Program Highlights

Presidential Symposium
IR Leader

Sunday, May 31 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
As Institutional Researchers we often do not realize the importance of the role that we play as leaders. To be effective on our campuses IR professionals must be effective leaders. Yet it is unclear what defines effective leadership in the uncertain times that we are facing in higher education. These distinguished panelists have served not only as leaders of our Association, but also as leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Panelists will be asked to discuss their style and theory of leadership and how they believe that they effectively use their Institutional Research skills to lead. The session will end with an interactive discussion with the audience on effective leadership and what AIR can do to help IR professionals be prepared to fulfill leadership roles.

Panelists
Mary Ann Coughlin, Springfield College
James Trainer, Villanova University
John Muffo, John A. Muffo and Associates, Inc.
Fred Lillibridge, Dona Ana Community College
Randy Swing, Association for Institutional Research

Sunday Plenary Session
Comparative International Data on Higher Education:
New Challenges in a Shifting Landscape

Sunday, May 31 6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
It is no secret that traditional comparative international indicators of higher education are under stress, with their dissonances growing under the pressure of changing system organization and student behavior. How are the major national and transnational agencies responsible for education statistics responding, and when should we anticipate new definitions and configurations? How should IR officers interpret these developments for institutional and state policy-makers? This panel, with representatives of Eurostat, Statistics Canada, and NCES, should answer those questions—and many others.

Panelists
Clifford Adelman, Institute for Higher Education Policy
Francois Nault, Statistics Canada
Fernando Reis, Eurostat
Thomas Snyder, National Center for Education Statistics Presidential Symposium

Monday Plenary Session
World Class IR Through World Class IR Jobs:
What Can We Do To Reduce Job Turnover and Improve Employment Experiences?

Monday, June 1 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
According to a recent national survey, 22% of Institutional Research (IR) professionals plan to leave their institution, and 31% say that they may leave in the near future. Appropriate staffing is the key to effective institutional research, however, securing adequate funding can be difficult and hiring and training staff is often time-consuming. The investments in professional staffing are lost when practitioners leave. With new IR offices developing, existing offices expanding, long-time practitioners retiring, and demands on IR increasing, staffing issues (e.g., securing adequate funding, hiring, training and retaining staff and providing career development opportunities) will become serious. The question, then, is how can colleges and universities meet these challenges?

Panelists:
William Knight, Bowling Green State University
Christina Leimer, California State University Fresno
Julie Carpenter-Hubin, The Ohio State University
Mardy Eimers, University of Missouri
Cel Johnson, University of San Diego
Bob Kieran, Oregon University System
Mario Mazziotti, British Columbia Institute of Technology
Jeff Seybert, Johnson County Community College
Dawn Terkla, Tufts University