Focus and Activities

NPEC is responsible for developing a research and development agenda for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Specifically, NPEC:

• Identifies key data issues and proposes a research and development agenda for IPEDS
• Monitors and reviews commissioned background papers, on topics of importance to the IPEDS Technical Review Panel
• Serves on the IPEDS Technical Review Panel; and
• Identifies topics for research generated through the NPEC/AIR Focused Grant program. Grant program information and applications can be accessed at AIR Grant Programs. To download copies of final grant reports go to AIR Funded Research and Dissertation Grants.

In 2008–2009, NPEC is focusing on new requirements in the Higher Education Opportunities Act  (HEOA) and its implications for IPEDS.  Topic areas include: 1) Net Price Data Collection Issues; 2) the development a template of a Net Price Calculator that institutions can use on their websites; (3) the development of a Multi-Year Tuition Calculator using IPEDS data and for use on the IPEDS College Navigator website; and (4) the development of a State Spending Chart.

In addition, 2008–09 NPEC activities have included two working groups. The first is focused on developing materials to assist institutions in meeting new disclosure requirements in the HEOA. The second is working on issues related to improving the quality and comparability of data collected in the IPEDS Graduation Rate Survey.