The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) seeks authorization from OMB to continue the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data collection. Current authorization expires 12/31/2016 (OMB No. 1850-0582). We are requesting a new clearance for the 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 data collections to enable us to provide consistency in our collection of postsecondary data over the next 3 years. IPEDS is a web-based data collection system designed to collect basic data from all postsecondary institutions in the United States and the other jurisdictions. IPEDS enables NCES to report on key dimensions of postsecondary education such as enrollments, degrees and other awards earned, tuition and fees, average net price, student financial aid, graduation rates, student outcomes, revenues and expenditures, faculty salaries, and staff employed. The IPEDS web-based data collection system was implemented in 2000-01, and it collects basic data from approximately 7,500 postsecondary institutions in the United States and the other jurisdictions that are eligible to participate in Title IV Federal financial aid programs. All Title IV institutions are required to respond to IPEDS (Section 490 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 [P.L. 102-325]). IPEDS allows other (non-title IV) institutions to participate on a voluntary basis. About 200 elect to respond. IPEDS data are available to the public through the College Navigator and IPEDS Data Center websites. This clearance package includes a number of proposed changes to the data collection.
The net decrease in estimated annual burden to respondents is a sum of estimated burden time changes resulting from: (1) continued refining of the previous burden estimates as a result of incorporating institutionally reported burden; and (2) a set of changes to the data collection, described in this submission, in the areas of Institutional Characteristics, Student Financial Aid, Graduation Rates, Graduation Rates 200, Outcome Measures, Admissions, Fall Enrollment, Finance, Human Resources, and Academic Libraries that will improve on the quality and the usefulness to IPEDS data for users including policymakers, researchers, and consumer. The changes will also clarify reporting for IPEDS data providers. Many of these changes were suggested by the IPEDS TRPs and have been previously posted for public comment from the higher education community.
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 2016-2019 Responses to 30-day Public Comments.docx
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2016-2019