부산대학교 도서관

In recent years, the increasing cost of higher education has introduced a new level of scrutiny toward colleges and universities, including the concern of prospective students and their families about the return on investment (ROI) of a college education. California's Pepperdine University wants its students to be transformed, inside and out, to fulfill a greater purpose in the world through whatever life path they pursue. Pepperdine's practice of gathering and disaggregating data had always been central to its storytelling process. Amplifying its story through both data and narrative has empowered the school to demonstrate more fully its commitment to preparing students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Harnessing the power of storytelling can provide the missing pieces to telling a more complete story about the ROI of a college education. While the Pepperdine story showcases many of the opportunities unleashed through data and storytelling, every college campus is unique. Characteristics of another campus culture and values might inspire that college to highlight different findings in its data.