Office of Institutional Research and Analytics

At Pacific Lutheran University, the Office of Institutional Research & Assessment (OIRA) is committed to advancing the university’s mission by delivering precise, timely, and actionable data that drives informed decision-making, strategic planning, and continuous improvement across all levels of the institution.

The Office of Institutional Research (OIR) is dedicated to supporting the planning, management, accreditation, assessment and evaluation of PLU activities at every level. OIR is a central reporting entity for the university, and as such is responsible for fulfilling many of the PLU’s external reporting requirements. OIR’s function also includes collection and dissemination of information and data in response to both internal and external requests.

• Support Student Success: By leveraging data-driven insights, we work to improve student retention, satisfaction, and overall success.
• Facilitate Strategic Decision-Making: We provide research and analysis that informs senior administration and supports university-wide initiatives.
• Benchmark Institutional Performance: Our office produces comparative analyses against peer institutions to ensure PLU maintains its competitive edge.
• Ensure Data Integrity: We collaborate with the Data Administration Team to maintain consistent and reliable data definitions, governance, and accessibility.
• Meet Compliance and Reporting Standards: OIRA ensures compliance with external regulations and fulfills all mandated reporting requirements.
• Advance Best Practices: We conduct research aligned with PLU’s strategic priorities and provide expertise in effective research methodologies.
• Support Accreditation: Our office plays a vital role in PLU’s accreditation processes, ensuring the university meets and exceeds required standards.