The main purpose of the Office of Institutional Research is to serve Auburn University's senior academic and administrative officers by providing an effective framework of information and analysis to support planning, performance, evaluation, and improvement. We serve as the official source of factual, research-based information about Auburn University's students, faculty, and staff; its programs, resources, and outcomes; and its performance. By bringing together information Auburn University, its peer institutions, and its external environment, we support sound planning and evaluation across the University. Whenever possible, we assist other campus units with their own processes of analysis, planning, and evaluation.

In addition to our main purpose, we also answer requests for information about Auburn University from state and federal agencies, accrediting bodies, college guides, and the general public. We maintain a wide variety of continuing databases to support longitudinal studies and statistical analysis. And we collaborate with other offices to insure the integrity and usability of the University's information systems.