Press Releases

ResearchEd joins the Detroit Regional Chambers’ Detroit Regional Chambers’ Detroit Drives Degrees Data Collaborative to launch a new Community of Practice (CoP), bringing together 13 Detroit-area colleges and universities to strengthen data-informed decision-making for student success through shared learning, collaboration, and engagement with the Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP). 

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Facilitated by ResearchEd, the monthly Community of Practice will convene cross-functional teams of institutional researchers, IT staff, and other student success leaders both virtually and in person through November 2025. Together, they are building stronger data practices, sharing promising strategies, and cultivating relationships to deepen long-term collaboration across the region.

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“This initiative is about creating a culture of collaboration that helps every institution in the region better understand how they can support today’s students,” said Rachel Rush-Marlowe, Founder and Executive Director of ResearchEd. “By working together, colleges can use data not just to measure student outcomes, but to transform them.”

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Through the CoP, participating institutions are aligning their data systems to meet PDP requirements, and creating standardized definitions and processes that improve access to reliable information about student progress, transfer, and degree attainment. This consistency enables colleges to benchmark results, surface best practices, and direct resources toward the most effective student success strategies for their unique student populations.

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The project will culminate in a white paper highlighting the learnings and successes from Detroit-area institutions, providing practical examples of how data can drive student-centered change.

 

"The commitment of the Regional Talent Compact colleges and universities to collaboration and student success is remarkable,” said Meghan Schmidbauer, Senior Director of Detroit Drives Degrees at the Detroit Regional Chamber. “Through their active engagement in the Data Collaborative and this new Community of Practice, these institutions are advancing a data-informed culture that strengthens outcomes for students and builds a more connected, equitable higher education ecosystem across the region. Together, we’re building the foundation for lasting, system-level change that benefits every learner.”

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Priorities of the Detroit Drives Degrees Data Collaborative include: 

1. Utilizing data for strategic institutional decision-making to invest in the highest impact initiatives.

2. Understanding student pathways through credential and degree attainment, including transfer.

3. Establishing benchmarks to compare practices across institutions and surface promising practices. 

Together, this work lays the foundation for a more connected, data-informed approach to improving student outcomes across the Detroit Region.

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Participating Institutions

The 13 institutions collaborating through this Community of Practice are:

• Davenport University

• Eastern Michigan University

• Grand Valley State University

• Henry Ford College

• Jackson College

• Macomb Community College

• Monroe County Community College

• Oakland Community College

• Oakland University

• St. Clair County Community College

• University of Detroit Mercy

• University of Michigan – Dearborn

• Wayne State University

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About Detroit Drives Degrees
Detroit Drives Degrees is a Detroit Regional Chamber initiative working to increase the number of individuals in the Detroit Region with postsecondary credentials and degrees. By closing equity gaps and connecting students to meaningful opportunities, Detroit Drives Degrees helps build a stronger workforce and a more vibrant regional economy. 

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Click here for more information about this project and ResearchEd’s technical assistance services.

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Media Contact
Allie Bollella

Director of Communications
info@research-ed.org