A new vision for institutional research is urgently needed if colleges and universities are to achieve their institutional missions, goals, and purposes. The authors advocate for a move away from the traditional service model of institutional research to an institutional research function via a federated network model or matrix network model. When capacity is gained by having many hands involved, new opportunities are possible. A broader range of decision makers are supported by the institutional research function, and a student-focused paradigm emerges without degrading required reporting and basic management support. To this end, the Association for Institutional Research, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, created a "Statement of Aspirational Practice for Institutional Research". This statement focuses on student success as a core element of an effective decision-support system of management. The "Statement of Aspirational Practice for Institutional Research" makes student success a core element of an effective decision-support system of management. The authors encourage readers to re-enact the pilot testing of the Statement of Aspirational Practice for Institutional Research in their own institutions, districts, or systems.