KPI Definitions: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

TRACKING PROGRESS

As we move forward together, we will regularly assess our performance, celebrate our achievements, and adjust our strategies as needed. Explore the KPIs we will utilize to track our progress towards each strategic objective to ensure that we are headed in the right direction, at the right pace, and with the right resources.

The Office of Planning and Institutional Research is available to assist you with any questions or to explore a topic further. Please review the tools/reports available or submit a request.

OUR STUDENTS

UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT

Total count of students enrolled in the Fall semester at the undergraduate level.

Data Source: NKU Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

GRADUATE AND LAW ENROLLMENT

Total count of students enrolled in the Fall semester at the graduate or law level.

Data Source: NKU Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

RETENTION RATE (FIRST-TO-SECOND YEAR)

Percent of first-time, full-time, new freshmen enrolled in the fall semester following their first fall enrollment.

Data Source: NKU Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

AVERAGE DEBT AT GRADUATION

Average total loan debt for new bachelor’s and associate degree completers.

Data Source: NKU Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

PERSISTENCE RATE (YEAR-TO-YEAR)

Percent of all undergraduate, degree-seeking students enrolled in consecutive fall semesters, excluding recent graduates.

Data Source: NKU Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

GRADUATION RATE (6-YEAR)

Percent of first-time, full-time, new freshmen who graduate within 6 years of their first fall enrollment.

Data Source: NKU Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES CONFERRED

Total count of bachelor’s, associate, and certificates awarded during an academic year.

Data Source: NKU Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: September

GRADUATE AND LAW DEGREES CONFERRED

Total count of graduate and law degrees awarded during an academic year.

Data Source: NKU Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: September

ENGAGEMENT INDICATOR: QUALITY OF INTERACTIONS (MEAN)

Percent of NSSE seniors rating their interactions with faculty and staff groups a 6 or 7 on a scale of 1=Poor to 7=Excellent.

Data Source: National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Engagement Indicators Report.

Reporting Frequency: Triennial Next Update: September

ENGAGEMENT INDICATOR: SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT (MEAN)

Percent of NKU seniors responding “very much” or “quite a bit” for how they feel the institution provides support.

Data Source: National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Engagement Indicators Report.

Reporting Frequency: Triennial Next Update: September

HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES PARTICIPATION

Percent of NKU seniors who participated in two or more HIPs, including service-learning, a learning community, research with faculty, internship/field experience, study abroad, or a culminating senior experience.

Data Source: National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Engagement Indicators Report.

Reporting Frequency: Triennial Next Update: September

EMPLOYMENT 1-YEAR POST COMPLETION (BACHELORS)

Bachelor’s completers from 2007-17 with qualifying employment in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee one-year post completion.

Data Source: Multi-State Postsecondary Report, KYSTATS Report.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

MEDIAN WAGE 1-YEAR POST COMPLETION (BACHELORS)

Bachelor’s completers from 2007-17 with qualifying employment in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee one-year post completion.

Data Source: Multi-State Postsecondary Report, KYSTATS Report.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

OUR COLLEAGUES

VOLUNTARY TURNOVER RATE (FULL-TIME, EXEMPT)

Percent of full-time, exempt staff who left the institution by choice rather than through termination or layoff.

Data Source: NKU Office of Human Resources and CUPA-HR.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: September

JOB SATISFACTION

Percent of Great Colleges to Work for Survey respondents selecting “strongly agree” or “agree” to associated items.

Data Source: Great Colleges to Work For Survey.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: September

EMPLOYEE Wellbeing

Percent of Great Colleges to Work for Survey respondents selecting “strongly agree” or “agree” to associated items.

Data Source: Great Colleges to Work For Survey.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: September

CASH AND INVESTMENTS (YEAR-END)

Total cash, cash equivalent, and investment assets held by the university at fiscal year-end.

Data Source: NKU Chief Financial Officer

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: September

UNRESTRICTED AND AUXILIARY NET SURPLUS (DEFICIT)

Total annual auxiliary revenues minus annual auxiliary expenses.

Data Source: NKU Chief Financial Officer

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: September

NET TUITION REVENUE

Total tuition billed for the full academic year minus institutional financial aid distributed.

Data Source: NKU Chief Financial Officer

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: September

OUR COMMUNITY

INTERNSHIP/CO-OP PARTICIPATION RATE

Percent of NKU seniors who completed or are actively participating in an internship, co-cop, field experience, student teaching, or clinical placement while enrolled at NKU.

Data Source: National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) High-Impact Practices Report.

Reporting Frequency: Triennial Next Update: September

GRADUATES EMPLOYED IN THE REGION

All first degree earners (UG/GR/Law) who are found as employed and the percent living in the Greater Cincinnati MSA.

Data Source: NKU Office of Alumni Engagement

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

STUDENT VOTER REGISTRATION

Percent of voting-eligible students who are registered to vote.

Data Source: National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), Tufts University.

Reporting Frequency: Biennial Next Update: January

STUDENT VOTING RATE

Percentage of eligible students who voted on Election Day. Historically there has been dramatic differences in rates for Presidential and mid-term elections.

Data Source: National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), Tufts University.

Reporting Frequency: Biennial Next Update: January

COMMUNITY ENGAGED COURSE ENROLLMENT RATE

Percent of all undergraduate students enrolled in a course with a service-learning designator.

Data Source: NKU Office of Outreach and Engagement

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

P-12 ENGAGEMENT

Centralized data collection mechanism is currently in development.

Data Source: To be determined.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: September

DUAL CREDIT ENROLLMENT

Total count of students enrolled in a high school program while simultaneously enrolled at NKU.

Data Source: NKU Office of Planning and Institutional Research.

Reporting Frequency: Annual Next Update: January

General Terms

Baseline measures will provide a minimum threshold based on historical trends for which the university measures progress.
Target measures are viewed as aspirational goals, not projected outcomes, and are intended to serve as benchmarks for progress and inspiration for continuous improvement.
First Generation students are students where neither parent completed a bachelor’s degree or higher (i.e., Master’s or Doctorate).
Low Income students are students who received a Pell grant.
Cohort refers to the IPEDs defined population of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking new students.