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The ��ɫֱ�� (��ɫֱ��) and the National Student Clearinghouse ® Research Center ™ () have formed a strategic partnership designed to promote best practices in the use of data in making managerial decisions in higher education.  Through this agreement, ��ɫֱ�� and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center will host webinars and other continuing-education opportunities for ��ɫֱ�� members that will leverage the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center's unique research findings as instructive content.

Jerry Sullivan, Executive Director of the ��ɫֱ��, stated that “The breadth and depth of enrollment data that are accessible only to the Clearinghouse make it the ideal partner for ��ɫֱ�� as we seek new ways of serving our members.”

The first step in this partnership will be to hold a series of focus groups at the 2011 ��ɫֱ�� SEM Conference ( ), which will be held in San Diego from October 30 through November 2.  ��ɫֱ�� and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center will engage participants in strategic discussions regarding the evolving data needs of registrars, enrollment managers, and financial aid officers.  The information gathered from these focus groups will shape future programming for the ��ɫֱ��/ National Student Clearinghouse Research Center partnership while also informing improvements to the Research Center's data services.

Rick Torres, President of the National Student Clearinghouse, remarked that “the National Student Clearinghouse has for nearly twenty years been committed to seeking new ways to enhance the value that participating institutions receive from the Clearinghouse. This commitment traces its origins to the decisions made by ��ɫֱ��'s leaders to form the Clearinghouse.  Today, the Clearinghouse, through its affiliated Research Center, now has formed another way to ‘give back' to ��ɫֱ��'s members, with professional-development activities that will benefit college and university administrators at any stage of their careers and as the demands of their jobs continue to escalate, despite shrinking resources.”

Don Hossler, Executive Director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center and Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Indiana University described the partnership's purpose as one “intended to give professionals in higher education the guidance they need to gather and analyze meaningful data.  It is our goal, with ��ɫֱ��, to provide ��ɫֱ�� members with the most current information possible, so that they might use data to answer questions and solve problems.  This is consistent with the Clearinghouse's long tradition of assisting ��ɫֱ��'s members in their everyday work.”