Data Analytics students after presenting their final projects for the Office of Institutional Research and the Squires Library. These hands-on collaborations offered students practical experience in data interpretation, predictive analytics, and professional reporting.
Data Analytics students after presenting their final projects for the Office of Institutional Research and the Squires Library. These hands-on collaborations offered students practical experience in data interpretation, predictive analytics, and professional reporting.
Data Analytics students after presenting their final projects for the Office of Institutional Research and the Squires Library. These hands-on collaborations offered students practical experience in data interpretation, predictive analytics, and professional reporting.
Students enrolled in the Introduction to Data Analytics course at Lee University are gaining hands-on experience with real-world data and industry tools, preparing them for the growing demand in data-driven careers. Led by Dr. Caroline Maher-Boulis, coordinator of the actuarial program at Lee, this course equips students with skills to clean, interpret, and analyze complex datasets using predictive analytics techniques.
"Our mission is to equip students with the skills necessary to thrive in data analytics careers,” said Dr. Maher-Boulis. “By fostering partnerships with local businesses and organizations, we aim to provide students with real-world experience that not only enhances their learning but also contributes valuable insights to our partners."
Throughout the semester, 11 students completed four major projects — three in collaboration with Lee’s Office of Institutional Research, led by Virginia Estes, and one supported by Julie Burchfield from Squires Library. These projects provided students the opportunity to apply their classroom learning to actual datasets and produce actionable insights.
The William G. Squires Library conducted an intensive audit of its space, collecting over 100 responses from an online survey to better understand students’ perceptions of the library’s physical space.
“Dr. Maher-Boulis’s students were such a great asset in helping our team analyze the large amount of research data that had been collected,” said Ms. Burchfield. “The students were excellent collaborators, making pertinent and insightful inquiries to help us find the answers to our research questions. The presentation and report they prepared were thorough and professional, exceeding my expectations.”
The data analytics course was designed to be practical and project-based, with an emphasis on developing the analytical skills needed in business, healthcare, education, and more. By working with live data from institutional sources, students practiced everything from data cleaning to generating predictive models and visualizations.
“At the beginning of the semester, Dr. Maher-Boulis asked if the Office of Institutional Research could provide data sets to be used for data analytics projects,” said Ms. Estes. “After providing the data, I was impressed with the thoughtful questions posed by the students as they prepared the data for analysis. Their final presentations and reports showed intuitiveness in terms of evaluating and analyzing the data.”
This innovative course is also part of a broader effort to focus on experiential learning. Lee’s Department of Mathematical Sciences is actively seeking partnerships with local businesses and organizations who may be interested in collaborating on future data projects. “We invite local businesses to collaborate with us on future data projects, creating a mutually beneficial environment for both students and industry professionals," said Dr. Maher-Boulis.
For businesses interested in partnering on future student projects, or prospective students looking to pursue a future in data analytics, please contact Dr. Maher-Boulis at cmaherboulis@leeuniversity.edu.