2008 Woodie Awards
Fact-seeking for the University is the name of his game
By: Gina Potthoff
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: Campus
The University is the fifth largest employer in Northwest Ohio. The most popular undergraduate major is "undecided." The average baccalaureate student graduates in four and a half years. To know all these facts and more, just ask Director of Institutional Research William Knight.
Surrounded by binders and folders, Knight, who's been with the University for almost 12 years, works 70 to 80 hours a week doing work most people know nothing about.
"Very few students here are aware we exist," he said.
Knight's job is to provide information to help the University make decisions effectively when dealing with scholarships, faculty salaries, faculty evaluations, campus programs and retention issues.
He sends out end of semester surveys to students via e-mail, answers phone and e-mail requests and even helps create changes in the University with the data collected.
The Orange and Brown $1,000 Scholarship was created in part because of the research done by Knight's office.
"I can see it's led to changes in the University helping students indirectly and directly," Knight said.
Knight and his fellow fact seekers can be found in the Office of Institutional Research building located on Wooster Street across from McFall Center. The University bought the brick rental house and renovated it for exactly this purpose.
When Knight came to the University in May 1996, the Office of Institutional Research had one staff member. Today the staff has grown to include four full-time and two part-time employees.
Senior Research Associate Conrad McRoberts has known Knight for almost nine years and said he is a caring, forward-thinking individual who realizes the load and pressure his workers are under.
Though Knight is his supervisor, McRoberts said he's never been happier with a boss.
"The image I have of him is very caring, bright, gets a lot of stuff done and can have a lot of fun," McRoberts said.
McRoberts also admires the fact Knight loves his work and is good at it.
Surrounded by binders and folders, Knight, who's been with the University for almost 12 years, works 70 to 80 hours a week doing work most people know nothing about.
"Very few students here are aware we exist," he said.
Knight's job is to provide information to help the University make decisions effectively when dealing with scholarships, faculty salaries, faculty evaluations, campus programs and retention issues.
He sends out end of semester surveys to students via e-mail, answers phone and e-mail requests and even helps create changes in the University with the data collected.
The Orange and Brown $1,000 Scholarship was created in part because of the research done by Knight's office.
"I can see it's led to changes in the University helping students indirectly and directly," Knight said.
Knight and his fellow fact seekers can be found in the Office of Institutional Research building located on Wooster Street across from McFall Center. The University bought the brick rental house and renovated it for exactly this purpose.
When Knight came to the University in May 1996, the Office of Institutional Research had one staff member. Today the staff has grown to include four full-time and two part-time employees.
Senior Research Associate Conrad McRoberts has known Knight for almost nine years and said he is a caring, forward-thinking individual who realizes the load and pressure his workers are under.
Though Knight is his supervisor, McRoberts said he's never been happier with a boss.
"The image I have of him is very caring, bright, gets a lot of stuff done and can have a lot of fun," McRoberts said.
McRoberts also admires the fact Knight loves his work and is good at it.
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