Sessions

KEYONTE ADDRESS
Revving up the Higher Education Engine with Decision Analytics

Sue Mukherjee, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Educational Intelligence, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

 

In response to the changing higher education landscape, Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education has been undergoing a transformation around its business intelligence environment. The goal has been to leverage and optimize the use of educational intelligence in a way that supports the System’s strategic priorities of student success, academic relevance, and alignment to Pennsylvania’s workforce needs. To accomplish this forward thinking strategy, the State System has been looking at ways to more easily access the wealth of data collected (internal and external) and transform it into valuable information via decision-analytics. A good example of use of such intelligence with a goal of 'Revving up the Higher Education Engine' is the State System’s Program Alignment Toolkit. The System's Program Alignment Toolkit is an infrastructure of resources developed to help State System's 14 universities individually and collectively connect better with the state’s economy. This presentation will highlight this System-strategy and its value proposition – the business case for investing in this strategy. It will also provide an overview the System's Program Alignment Toolkit demonstrating the critical need for higher education to leverage regional workforce intelligence so stakeholders can make informed decisions.

 

* Educational intelligence is defined as the ability to leverage data at multiple points across the student life-cycle and from the external labor market. 


PLENARY ADDRESS

Police legitimacy crisis? Results from the 2015 Penn State Omnibus Poll

Jennifer C. Gibbs, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Penn State Harrisburg

 

Legitimacy is a debated term, with scholars defining legitimacy as voluntary acceptance of government authority without protest, trust, confidence and more.  Despite little consensus on how to define legitimacy, most agree it is important because legitimacy leads to many desired outcomes, including compliance with the law, cooperation with authorities, support for empowering authorities and less support for crime. 

 

Given recent police-public tensions, media commentators, academics, politicians and citizens have been discussing police legitimacy – rather, the loss of police legitimacy.  But, how do citizens understand this discussion?  What do people mean when they use the term “legitimacy”?  And, how do citizens’ definitions of legitimacy connect to their attitudes toward their police?

 

Utilizing Data to Assist in Organizational Change

Michele Hiester

Research and Evaluation Manager, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole

 

When implementing organizational change, inviting staff participation is a key component for a successful transformation. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP) has been transitioning the way they do business over the years, specifically relating to their approach to supervising parolees.  The PBPP Research Office began a longitudinal study to identify changes in staff perceptions regarding supervision practices to identify areas of improvement and issues staff perceive as obstacles.  The intent of this survey is to measure the change in staff perceptions over the years.  This session will focus on the planning and development of this study and how decision makers can utilize the results to further advance the intended transition.

 

The Impact of Demographics on General Fund Revenues and Expenditures

Mark Ryan

Director, Independent Fiscal Office

 

This session examines the impact of demographic trends on historical General Fund revenues and expenditures. The session also looks forward over the next five to ten years to assess how demographic trends will impact future General Fund revenues and expenditures.

 

The 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program

Colleen Joyce

Assistant Chief - Redistricting & Voting Rights Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau

 

The session will provide an overview of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program, focusing on how the program has evolved over time, the Census Bureau's plans for 2020, and the Census Bureau's obligations under Public Law 94-171.  The five-phases of the program, which cover small area geographic updates and data deliveries, with be discussed.

 

Transfer of Wealth in Pennsylvania

Jonathan Johnson,

Senior Policy Analyst, The Center for Rural Pennsylvania

 

In Pennsylvania, the researchers estimate the 2015 household current net worth to be $3.1 trillion. In the coming decade, the researchers estimate that $310 billion will transfer from one generation to another: about $67 billion of which will be transferred in rural counties and about $242 billion in urban counties.  This presentation will provide insight on this forthcoming wealth transfer by looking at 10-Year and 50-Year Transfer of Wealth scenarios.

 

Analyzing the Regional Business Landscape using Census Business Builder

Andrew W. Hait

Economic Data Product & Data User Liaison, U.S. Census Bureau

 

The Census Business Builder Tool offers business owners a way to easily navigate to and use key demographic and economic data to help guide their research into opening a new or expanding their existing businesses. These key data include the most recent and/or relevant data that the Census Bureau provides that are useful to business owners. Some key features discussed in the presentation include: Easy-to-use menus to select your type of business and potential business location, an interactive map that allows selection of the area to explore for business opportunities, dynamically generated, and downloadable and printable business county and city-level reports.

 

Local Employment Dynamics: Getting in Touch with Your Local Workforce from a National Point of View
Earlene K.P. Dowell

Outreach/Education Specialist, U.S. Census Bureau

 

This workshop is designed for businesses, local planners and other data users who want to research local workforce and employment trends. The course content will include training on navigating the Local Employment Dynamics website and explore LED products including: QWI Explorer, the LED Extraction Tool, OntheMap, and OnTheMap for Emergency Management. The training provides users access to a wealth of time series data pertinent to understanding the local labor market, planning, managing and thriving in a competitive business environment.

Let Data be Your Guide: Designing Effective Research Methods

Coren Jagnow

Research and Education Division Chief, Human Dimensions Specialist

 

The creation of the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS) for managing hunting and fishing license sales presented a unique opportunity to learn more about Pennsylvania's hunting and fishing population.  The information obtained about hunters' license buying habits led to a variety of new research questions about hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation.  This session will explore some of the different research methods used to most effectively study hunters' license buying habits, including questionnaires, focus groups, and dashboards. 

An Introduction to Data Preparation

Timothy Servinsky, Jr.

Project Manager, Center for Survey Research, Penn State Harrisburg

 

This session will introduce considerations in preparing data for analysis. Topics covered will include how to identify problems with collected data and approaches to re-coding data for analysis.


A New Look at Data on Higher Education in Pennsylvania

Ron Uroda

Vice President for Research, Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Pennsylvania

 

Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation in terms of the number of higher education institutions located in the state.  The higher education sector provides jobs for over 100,000 workers and contributes billions of dollars each year to the state’s economy.  This session will provide a fast-paced overview of higher education in Pennsylvania on topics ranging from enrollment to endowments to student migration.  The presentation will also discuss a number of private and government sources of data on higher education for researchers looking to examine the sector on a local or statewide level.


The 2020 Census: A New Design for the 21st Century

Sarah Konya

Mathematical Statistician, U.S. Census Bureau


The U.S. Census Bureau is researching modern and cost-efficient methods for the population to exercise its civic obligation to be counted in the 2020 Census. Whether through the Internet, telephone or traditional paper questionnaires, the Census Bureau is committed to making the mandatory once-a-decade headcount quick, easy and safe for all to participate. This presentation will provide an overview of our current plans for the 2020 Census and where we are headed in the next few years.

Utilization of Statewide Data for Pennsylvania's Recycling Industry

Wayne Bowen

Project Manager, Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (RMC)

JoAnne M. Yurcaba, Solid Waste Program Analyst

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection


This session provides examples of how data is collected and used by the PA Recycling Markets Center to expand and improve recycling-related economic development activity in Pennsylvania. The session will include an overview of the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) ReTRAC Database project.

Sessions

KEYONTE ADDRESS
Revving up the Higher Education Engine with Decision Analytics

Sue Mukherjee, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Educational Intelligence, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

 

In response to the changing higher education landscape, Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education has been undergoing a transformation around its business intelligence environment. The goal has been to leverage and optimize the use of educational intelligence in a way that supports the System’s strategic priorities of student success, academic relevance, and alignment to Pennsylvania’s workforce needs. To accomplish this forward thinking strategy, the State System has been looking at ways to more easily access the wealth of data collected (internal and external) and transform it into valuable information via decision-analytics. A good example of use of such intelligence with a goal of 'Revving up the Higher Education Engine' is the State System’s Program Alignment Toolkit. The System's Program Alignment Toolkit is an infrastructure of resources developed to help State System's 14 universities individually and collectively connect better with the state’s economy. This presentation will highlight this System-strategy and its value proposition – the business case for investing in this strategy. It will also provide an overview the System's Program Alignment Toolkit demonstrating the critical need for higher education to leverage regional workforce intelligence so stakeholders can make informed decisions.

 

* Educational intelligence is defined as the ability to leverage data at multiple points across the student life-cycle and from the external labor market. 


PLENARY ADDRESS

Police legitimacy crisis? Results from the 2015 Penn State Omnibus Poll

Jennifer C. Gibbs, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Penn State Harrisburg

 

Legitimacy is a debated term, with scholars defining legitimacy as voluntary acceptance of government authority without protest, trust, confidence and more.  Despite little consensus on how to define legitimacy, most agree it is important because legitimacy leads to many desired outcomes, including compliance with the law, cooperation with authorities, support for empowering authorities and less support for crime. 

 

Given recent police-public tensions, media commentators, academics, politicians and citizens have been discussing police legitimacy – rather, the loss of police legitimacy.  But, how do citizens understand this discussion?  What do people mean when they use the term “legitimacy”?  And, how do citizens’ definitions of legitimacy connect to their attitudes toward their police?

 

Utilizing Data to Assist in Organizational Change

Michele Hiester

Research and Evaluation Manager, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole

 

When implementing organizational change, inviting staff participation is a key component for a successful transformation. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP) has been transitioning the way they do business over the years, specifically relating to their approach to supervising parolees.  The PBPP Research Office began a longitudinal study to identify changes in staff perceptions regarding supervision practices to identify areas of improvement and issues staff perceive as obstacles.  The intent of this survey is to measure the change in staff perceptions over the years.  This session will focus on the planning and development of this study and how decision makers can utilize the results to further advance the intended transition.

 

The Impact of Demographics on General Fund Revenues and Expenditures

Mark Ryan

Director, Independent Fiscal Office

 

This session examines the impact of demographic trends on historical General Fund revenues and expenditures. The session also looks forward over the next five to ten years to assess how demographic trends will impact future General Fund revenues and expenditures.

 

The 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program

Colleen Joyce

Assistant Chief - Redistricting & Voting Rights Data Office, U.S. Census Bureau

 

The session will provide an overview of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program, focusing on how the program has evolved over time, the Census Bureau's plans for 2020, and the Census Bureau's obligations under Public Law 94-171.  The five-phases of the program, which cover small area geographic updates and data deliveries, with be discussed.

 

Transfer of Wealth in Pennsylvania

Jonathan Johnson,

Senior Policy Analyst, The Center for Rural Pennsylvania

 

In Pennsylvania, the researchers estimate the 2015 household current net worth to be $3.1 trillion. In the coming decade, the researchers estimate that $310 billion will transfer from one generation to another: about $67 billion of which will be transferred in rural counties and about $242 billion in urban counties.  This presentation will provide insight on this forthcoming wealth transfer by looking at 10-Year and 50-Year Transfer of Wealth scenarios.

 

Analyzing the Regional Business Landscape using Census Business Builder

Andrew W. Hait

Economic Data Product & Data User Liaison, U.S. Census Bureau

 

The Census Business Builder Tool offers business owners a way to easily navigate to and use key demographic and economic data to help guide their research into opening a new or expanding their existing businesses. These key data include the most recent and/or relevant data that the Census Bureau provides that are useful to business owners. Some key features discussed in the presentation include: Easy-to-use menus to select your type of business and potential business location, an interactive map that allows selection of the area to explore for business opportunities, dynamically generated, and downloadable and printable business county and city-level reports.

 

Local Employment Dynamics: Getting in Touch with Your Local Workforce from a National Point of View
Earlene K.P. Dowell

Outreach/Education Specialist, U.S. Census Bureau

 

This workshop is designed for businesses, local planners and other data users who want to research local workforce and employment trends. The course content will include training on navigating the Local Employment Dynamics website and explore LED products including: QWI Explorer, the LED Extraction Tool, OntheMap, and OnTheMap for Emergency Management. The training provides users access to a wealth of time series data pertinent to understanding the local labor market, planning, managing and thriving in a competitive business environment.

Let Data be Your Guide: Designing Effective Research Methods

Coren Jagnow

Research and Education Division Chief, Human Dimensions Specialist

 

The creation of the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS) for managing hunting and fishing license sales presented a unique opportunity to learn more about Pennsylvania's hunting and fishing population.  The information obtained about hunters' license buying habits led to a variety of new research questions about hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation.  This session will explore some of the different research methods used to most effectively study hunters' license buying habits, including questionnaires, focus groups, and dashboards. 

An Introduction to Data Preparation

Timothy Servinsky, Jr.

Project Manager, Center for Survey Research, Penn State Harrisburg

 

This session will introduce considerations in preparing data for analysis. Topics covered will include how to identify problems with collected data and approaches to re-coding data for analysis.


A New Look at Data on Higher Education in Pennsylvania

Ron Uroda

Vice President for Research, Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Pennsylvania

 

Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation in terms of the number of higher education institutions located in the state.  The higher education sector provides jobs for over 100,000 workers and contributes billions of dollars each year to the state’s economy.  This session will provide a fast-paced overview of higher education in Pennsylvania on topics ranging from enrollment to endowments to student migration.  The presentation will also discuss a number of private and government sources of data on higher education for researchers looking to examine the sector on a local or statewide level.


The 2020 Census: A New Design for the 21st Century

Sarah Konya

Mathematical Statistician, U.S. Census Bureau


The U.S. Census Bureau is researching modern and cost-efficient methods for the population to exercise its civic obligation to be counted in the 2020 Census. Whether through the Internet, telephone or traditional paper questionnaires, the Census Bureau is committed to making the mandatory once-a-decade headcount quick, easy and safe for all to participate. This presentation will provide an overview of our current plans for the 2020 Census and where we are headed in the next few years.

Utilization of Statewide Data for Pennsylvania's Recycling Industry

Wayne Bowen

Project Manager, Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center (RMC)

JoAnne M. Yurcaba, Solid Waste Program Analyst

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection


This session provides examples of how data is collected and used by the PA Recycling Markets Center to expand and improve recycling-related economic development activity in Pennsylvania. The session will include an overview of the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) ReTRAC Database project.

777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057-4898
E-mail: PaSDC@psu.edu
Voice: (717) 948-6336 • FAX: (717) 948-6754

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