At UNLV, we thrive in a fast-paced environment where information is constantly exchanged. As a Carnegie R1 public research university, it is necessary to determine how this information is transformed into actionable insights to create a culture of continuous improvement and learning among faculty, staff, and students.

With Academic Analytics, a leading provider of academic business intelligence tools that tracks faculty research activity and assists in faculty development, university leaders can make strategically informed decisions to expand the availability of opportunities for faculty. 

UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield was a dedicated user of Academic Analytics during his time as provost at Wayne State University, using the platform to improve faculty research performance, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and advance the university’s research goals. He brings this experience to UNLV, where he aims to see Academic Analytics similarly drive data-informed decisions and further elevate the university’s research capacity.

“We have so much to look forward to as UNLV continues to elevate its capabilities in research, scholarship, and creative activity,” said Whitfield. “This tool will not only help us track and enhance faculty development, but it will also empower faculty to reach new heights in their scholarly pursuits by making data-driven decisions that benefit both our university and the broader community. It’s a significant step to reinforce our standing as a top tier research institution.”

The Academic Analytics toolkit targets four key areas, each complementing the others to advance institutional progress. Read on to learn more about the platform’s capabilities. 

Tools for Faculty

From connecting with collaborators to applying for grants and honorific awards, researchers have access to the Faculty Insight tool to boost their impact. 

Faculty Insight

For researchers, the Faculty Insight tool offered within the Academic Analytics platform encourages a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to find fresh perspectives that could lead to groundbreaking and impactful research, helping strengthen UNLV’s research enterprise. 

The platform helps faculty advance their research by connecting them with over 440,000 potential collaborators in 12,000 academic departments across the U.S. It also provides tools to search for public and private funding opportunities, as well as national and international awards.

David Hatchett, vice president for research, emphasizes that Academic Analytics enhances faculty's ability to identify and pursue research funding opportunities, particularly through team building.

“Team building is the number one benefit. Sometimes we are in our own little bubble, and we don't look outwards,” Hatchett said. “Academic Analytics gives faculty a tool to search other disciplines with researchers who are complementary or aligned with their work and can develop collaborations with them that otherwise would not have been possible.”

Tools for Administrators 

University leaders play a crucial role in advancing the university’s research mission, and with the Research Insight Tool and Benchmarking Suite, they can better support faculty in their research efforts. 

Research Insight

The Research Insight tool’s built-in features help administrators expand their network of experts for groundbreaking research, form interdisciplinary teams to enhance research impact and discover funding opportunities to drive projects forward. Additionally, the tool enables them to identify faculty for award nominations, supporting faculty recognition and retention.

“Academic Analytics is an effective tool for research impact that both research faculty and administrators can use. Along with other resources, UNLV can assess our research strengths through the implementation of the platform,” said Maggie Farrell, Dean of Libraries.

Benchmarking Suite

The Benchmarking Suite enables UNLV to strengthen its research culture by connecting with leading research universities across the country. The Benchmarking Suite pulls in metrics from a comprehensive database of 463 PhD-granting universities across the United States. 

“The suite offers valuable data points to highlight both strengths and areas for growth. It plays a key role in academic program reviews and supports recruitment committees in hiring outstanding faculty," said Gary Totten, the recently appointed vice provost for faculty affairs, whose team will facilitate the use of Academic Analytics across UNLV. "Our goal is to help academic units and faculty continuously improve and increase their impact.”

With the data provided by the Benchmarking Suite, UNLV can align its research strategies with those of top research institutions across the country. This tool enables administrators to identify emerging trends, measure progress against national standards, and inform strategic decisions that elevate the university’s research capabilities. By leveraging these insights, UNLV can better position itself for continued growth and innovation in research, while fostering an environment that supports faculty success and collaboration.

Tools for Everyone

The key purpose of the External Discovery Site is to amplify UNLV's research advancements, allowing faculty research to extend its reach beyond the university.

External Discovery Site

Securing funding is only one step in advancing research projects — gaining visibility with external audiences opens up additional opportunities. This includes highlighting UNLV’s research achievements and showcasing its broader impact on the academic community. 

The Academic Analytics External Discovery Site allows external faculty to search for research collaborators, prospective graduate students to identify potential mentors, and other stakeholders to explore UNLV’s research portfolio and faculty expertise. 

By enhancing access to university data, the External Discovery Site not only elevates UNLV’s research profile on a national scale but also strengthens connections with the wider academic community. Ultimately, it fosters a thriving research environment by facilitating collaboration, engagement, and knowledge sharing across institutions. 

The Future of Research Data

UNLV is aligning with top research universities nationwide in embracing a new era of data transparency to increase the impact and productivity of scholarly research. The incorporation of the powerful tools offered by Academic Analytics amplifies the groundbreaking research conducted at UNLV to continue transforming our communities. 

Upcoming Training Opportunities

UNLV will host representatives from Academic Analytics on campus from Sept. 17-19, 2024, offering faculty members the opportunity to explore the platform's full array of tools designed to support research, scholarship, and faculty development. These sessions will provide insights into how Academic Analytics can assist with faculty recognition, retention, and scholarly advancement.

John Tuman, executive associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, has previously attended Academic Analytics training and used the Benchmarking Suite to enhance the faculty development process.

“Academic Analytics can offer important data points on faculty achievements and departmental progress. The platform’s tools allow us to make informed decisions that support long-term faculty development and success. I encourage faculty to attend these training sessions to discover how the platform can be used to enhance their scholarly impact and create new opportunities for collaboration,” said Tuman.

For access to the tools, visit the UNLV Academic Analytics site.

For questions or more information on training opportunities, contact Gary Totten.