Integrated Planning and Advising Services

EDUCAUSE LEARNING INITIATIVE | JUNE 2015

Integrated planning and advising services (IPAS) is an integrative approach to student success that promotes shared ownership for educational progress among students, faculty, and staff. It encompasses services that help students formulate and advance toward educational goals, including advising, counseling, progress tracking, and academic early alerts. IPAS technologies can contribute in many ways, such as by documenting and tracking students’ educational plans, improving data analysis, offering self-service resources that reduce advisor workloads, and triggering interventions based on student behavior or faculty input.

Integrated Planning and Advising Services Research Hub (2014)

This research hub from the EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and Research includes reports, an infographic, a survey, data tables, and other IPAS resources. The reports include a baseline study of IPAS efforts, investigations into integration and implementation issues, and a discussion of assessment and evaluation of IPAS projects.

Implementation and User Adoption of Integrated Planning and Advising Services (2014)

This web page from the Community College Resource Center features publications concerning the implementation of IPAS programs and evidence of the outcomes of those programs, with an emphasis on the role IPAS can play in community colleges.

IPAS Infographic (2014)

This infographic highlights the main findings from the ECAR benchmarking study of IPAS technologies, including the context for IPAS initiatives, the kinds of functions that are included in those efforts, and projections for anticipated expansion of such measures.

Managing Data Risk in Student Success Systems (2014)

This report outlines the issues discussed at an IPAS summit held by EDUCAUSE. Participants in the summit took a high-level approach to understanding the background for IPAS systems, strategic opportunities, risks, data sources, and requirements.

Making the Most of Advising and Planning Technologies (2014)

This commentary frames the considerations that should go into an IPAS initiative. The author contends that along with the technical issues of IPAS implementation, institutions must also understand the dynamics of technology adoption and how to support it.

Data-Analysis Programs That Help Retain Students Are Gaining Traction at Colleges (2014)

This article profiles a range of initiatives that focus on early alerts, predictive analytics, degree planning, and other factors of IPAS programs. It also discusses concerns of such systems, including privacy, data quality, and student reluctance.

Improving Student Outcomes through Integrated Planning and Advising Services (2013)

This slide presentation takes a broad look at the IPAS movement, how it aims to get more students through to graduation, and some of the particular tools that are being put to use in these initiatives.

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