|
|
|
| Common Data Set |
| |
|
|
| |
| The Common Data Set (CDS) initiative is a collaborative effort
among data providers in the higher education community and publishers
as represented by the College Board, Peterson's, part of The
Thomson Corporation, U.S. News & World Report, and Wintergreen/Orchard
House. The combined goal of this collaboration is to improve
the quality and accuracy of information provided to all involved
in a student's transition into higher education, as well as
to reduce the reporting burden on data providers.
This goal is attained by the development of clear, standard data items
and definitions in order to determine a specific cohort relevant to each
item. Data items and definitions used by the U.S. Department of Education
in its higher education surveys often serve as a guide in the continued development
of the CDS. Common Data Set items undergo broad review by the CDS Advisory
Board as well as by data providers representing secondary schools and
two- and four-year colleges. Feedback from those who utilize the CDS also
is considered throughout the annual review process.
The CDS is a set of standards and definitions of data items rather than
a survey instrument or set of data represented in a database. Each of the
higher education surveys conducted by the participating publishers incorporates
items from the CDS as well as unique items proprietary to each publisher.
Consequently, the publishers' surveys differ in that they utilize varying
numbers of items from the CDS.
Those who report data for their colleges are urged to abide
by the definitions and the cohorts specified when answering
CDS items. They are also urged to use the answers to CDS items
when responding to the numerous survey requests they receive,
by distributing photocopies of their answers, posting them
on their web sites, or by other effective means.
|
|
|
Common Data Set 2007