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| Q | What is HEDS? |
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Higher Education Data Sharing (HEDS) is a consortium of private colleges and universities that supports member institutions through the collection and sharing of national comparative data needed for effective strategic planning.
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| Q | What is the criteria for membership? |
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HEDS is an organization whose members share the following criteria:
In addition to other review factors, the Committee will consider: (1) geographic location, particularly in areas of the United States in which HEDS does not have a significant national presence; and (2) the distribution of Carnegie institutional types (baccalaureate, master’s, research and specialized institutions). Because of the importance to HEDS of the mutual sharing of information among institutions that regard each other as peers, additional consideration will be given to institutions that are recommended by one or more current HEDS members, and to applicant institutions that indicate that all or most of their peers are already members of HEDS.
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| Q | How does HEDS work with member institutions? |
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Members identify one individual on campus to serve as the HEDS primary contact. The primary contact receives all survey questions, blank HEDS surveys, paper and electronic reports, invoices, project mailings and data collection schedules. The primary contact is responsible for sharing these items with the appropriate institutional staff members by the established deadline. The primary contact is also responsible for informing HEDS staff of any changes to personal information, including name, title, mailing and e-mail addresses, or telephone and fax numbers. Members may also identify several secondary contact individuals who may participate in HEDS meetings, use the listserve, and serve on working groups, committees and the Board of HEDS. To support new HEDS contacts in their roles, the consortium offers a pre-conference workshop at its HEDS Annual Conference.
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| Q | How is HEDS governed? |
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A nine-member Board of Directors, three of which are elected during the Annual Business Meeting in June each year, governs the consortium. The Board appoints three members each year to serve on the nine-member Research Advisory Committee (RAC), which revises HEDS survey instruments, identifies surveys to be collected each year and suggests research topics for the consortium to pursue. A seven-member Professional Development Committee (PDC) advises the Board and HEDS staff on how to prepare new people in institutional research, particularly those at small institutions, to understand the profession and to assist in career planning.
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| Q | What are the HEDS data collection schedules? |
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HEDS publishes its data collection schedule for the current year in mid-September and mid-February. These schedules identify which surveys HEDS will undertake in the fall and spring of that year. Data collection schedules are sent only to the institutions' primary contact.
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| Q | What should I do when I receive the data collection schedule? |
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Submit requested data to HEDS by the due date listed on the schedule. This must be done to get data for your peer institutions. HEDS encourages electronic submission of data, but will accept paper submissions. Note: For surveys submitted to non-HEDS organizations (e.g., National Association of College and University Business Officers, Council for Aid to Education, AAUP), primary contacts should make an extra copy of the survey and submit it to HEDS.
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| Q | How do I get a particular report? |
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Members who submit survey data to HEDS will receive a final report, for those studies that a final report is completed, from HEDS with data from other members sharing similar data. Reports and other data products are available for download on the HEDS website for participants in each study.
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| Q | What is the difference between a preliminary report and a final report? |
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To ensure your data is correct, HEDS will send a preliminary report to the primary contact approximately two weeks after the deadline on the data collection schedule. It is important to review this report and notify HEDS of any errors. A final report is published approximately four weeks after the preliminary report.
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| Q | Who may look at my institution's data? |
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HEDS' standard reports and electronic discussion lists are available to participating members only and are included in the annual fees. Institutions must participate in a particular study to have access to the report and data products related to that study in a given year. While HEDS may request to share cross-consortia data with other organizations, members may agree or not agree to share their data. Optional, supplemental reports, such as the HEDS Alumni and Senior Survey, CIRP, HERI, NSSE, YFCY, etc., are available to members on a fee-per-project basis. Practices for internal distribution of HEDS data are outlined in the HEDS Statement of Understanding.
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| Q | How are membership fees determined? |
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Membership fees are based on the size of your institution. Currently, there are three dues categories, based on enrollment data. Because HEDS fiscal year runs from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, member institutions receive annual dues notices in early September.
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| Q | When is the HEDS Annual Conference? |
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The HEDS Annual Conference is held in June each year along with the annual membership meeting. Conferences offer members valuable opportunities to network, discuss important issues in higher education and take part in professional development. Conference materials are sent to all persons listed in the HEDS directory.
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| Q | How do I join the listserve? |
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To get in on the discussion as a member of HEDS, e-mail HEDS@e-heds.org and ask to be added to the HEDSLIST. This discussion is open to members only and is managed by HEDS staff.
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| Q | How do I contact HEDS? |
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You may contact HEDS at: Phone: (717)358-4448
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