There have been significant updates to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD 15), which establishes federal standards for collecting and reporting race and ethnicity data. These revisions will directly impact how institutions like yours collect and report data, particularly for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
Join Our Webinar:
To support you further, we will host a webinar on February 12th at 11am. This session will provide a detailed discussion of the updated SPD 15 standards, the implications for IPEDS reporting, and practical steps your institution can take to prepare. Details on how to join the webinar will be shared soon. At this time we have not been told how exactly the IPEDS collections will change, however, we do want to provide an opportunity to make sure everyone is aware of how data should be collected moving forward and where NCES is in the process of making collection decisions.
In the meantime, we want to share what we know.
Key Updates to SPD 15:
- Combined Race and Ethnicity Question: The traditional two-question format will be replaced with a single combined question that allows respondents to select multiple identities. The language we must use to collect this information has also changed from “select one or more” to “select all that apply.”
- New Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) Category: A distinct minimum reporting category for individuals identifying as Middle Eastern or North African has been added, separate from the previous "White" category.
- Requirement for Detailed Data Collection: Agencies are now expected to collect more detailed race and ethnicity information beyond the minimum categories unless an exemption is obtained from OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).
- Updated Terminology and Definitions: The standards now include revised and consistent terminology for racial and ethnic categories.
- Federal Compliance Timeline: Federal agencies must update all data collections by March 28, 2029. Please note this is the deadline by which the federal agency has to be compliant – meaning IPEDS will collect this data sooner. NCES is currently planning for full implementation of updated race and ethnicity data for the 2027-28 collection year.
What This Means for Your Institution:
While the compliance deadline applies to federal agencies, surveys like IPEDS will adopt these changes earlier. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) will provide further guidance on when IPEDS data collection will reflect the revised standards. Institutions should plan to report new categories no later than the 2027-28 collection year.
To prepare, institutions should begin internal discussions about what adjustments will be needed to collect and report the updated race and ethnicity data. These conversations should address how campus data collection processes—both at the point of data entry and in institutional systems—will need to change to comply with future IPEDS requirements.
For more information on these updates, you may refer to the following resources:
Additionally, we have attached a summary of the Technical Review Panel (TRP) hosted by NCES, which discusses the topic and includes recommendations for updating the IPEDS collection. This document provides valuable insights and suggestions to guide your institution’s preparations.
Next Steps:
- Review Current Practices: Assess your current processes for collecting and reporting race and ethnicity data to identify gaps and areas for revision.
- Engage Stakeholders: Collaborate with your institutional research, IT, and admissions teams to plan updates to your systems and workflows.
- Monitor Guidance from NCES: Stay informed about updates from NCES regarding timelines for implementing these changes in IPEDS reporting.
We understand that adapting to these changes may present challenges, and we are here to assist you throughout the process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.