Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is a system of surveys designed to collect basic data from approximately 7,000 Title IV postsecondary institutions in the United States and other jurisdictions. The IPEDS provides information on numbers of students enrolled, degrees completed, other awards earned, dollars expended, staff employed at postsecondary institutions, and cost and pricing information. The amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1998, Part C, Sec. 131, specify the need for the "redesign of relevant data systems to improve the usefulness and timeliness of the data collected by such systems." As a consequence, in 2000 IPEDS began to collect data through a web-based data collection system. The data collection is now entirely web-based, and is required for those institutions participating in Title IV federal student aid programs; other institutions participate on a voluntary basis. IPEDS data are available to the public through the College Navigator and IPEDS Data Center websites. This clearance package seeks authorization from OMB to continue IPEDS data collection through 2014, describes revisions to the currently approved (2010-11) IPEDS burden estimates, and includes a number of proposed changes to the data collection.
There is a significant increase in estimated annual burden to respondents presented in this package due to (1) significant revisions to the previous burden estimates as a result of a new methodology for making estimates, consistent with advise from GAO; and (2) a set of changes to the data collection, described in this submission, mostly in the areas of student financial aid, human resources, and distance education that will improve on the usefulness to IPEDS data users including policymakers, researchers, and consumer. The majority of these changes were suggested by the IPEDS technical review panel and have been previously posted for public comment from the higher education community. The majority of the increase in burden is being considered as an adjustment -although there is a also a small reduction in burden due to program change.
Please note that the difference in the summary table as it relates to the number of burden hours attributed to adjustment vs program change is due to eliminating multiple IC's(30+) and consolidating the IC's into 1 IC (since they are all the same respondent type). This change resulted in a one-time distortion of the number of burden hours attributed to adjustment. This should not be an issue with future clearances.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
IPEDS 2011-2014 Response to OMB Passback.docx
OUS_comment_on_201112_IPEDS_fringe_change.pdf
Att_IPEDS 2010-11 Communications Plan and Package.doc
IPEDS Web Based Data Collection 2011-12 through 2013-14