, program director of Data Governance & Analytics Services, said the Data User Group started with 17 members and has grown to more than 370. The group recently launched a Power BI Community of Practice dedicated to enhancing skills and knowledge of Power BI, FSU’s data visualization tool.

The group serves as a community platform for users across campus to propose enhancements and learn about new data-related training offerings.

The Institutional Research Data Literacy and Analytics Certificate recipients were:

• Akilah Akbar, senior administrative specialist, Division of Interdisciplinary Medical Science
• Staci Bushman, financial program analyst, special projects, FSU’s Controller’s Office
• Gene Cilluffo, business intelligence analyst, Office of Institutional Research
• Michaela Densmore, academic assessment professional, School of Information
• Elizabeth Kistner, director of graduate programs, College of Business
• Ryann Lee, administrative specialist, Department of Sociology
• Teri Lucas, assistant director of reporting, Office of Financial Aid
• Chelsea Mobley, accounting representative, UBA/University Libraries
• Eclipse Ramsey, data analyst, College of Law and Office of Institutional Research
• Kari Roberts, director of strategic planning and assessment, Division of Student Affairs
• Samantha Tackett, assistant director of faculty engagement and student academic recovery proactive referral and engagement program director, Academic Center for Excellence
• Jessica Tucker, student learning & licensure coordinator, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
• Jocelyn Vaughn, program director, Center for Global Engagement Special Initiatives

For more information, visit data.fsu.edu.

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A record 99% of first-year undergraduates who started at Florida State University last fall returned for the spring semester, one of the best first-semester retention rates in the country and another indicator of FSU’s national leadership in student success.

FSU’s historic first-semester retention, in a class of more than 6,000 students, is among the highest in the nation at both public and private universities, according to FSU’s Office of Institutional Research, which monitors enrollment and tracks retention rates between years and semesters.

“The record high fall-to-spring retention rate represents the university’s excellence and upward momentum,” said President Richard McCullough. “I’m grateful to all the dedicated faculty and staff who work every day to make sure our students thrive here and have many reasons to stay.”

“The record high fall-to-spring retention rate represents the university’s excellence and upward momentum. I’m grateful to all the dedicated faculty and staff who work every day to make sure our students thrive here and have many reasons to stay.”

— President Richard McCullough

At public four-year institutions, the most recently recorded average retention rate from first to second fall was 82%, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

High retention from fall to the spring semester may signal similarly positive numbers for long-term retention rates and, ultimately, graduation rates for the newest cohort of FSU students, according to Joe O’Shea, associate provost and dean of the Division of Undergraduate Studies. The first year typically garners the highest attrition rates, so fall-to-spring retention bodes well for future semesters.

“We have shaped an excellent and distinctive learning experience here at FSU,” O’Shea said. “From the moment students arrive, we help them find community, mentors, academic support and enrichment opportunities.”

FSU recorded its best six-year graduation rate last year at 85% and achieved its fourth consecutive year as a Top 20 public national university according to U.S. News and World Report, which includes retention and graduation data in its assessment.

The university has invested in a broad variety of programs and initiatives designed to help students have a positive experience.

An Engage 100 course – required for the first time in Fall 2022 – places first-year students into small, immersive, mentor-guided academic cohorts that help them find support and community as they transition to FSU.

The Center for Academic Retention & Enhancement (CARE) serves first-generation college students with a range of programs, including a new living-learning community, where students live together in a residence hall and benefit from specialized coaching, advising and tutoring services.

The new invitation-only QUEST Scholars program launched last fall offers students from under-resourced communities additional support as they transitioned to FSU and a renewable scholarship each year for up to four years for participating in the QUEST Scholars experience.

Programs designed to challenge and engage, such as the Honors Program and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, grew this year.

So did initiatives created to enhance academic support, such as Academic Advising and the Learning Assistant Program, in the Center for the Advancement of Teaching, which trains peer leaders to work in partnership with faculty to maximize the learning that takes place in the classroom.

O’Shea added that when the university retains its students and ensures they graduate on time, taxpayers of Florida benefit, too.

FSU won 15 Florida TaxWatch Productivity Awards in 2022, the most garnered by any institution in the State University System.

“We have a responsibility to the students, their families and the State of Florida to deliver a world-class education to all our students from day one,” O’Shea said. “We’ve intentionally cultivated an experience that engages, challenges and supports all of our students to grow to their full potential.”

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