Strong Foundations 2023, State Postsecondary Data: Evolving Systems, Improving Insights, and Enduring Value

Since 2010, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association's (SHEEO) Strong Foundations survey has reported on the evolution and value of postsecondary student unit record systems (PSURSs) by illuminating the condition of state postsecondary data in the U.S. In the "Strong Foundations 2023" survey, which was administered from February through March of 2023, SHEEO asked about the numbers of PSURSs existing in states, the types of data state postsecondary agencies are collecting in their PSURSs, their connections to other state agency data systems and state longitudinal data systems (SLDSs), and the value of those data to inform and improve state goals and student outcomes. Seventy-three SHEEO member and non-member agencies from all 50 states and the District of Columbia responded to the survey. As expected, PSURSs connections with K-12 and workforce agency data systems were among the most reported connections; yet there are growing connections with other state agencies, including health and human services, foster care, and corrections agencies. The most commonly reported barriers to efficient data sharing between agencies included data privacy concerns, coordination with other state authorities and administrators, lack of time for agency staff to link and analyze shared data, a lack of common identifiers and crosswalks, and a lack of fiscal resources. Among the new data elements SHEEO included for reporting this year are tribal affiliation, student parent/caregiver status, foster care status, refugee status, justice system involvement, and other data elements about historically underrepresented groups in higher education. The highlights in this report underscore the significance PSURSs have in improving mandated reporting, informing state goals and student outcomes, bolstering communication with stakeholders, creating greater transparency and trust, and garnering support and funding.