Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning

The fundamental purpose of the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment & Planning (IRAP) is twofold, directed toward fulfilling the stated missions of the University of North Carolina and of Appalachian State University:

• to provide data support for university planning and management activities; and,
• to provide leadership for comprehensive academic and administrative planning and assessment.

IRAP assumes primary responsibility for (a) collecting data about the performance of the university, (b) collecting data about the environment of the university, (c) analyzing, interpreting, and presenting the collected data, and (d) transforming the data into meaningful information that supports university planning, policy making, decision making, and assessment. Services of IRAP are available to university administrators, faculty, and students involved in planning and management activities as well as to persons and agencies outside the university. In fulfilling its mission, IRAP seeks to anticipate information needs, present information in accessible and useful ways, and provide prompt, accurate, and courteous service.