HigherEd.org, Inc. - Common Dataset Exchange (CDSX) Documentation page

Common Data Set eXchange

The CDSX is no longer accepting registrations and will not be continued after 2004-05.

The Plus Tools are available to registered users at a fee of $50.00 per year. These tools allow users to create HTML and PDF versions of their CDS data, which are stored online in a website that is provided to each institution. Entire sections of data are also available for download in CSV format. To find out more information, click here.

Since the early 1990s, four major publishers (the College Board, Peterson's, U.S. News & World Report, and Wintergreen/Orchard House) have collaborated with the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) and the institutional research community in the Common Data Set (CDS) initiative. This effort has culminated in a well-defined set of standard data items and has improved the quality and accuracy of data collection by the publishers. Today, the CDS instrument also has the potential to serve the needs of institutions for collecting comparative data.

Many institutional researchers are encouraging the development of a consortium for exchanging CDS data. In response to this demand, John Milam and HigherEd.org, Inc. have decided to establish and host the Common Data Set Exchange (CDSX) for CDS data sharing among colleges and universities.

This effort is based primarily on two sources. First, a task force of the Higher Education Data Policy Committee (HEDPC) of AIR, chaired by Mary Sapp, has been involved since 2001 in discussions about a possible online CDS. Second, the technical expertise for the online data exchange is based on the previous work by John Milam and Tod Massa in an NCES funded pilot study, the Voluntary Institutional On-Line Information Network. (See VIOLIN report).

The purpose of the Common Data Set Exchange is two-fold: (1) to facilitate online exchanges of CDS data; and (2) to provide useful and timely peer analyses for its members. The primary objectives are to:

Collect and edit CDS data;
Provide an online reporting tool for downloading the CDS data; and
Compile early-release data on Academic Year 2005-06 tuition and fees, which are part of the 2004-05 CDS but may not be available until now

The CDSX is now accepting 2004-05 CDS data. Go to the documentation page to review the data submission section regarding methods for uploading data.

In the future, the CDSX will expand its capability for comparative data exchange and analysis. To achieve this goal, CDSX plans to develop peer comparisons using the full range of CDS data items, to produce trend analyses, to add data elements required by its members, to apply CDS as a context for analyzing other IPEDS data, and to prepare other analytical reports of high interest to members.

HigherEd.org is prepared to meet these challenges because of its history with the VIOLIN project, the NPEC ANSWERS website and its contract work with NCES for the Dataset Cutting Tool and the Executive Peer Tool for the IPEDS Peer Analysis System. In addition, the project will be guided by a dedicated group of IR professionals who have agreed to serve on the CDSX Steering Committee.

HigherEd.org, Inc. is pleased to partner with The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (CFAT) in the Common Data Set Exchange. With the permission of participating institutions, selected CDSX data may be used as part of the 2005 Carnegie Classification.

For additional information about this initiative, review the CDSX Documentation and Terms of Agreement. A Tutorial is provided as part of the documentation. Questions and ideas about the CDSX should be directed either to the CDSX project staff or to the CDSX Steering Committee.