Leveraging Data Analytics to Support the Tech Talent Investment Program

Please provide a one-paragraph overview of the session.‎ (200 words or less): Virginia Tech’s Office of Analytics & Institutional Effectiveness plays a critical role in supporting the Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP), a statewide initiative designed to expand the number of master students in computer science and related fields. To meet the ambitious goals of TTIP, the office has developed an integrated analytics tool that combines interactive dashboards, automated daily reports, and predictive modeling. We accomplished this by building a dedicated application in our University DataCommons, an open-source, homegrown data science platform. These tools provide real-time insights into admission, enrollment, retention, and degree progress, enabling leaders and academic units to make timely, data-informed decisions. By uncovering patterns in student behavior and identifying early indicators of risk, analytics empower the university to design effective interventions, allocate resources strategically, and ultimately increase degree production in high-demand fields. This session will showcase how Virginia Tech leverages analytics not only to monitor progress toward state workforce goals but also to create a culture of evidence-based planning. Attendees will learn practical strategies for applying business intelligence and predictive analytics to support large-scale initiatives, and gain insights into how institutional research offices can bridge the gap between data and action in service of student success and workforce development.

Session Agenda/Outline (200 words or less): - Introductions: Overview of TTIP, highlighting its statewide workforce goals and how Virginia Tech’s Analytics Office supports these efforts.
- Analytics Infrastructure: Demonstration of the dashboards, automated daily reporting, and predictive models built in the University DataCommons platform to provide real-time insights into admissions, enrollment, retention, and degree progress.
- Practical Applications: Case examples of how these tools inform decision-making, from identifying student pathways and trends to supporting resource allocation and strategic enrollment planning.
- Q&A.