About Our Work
Data or Analysis Requests
Our staff consists of highly trained and experienced professionals who are experts in data extraction, data collection and analysis, policy analysis, and research methods. We utilize and analyze data provided by internal and external sources to answer important questions about how our institution is performing and serving students.. We have published information on common data resources and reports on our website. If you cannot locate what you need, contact us.
Surveys
In addition to coordinating the administration of college-wide surveys such as the CCSSE or PACE, our office has expertise in survey design. A well-designed survey ensures that you get the information you need while respecting respondents' time and effort. We will help you consider:
- Overall design
- Communication strategy
- Privacy and human subjects research considerations
The College uses the Qualtrics platform o administer surveys electronically.
Research
Our office conducts research studies to support decision-making and evaluate the effectiveness of the institution's activities. If you are curious and have questions, we can help you design a research strategy. The College does not currently have an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Employees should consult with our office before conducting any research involving human subjects.
About Us
Ken Matthews, Ph.D.
Interim Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Assessment, and Research
Office: Northway 1-327
Phone: 320.308.5382
e-mail: kenneth.matthews@sctcc.edu
Ken earned his B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from Stetson University, M.A. in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida, and Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in research methodology, psychometrics, and statistical analysis from the University of Central Florida. He has worked in higher education since 2006 holding roles in Admissions, Student Development, Academic Affairs, Institutional Research, and Enrollment Management. As a graduate student and postdoctoral scholar, Ken worked as a program evaluator on projects totaling $23 million in grant funding from sponsors such as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education.
Apurva D. Desai, M.S.
Data Analyst
e-mail: apurva.desai@sctcc.edu
Apurva earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering with a major in Telecommunications from the University of Mumbai, India in 2012 and his M.S. in Information Systems at California State University, Fullerton in 2018. From 2012-2016, Apurva served as a Business Intelligence Analyst for Accenture Services, India. Before joining the Office of Institutional Research, Apurva was a SQL developer assistant at California State University, Fullerton. He has 5 years of experience in Technology, Retail and Higher Education and expertise in SQL, Data analysis, Machine Learning Algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence.