Data Fluency

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About the Data Fluency Program

The data fluency program is a modular professional development program designed to enhance data literacy, empower data users, and ultimately expand decision-making capacity at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). The data fluency program is not designed to provide technical or analytical training, but rather serves as an opportunity for staff, faculty, and administrators to gain confidence in interpreting and using data, become more familiar with campus data resources, and explore what it means to be data informed.

Participants will:

• Improve awareness and understanding of common institutional data sources and definitions.
• Demonstrate proficiency in data quality assessment.
• Apply strategies for effectively communicating data.
• Accurately use institutional data to make data-informed decisions.
• Relate their work with data to the university’s shared goal of student success.
• Connect with colleagues to share strategies and discuss key issues around data use.
• Advocate for and help build a data culture at USM. 

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Program Structure

The data fluency program sessions are divided into three competency areas, which may be taken in any order. While it is recommended to attend all 3 sessions in their default order and in the same semester, this program has been designed with modularity and flexibility in mind. As such, participants have complete control over their path through the associated program material. This is a hybrid program (in-person and/or Teams) that consists of 3 total sessions, offered in both the fall and spring semesters. Each session will be offered twice per semester across two distinct schedules (or "runs"), giving participants alternative time slots to enhance flexibility and schedule compatibility. Each meeting will last approximately 1 and a half hours. Please bring a laptop to each meeting. Supplemental information and optional coursework will be delivered via Canvas.

Fall 2026 Schedule

Questions?

If you have any remaining questions about the program, please contact the Office of Institutional Research at irFREEMississippi.