PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING PEER AND ASPIRATION INSTITUTIONS

1. Four types of comparison groups (Competitor, Aspiration, Predetermined, and Peer) were studied in terms of their usefulness for Strategic Planning purposes at Baker. It was decided that the development of both a Peer Group and an Aspiration Group would be most useful.
2. Several methodologies for selecting institutions for inclusion in each of these groups were considered. A “Threshold” approach was chosen wherein a combination of both objective and subjective selection criteria are employed. At the initial level, selection decisions are based on systematic data-driven criteria. Final decisions are based on administrative input based largely on informed judgments.
3. In order to accomplish the systematic phase of the process, important selection criteria were identified for each the peer and aspiration lists. Two services were consulted (NCHEMS and the NCES Peer Analysis System) in generating the initial two lists. The criteria values were adjusted as necessary in order to generate a peer list and an aspiration list, each consisting of 15-30 institutions.
4. In consultation with the University president, the Academic Dean’s Advisory Council pared each list to 11 institutions using judgments based on first-hand knowledge of the institutions in the peer and aspiration pools, as well as a variety of factors not included among the initial sort criteria.