FAQ

NSWERS is a comprehensive, sustainable, and robust lifelong learning and workforce longitudinal data system serving the needs of the people of Nebraska.

It is pronounced, “en-sirs.”

NSWERS is a system that securely collects data for the purposes of analysis and research to improve education and workforce outcomes in Nebraska.

NSWERS complies with all state, federal, local, and organizational laws and regulations regarding privacy and confidentiality of education, workforce, and other data. In addition, NSWERS is transparent in its research development process, governance, and data reporting.

Yes, NSWERS develops and implements source data quality processes, including partner and affiliate verification, validation, and certification of data.

Partner agencies include the six Nebraska Community Colleges, the Nebraska Department of Education, the Nebraska State College System, and the University of Nebraska System. The Nebraska Department of Labor serves as an affiliate agency.

Thanks to generous financial support from Nebraska’s leading philanthropies – as well as from the NSWERS’ partner organizations themselves – financial commitments have been secured for the first four years of NSWERS operations. NSWERS and her partner institutions, organizations, and agencies will further recommend and request an annual state appropriation.

NSWERS targets resources and focuses data analysis on assessing education, workforce development, and employment success in order to enable the training of tomorrow’s workforce. In most cases, the analyses provided by NSWERS signifies the first-time partners, affiliates, policymakers, and citizens are being presented with in-depth data by which they can make informed decisions that support pathways of learning and earning for the people of Nebraska.

NSWERS provides answers to help make better decisions in six stages of analysis.

• Explore: examine what is known and the feasibility of additional research.
• Describe: illustrate the characteristics of a population, situation, or phenomenon.
• Explain: detail the reasons for a phenomenon occurring.
• Predict: identify expected outcomes, consequences, costs, or effects.
• Forecast: project expected outcomes into the future.
• Simulate: model real-world situations to show the effect of changing conditions.

NSWERS integrates and organizes data to help make better decisions through the following:

• Integrating PK-12 education, Nebraska Community College, Nebraska State College System, University of Nebraska System, and labor and workforce data systems into a comprehensive NSWERS Data Mart while concurrently facilitating collection, storage, and dissemination of data in a secure and seamless manner.
• Increasing the efficiency, accuracy, and organization of data among PK-12, postsecondary, and the workforce in order to support pathways of learning and earning for the people of Nebraska.
• Modernizing vital data source systems to enable more timely access to data for analysis.
• Automating the process for gaining access to student and employee data by researchers.
• Improving the quality of data maintained and provided by NSWERS partners with upstream edits and downstream analytics.

NSWERS is committed to providing sustainable insights to partners and affiliates that help inform decision making. Insights are based on NSWERS Eight Information Agenda Outcomes:

Any individual may request data through the NSWERS data request form found on NSWERS website at: https://nswers.org/insights/data-request/. The NSWERS Research Review Committee reviews all data requests and determines the outcome of such requests.