Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 1

Data Analysis of the Sunshine State University

2015-2016 Common Data Set

Melissa Klein

Professor Niralee Patel-Lye

Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 2

The Sunshine State University 2015-2016 data report details: the school’s history, student

enrollment and persistence, student to faculty ratios, enrollment by racial and ethnic categories,

graduation rates, applicants and admission requirements and lastly, a strategic plan to accomplish

future goals of the school. This paper will discuss and critique the data provided.

The Sunshine State University History

The Sunshine State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and was founded in 1894. It

offers students over 100 majors and minors and over 300 programs offering students the

opportunity to study abroad. The submitted report states that the Sunshine State University

accepts 51 percent of applicants by using holistic admission practices. It also bases student

acceptance on submitted SAT or ACT scores, the student’s extracurricular activity involvement,

volunteer work, and writing capabilities. The Sunshine State University was rewarded a chapter

of Phi Beta Kappa for concentrations in liberal arts and sciences and competes athletically in the

NCAA Division I.

Persistence and Enrollment

According to the submitted data, the institutes’ total student enrollment (including

undergraduate and graduate programs) was 12,292 students; 54 percent men, 46 percent women.

The majority of the enrolled first-year students were white, 68.9 percent of the enrolled

freshman. The total number of international (nonresident alien) enrolled students was 5 percent.

From July 1, 2014 to June 20, 2015 there were 2,128 bachelor’s degrees awarded, 991 master’s

degrees, 244 research/scholarship doctoral degrees, and 180 professional practice doctoral

degrees.

Graduation Rates
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In 2009, 90 percent of full-time bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree-seeking students graduated

in four years or less. 96 percent of the 2009 cohort completed their bachelor program in more

than four years but less than five. With a 97 percent graduation rate of the 2009 class in more

than five years but less than six.

First time, First Year Freshman Admission Applicants and Enrollment

The total number of first-time, first year students including men and women who applied to

the Sunshine State University were 18,157 and 3,595 students were admitted. The total number

of admitted students who actually enrolled in the university were 2,007.

Admissions and Basis for Selection

A high school diploma is required and GEDs are not accepted. A total number of 16

academic high school units are required including: English, mathematics, science, foreign

language, history, and academic electives. The Sunshine State University considers the student’s

rigor of secondary school record to be the most important aspect of the student’s application.

Other areas that admissions base their decisions on are: the student’s class rank, academic GPA,

standardized testing scores, application essay, and recommendations. Nonacademic areas of

importance considered in the admission process are: the student’s extracurricular activities,

talents and abilities, character and personal qualities, a school alumni relation, and the student’s

volunteer experience. The Sunshine State University requires a SAT or ACT score for

admission.

Faculty and Class Size

In 2015, there was a 10 to 1 student/faculty ratio at the Sunshine State University. 16 percent

of the faculty belong to minority groups, 5 percent are nonresident aliens (international) and 32
Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 4

percent are women. 60 percent of the undergraduate classes have 19 or less students in them.

There are no class subsections currently offered at the Sunshine State University.

Strategic Plan

The goal described in the strategic plan of the data report is to transform the student

experience by connecting curricular and co-curricular experiences. Success defined by the report

is a diverse student body that accesses the resources of the university and graduates with

personal, social, academic, spiritual, and cultural competencies and real-world skills. The

university plans to achieve this success by:

1) Creating a program that integrates learning experiences by providing students with

curricular and co-curricular experiences abroad, undergraduate research, and internships.

Also by creating guided leadership individualized plans integrated with alumnae

connections.

2) To ensure students are able to demonstrate the skills necessary to compete in a global

environment, literacies will be taught across the curriculum.

3) Technologies and emerging technologies will be integrated within the curriculum to

enhance teaching and learning.

4) The physical campus will be expanded in order to provide a seamless living and learning

environment.

Specific goals and strategies are detailed in Table I below:

Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 5

-Establish a Dean to lead internationalization of

Global Engagement, include at least one
meaningful internal travel experience
curriculum
-Increase opportunities for students to experience
global experiences
-Increase number of international students

Leadership: Develop an individualized leadership plan

Leadership development and for each student annually
wellness programs focused on Wellness: Create plan for Wellness Center; Secure
individual potential funding and begin construction

-Ensure all senior students participate in the

capstone project
Opportunities for undergrad research and career-
-Ensure all students have undergrad research or
related internships
internship experience before graduating

-Develop a cohesive alumnae mentoring experience

Alumnae
-Integrate alumnae mentoring program
Connections

-Collaborate academic and student affairs to

implement academic and student service in the
Create service learning which pairs coursework and community community
engagement. -Make connections between local community and
national/global issues

Table I

Evaluation of Data

The primary area of concern that is detailed in the report is that there appears to be no Dean

in place to lead the university. This is indicated by the first of the goals and strategies portion of

the report described in Table I. Without the leadership of a Dean there could potentially be

several issues that go unaddressed. Effective leadership is a key component to any successful

system. According to Snowden and Boone’s (2007) A Leader’s Framework for Decision

Making, effective leaders are required to identify the context of their system and make

appropriate decisions according to its unique circumstances. The most successful leaders adapt to

the circumstances of the system they are managing (Snowden and Boone, 2007). The most

effective leadership decisions are based on much more than just the goal at hand. The Dean of

the Sunshine State University should: ponder over all the provided data, identify areas that might
Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 6

negatively affect the achievement of the university goals, and consider the impact on all the

subsystems of the university. Without a Dean or leader in place, there would be absolutely no

ability to effectively reach the goals detailed in the report.

The University of Kansas (2016) details an excellent article titled, Analyzing Problems and

Goals. It describes the processes effective leaders should use to set and reach goals. It lists the

process as follows:

1. Justify the choice of the priority problem or goal to be addressed.

2. Frame the problem or goal to be addressed.

3. Review the naming and framing of the problem or goal.

4. Ask questions about the problem or goal to identify key behaviors, actors, and

consequences.

5. Analyze "root" causes of the problem to identify the environmental conditions and related

behaviors that might contribute to the problem or goal.

6. Identify restraining and driving forces that affect the problem or goal.

7. Find relationships between the community's problems and goals.

8. Identify personal factors that may contribute to the problem or goal. How do each of

these factors contribute to the problem or goal within your community?

9. Identify environmental factors that may contribute to the problem/goal.

10. Identify targets and agents of change for addressing the community problem or goal (The

University of Kansas, 2018).

With the above list in mind, the potential Dean must deliberate the remaining issues with the

provided data as he or she considers the goals of the university and how to achieve them.
Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 7

First, the data offered in the report demonstrates that the Sunshine State University lacks

ethnic and racial diversity. This is reflected in the ethnic and international student enrollment

percentages, as well as the small percentage of minority and international faculty. The root cause

of the lack in student diversity at the Sunshine State University could be a biased in the

admissions office, a disinterest of minority students because of the small percentage of relatable

faculty, or a deficiency in collaboration among the university and ethnic minorities in the

community.

Secondly, there is a discrepancy between the percentage of students the university claims to

admit and the percentile they actually admitted. According to the data, the percentage of overall

admittance for first year (freshman) students was only 19.7 percent of those that applied. This

contradicts the 51 percent admission rate the data report claims as the goal of the university. Of

the 19.7 percent of students admitted only 11 percent actually enrolled at the Sunshine State

University. An inadequacy of admitted students could potentially effect the financial stability of

the college and the goal of constructing the Wellness Center building and expanding the physical

campus.

Lastly, the report demonstrates that the university does not offer any subsection classes.

According to the report, a subsection class includes “any subsection of a course, such as

laboratory, recitation, and discussion subsections that are supplementary in nature and are

scheduled to meet separately from the lecture portion of the course” (Sunshine State University,

2016, p.6). Failing to offer subsection classes does not align with the goal of the university to

incorporate co-curricular opportunities for students and seamlessly integrate the student’s living

and learning environment.

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Conclusions

There are many apparent problems within the 2015-2016 common data report of the

Sunshine State University. The issue that requires immediate attention is the lack of leadership.

Without an established leader, there cannot be forward progress in addressing problems and

achieving the goals of the university. The additional described deficits within the data should be

investigated further by the established Dean. To successfully address problems, the Dean must

use the processes detailed by the University of Kansas’ (2018) article, Analyzing Problems and

Goals. Once there is an established leader, strategies can be formulated to resolve problems and

ultimately, the goals of the university can be accomplished.

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References

Snowden, D. J., & Boone, M. E. (2007). A leader’s framework for decision-making. Harvard

Business Review.

Sunshine State University. (2015-2016). Common Data Set. Retrieved from

https://post.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-4237633-dt-content-rid-

31563884_1/courses/EDU515.301086045299/Rubrics%20%26%20Assignments/Sunshin

e%20State%20University%20Common%20Data%20Set%20for%20Strategic%20Plannin

g.pdf

Work Group for Community Health and Development, University of Kansas. (2018). Analyzing

problems and goals.