Community of Practice
At UCI, we are actively constructing a data culture that revolves around collaborative teamwork, intuitive leadership, and an enthusiastic campus community eager to enhance their technological proficiency. Our goal is to effectively utilize data to support every student throughout their collegiate journey. Together, we are revolutionizing institutional thinking, policies, and behavior – igniting a campus wide transformation.
Just Announced! Compass Community of Practice Book Club
Open to the entire UCI campus, the Compass CoP Book Club invites every individual to contribute their distinct insights. As we gather to explore contemporary and forward-thinking literature, our discussions will pave the way for a culture deeply rooted in data-informed strategies aimed at elevating student outcomes.
The Why
Increasing faculty and staff data literacy is key to increasing student digital literacy & student success at UCI & beyond
We’re helping educators and administrators understand how to leverage the millions of data points generated all across campus to create a culture of excellence and equity for students. Case in point: Don Williams, Director of Student Affairs – Physical Sciences, has gained the skills to run and leverage data reports, which has had a profound impact on streamlining his workflow and better serving UC Irvine students.
“The Compass Enrollment Management Analytics (EMA) team is providing data and a suite of reports to front-line staff who need it the most. Processes went from incredibly time consuming to effortless, allowing me to advise more students. Admissions reports are robust and fully ready to share with faculty (at the click of a button!); end of term Student Standing reports are built to tell me exactly who needs to be placed on early alert and academic recovery. That I can run them at any time, is immensely useful.”
The Who
Astrud Reed – Community of Practice Manager
At the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Astrud serves as a steadfast advocate for effective data practices, emphasizing practical and user-centric approaches. Her visionary work is dedicated to cultivating a data-aware culture and ensuring the seamless integration of solutions that align with the ever-evolving technological landscape, while simultaneously meeting the diverse needs of faculty, staff, and students.
The Framework
At UCI, we’re fostering a data culture that enhances the entire student experience through data-driven decision-making. Through the implementation of a community of practice framework, we are empowering all faculty and staff with cutting-edge tools, immersive workshops, and compelling case studies.
Purpose
Using data to support every student in their path to success by transforming our institutional thinking, policies, and behavior, to create a culture of both excellence and equity.
Practice
- Student data repository (SDW)
- Tools (analytics for all campus cohorts)
- Data governance (practices, access standards)
- Training (data literacy, reporting tools)
- Telling our story (marketing & communications, outreach)
People
- Campus Leadership
- Faculty / Staff / Researchers
- Students
- Industry Partners
- Institutional Collaborators
Creating a campus community that acts as a living curriculum
While people have learned together through informal communities of practice throughout history, the primary use of the concept originated in learning theory. Cognitive anthropologists Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger coined the term “community of practice” in 1991 when studying apprenticeships as a learning model—the term referred to the community that acts as a living curriculum.
