Academic Analytics at APLU-CAA 2025: Empowering Strategic Alignment Across the Academic Enterprise
Academic Analytics was honored to sponsor the 2025 APLU-CAA Conference in Boise and engage with provosts and executive leaders shaping the future of public research universities. In addition to rich dialogue throughout the conference, we hosted a private dinner at Chandler’s to explore how institutions can align leadership priorities with faculty impact.
Key Takeaways from the Conference
Strategic Alignment Requires a Shared Source of Truth: When presidents, provosts, deans, chairs, and faculty work from the same data, they can set goals, measure progress, and make informed decisions more effectively. This shared source of truth should also support faculty in career planning, annual reviews, and promotion and tenure.
Data-Informed Partnerships Drive Institutional Success: Provosts are increasingly using platforms like Academic Analytics to identify institutional strengths—and those of peer institutions—to forge productive, data-backed collaborations.
Faculty Career Planning is at a Pivotal Moment: As faculty seek new opportunities for funding, collaboration, and career growth, institutions must streamline career planning and activity reporting to better support and retain talent.
Prioritizing Excellence in Everyday Decisions: As provosts navigate short-term challenges, long-term goals—such as advancing the university to the next level, enhancing quality, and investing in excellence—must stay front and center. A single, up-to-date source of truth with peer benchmarking helps measure excellence among peers and keeps leadership aligned with these priorities.
Executive Dinner: Strategic Themes and Questions
Facilitated by: John Simon (President Emeritus, Lehigh), Mitzi Montoya (Provost, University of Utah), Diane Stearns (Provost, Tarleton State), Mike Rohlinger & Matthew Cooper (Academic Analytics)
Core Theme: Strategic Alignment from Faculty to Provost to President
Guiding Questions:
Where should we invest or scale back?
How do we elevate our institutional profile?
How can data help form more effective partnerships?
Featured Insights
Dr. Montoya: Leveraging Unique Research Strengths
Collaboration and resource-sharing are critical in today’s landscape.
Use bibliometrics and network analysis to assess "What do I have? What do I need? Who has it?"
Look beyond traditional consortia to identify the best-fit partners.
Data can validate institutional strengths and illuminate hidden opportunities.
Dr. Stearns: Building Research Capacity and Elevating Institutional Profile
Use landscape analysis to shape faculty standards and aspirations.
Streamline review, promotion, and tenure workflows through centralized systems.
Reduce faculty administrative burden by integrating CVs, credentialing, and reporting.
Equip department heads and deans with real-time insights to support and retain faculty.
Enable meaningful career planning, mentorship, and forward-thinking evaluations.
Path Forward
As institutions plan for “what’s next,” consistent, high-quality data across all levels is essential. One centralized system of record—rather than disparate tools—can simplify operations, clarify career trajectories, and measure institutional progress in real time. Academic Analytics is proud to partner with leaders who are building this future with intention and insight.
