* * * * * * * * * * * * * The Electronic AIR * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Electronic Newsletter * * of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) * * Serving Institutional Research Professionals * * and Those Engaged in Mgt. Research, Policy Analysis & Planning * * * * November 4, 1996. . . . . . . . . . .Volume 16, Number 15 * * Part A * * Editor - Larry Nelson, Pacific Lutheran University * * * * Subscription Mgt. - Rob Thomas, AIR Office * * Jobs Editing - Jacque Frost, Purdue University * * * * Features Editing - Darrell Gelenn, WV System Office * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Current Subscribers = 2421 * * Next Issue Target Publication Date: November 18, 1996 * * Next Issue Copy Deadline: November 15, 1996 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Table of Contents * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * THE CHANGING SCENE * * AIR NEWS - NCES/NSF Database Institute Update * * NEWS - Student Debt Continues to Rise in US & Canada * * NEWS - AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship Applicants Needed * * NEWS - Fellowships for Doctoral Students in Educational Research * * NEWS - Math and Science Scores Show Slight Rise * * NEWS - AERA Exemplary Research Award Nominations Now Open * * NEWS - Common Data Set (for Survey Responses) Completed & On-Line * * NEWS - 11th Annual INAIR Conference * * NEWS - A Report from the SAIR Conference * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - Economic Indicators by E-Mail * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - New AERA Home Page * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - Intro. to ERIC On-Line System * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * THE CHANGING SCENE * * "A way to keep up with news about our colleagues." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This portion of the newsletter is devoted to keeping you informed about changes such as readers who relocate to new positions and/or institutions, professional recognition awards and honors, retirements, deaths, newly hired colleagues, promotions, etc. If you become aware of a change on your campus or elsewhere which should be mentioned in "The Changing Scene," please send me a note at with the key facts. Keep it brief, but include the information you think others would like to know. LAURIE MAYER recently left her institutional research position at Seattle University to accept a position as a senior analyst with University of Alaska's Statewide Institutional Research. Laurie reports record low temperatures of -20F already. Stay warm, and good luck, Laurie! JOSEPH MORREALE, Chair of the Department of Public Administration, of Pace University has been appointed to fill the newly created position at Pace University of Vice Provost for Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research. Best wishes, Joseph! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AIR NEWS - NCES/NSF Database Institute Update * * Ann Macmillan, AIR Central Office * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The NCES/NSF Database Institute, a new activity of the AIR Improving Institutional Research in Postsecondary Educational Institutions grant and scholarship program, is being revised to better serve our members who feel the need to improve their knowledge of the national data sets housed at NCES and NSF. Changes to the original plans include: * a five-day time frame, June 22-27, 1997 (first and last will be half-days) * approximately 24 participants * this year's Institute will focus on the NCES data sets Proposals to attend this charter Institute are due January 15, 1997. Participation in the Institute is based on a competitive proposal process. Proposals should be a maximum of seven pages, including a brief curriculum vitae which includes any past experience with NCES and/or NSF databases as well as a brief description of: 1. The research issue(s) you plan to address during the institute and the kind of data you are looking for as well as the type(s) of analysis you will be conducting (i.e., frequencies, cross tabulations, regression, etc.); 2. How you will use the institute to improve your institutional research office; and 3. How the institute can increase your capacity to provide information to the decision makers at your institution. Guidelines are available at , or to receive a copy by mail, contact: Ann Macmillan, E-Mail: or telephone: (904) 644-2933. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - Student Debt Continues to Rise in US & Canada * * Reprinted From: Graduate Studies List * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From the October 7, 1996 issue of the Globe and Mail (Canada's national newspaper) comes the following: "Universities Ponder Rising Student-debt Loads" (p. A3) According to available data on nationwide student financial assistance in Canada, student debt levels in Canada are now close to, and soon will exceed, those of students at private U.S. four-year colleges. 60% of Canadian students borrow to finance their higher educations, and for these students, the average debt loads have risen from $8700 (Canadian dollars) in 1990 to $17,000 in 1996. Based on federal estimates, the average debt load of Canadian students could grow to $25,000 Canadian by 1998. Much of the rise in Canadian student debt loads in the 1990s stems from the fact that both provincial and federal governments have been eliminating grants from their student aid policies, forcing students to take out loans as the principal means for funding their education. Meanwhile, in spite of the rising costs of education, the median salaries of bachelor's degree recipients in Canada have remained steady at nearly $32,000. In the U.S., the average debt of students after four years at a private college or university was $14,500 (Canadian dollars) in 1990 but only rose to $14,700 three years later. As undergraduate debt levels continue to grow in the U.S. and Canada due to government cutbacks in public support, fewer individuals will be able to pursue a graduate education, and existing graduate students will face significant increases in their own debt burdens. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship Applicants Needed * * Reprinted From: AERA Discussion List * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Recognizing the limited number of educational researchers from underrepresented groups, AERA has initiated a fellowship program to assist in increasing that pool. The program will support two minority fellows each year. Eligibility: An applicant must (a) be a member of one of the groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education in the United States, for example: African American, Native American, Alaskan native (Eskimo or Aleut), Native Pacific Islander, Filipino American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican; (b) be an enrolled doctoral student in an accredited university of the United States, have successfully completed most course requirements, and have an accepted PhD/EdD dissertation proposal; (c) be committed to working full-time on the dissertation; and (d) be interested in a career in higher education/educational research. Awards: The program will support two minority fellows each year. The awards will be for $10,000 per year and are designed to assist in the final two years of the doctoral program. Support funds are not intended to be used for payment of tuition. Deadline: Application materials must be received by February 20, 1997. Awards will be announced in May 1997. Contact: AERA Minority Fellowships 1230 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-3078 Phone: (202) 223-9485 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - Fellowships for Doctoral Students in Educational Research * * Reprinted From: AERA Discussion List * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AERA/Spencer Fellowships The American Educational Research Association, in partnership with the Spencer Foundation, invites doctoral students in educational research to apply for a 1-year fellowship of up to $16,000. The fellowship carries with it additional funds for travel and a program of support and training to become a first-rate researcher. Now in its 3rd year, the AERA/Spencer Foundation Fellowship provides support for promising graduate students in educational research. The fellowship will also provide a program of educational experiences designed to help new researchers become contributing members of the community. Doctoral students midway through their degree program are urged to apply. The fellowship program targets full-time graduate students who are approximately midway through their doctoral programs, generally in their 2nd year of a full-time program, but who have not begun work on their dissertations. Fellows will be provided with unique access to the community of educational researchers and with a mentoring and cohort network beyond those available to them at their institutions. Applications are sought for two fellowship programs; each will make awards effective at the beginning of the 1997-1998 academic year. The AERA/Spencer 1-year Fellowship Program will make awards of up to $16,000, plus travel funds for professional development activities. Fellows will have, in addition to financial support, opportunities to participate in a number of activities designed to complement and extend the education and training they receive at their home institutions. Such experiences will be designed to facilitate the entry and socialization of new researchers into the field. Benefits include a national mentor; winter and summer research institutes with a distinguished national faculty; special activities at the AERA Annual Meeting; opportunities to attend the professional meetings of other disciplines; and access to an electronic network linking fellows, mentors, and AERA staff. Spencer Foundation funds will support up to 12 Fellowships for the 1997-1998 academic year. The AERA/Spencer Travel Fellowships of $3,500 are designed for students who receive financial support at their home institution, but who wish to take part in the professional enhancement activities of the fellowship program described above. The 1-year Travel Fellowships do not provide monthly stipends. Spencer Foundation funds will support as many as 12 travel fellowships for 1997-1998. Students at institutions that receive research training grants directly from the Spencer Foundation are not eligible, but should inquire at their institutions about support. Deadline for receipt of applications is April 8, 1997. Applicants will be notified early August 1997. Application forms for the two programs are available by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: AERA, Spencer Fellowship, 1230 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Faculty members are urged to encourage their advisees to apply. Applications from persons in traditionally underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - Math and Science Scores Show Slight Rise * * Reprinted From: Daily Report Card * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * American students are scoring at slightly higher levels in math and science, but reading and writing scores have remained virtually the same over the past decade, according to the latest report by the National Assessment Governing Board and the DoEd (multi cites). "This trend report suggests that mediocrity is still common in our schools and excellence is still rare," said Michael Guerra, executive director of the National Catholic Education Association. The "Nation's Report Card" was released early this year, after allegations by several sources including the Bob Dole presidential campaign, that it was being withheld. Pascal Forgione, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said the report was not delayed for political reasons, "but simply fell behind other priorities at the center and has not been finalized," writes the Houston Chronicle (Riechmann, 10/12). A national representative sample of students ages 9, 13, and 17 were tested in writing, science, math and reading. Findings from the report include: after declining during the 1970s, science test scores for all age groups have improved since then; math scores remained stable during the 1980s and now are rising slightly; reading scores have changed only slightly since the early 1970s; and writing skills of fourth-grade students have been stable since 1984, while the average score for 11th graders has declined slightly and the average score for eighth-graders has dropped significantly between 1992 and 1994. Fiorgione said the full report will be available 30 November. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - AERA Exemplary Research Award Nominations Now Open * * Jennifer Haworth, Loyola University * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Call for Nominations for AERA-Division J Research Award The AERA-Division J Exemplary Research Award is presented to an individual whose published research has made an outstanding contribution to knowledge and understanding in the field of higher education. The Award is presented at the AERA meeting in the spring. Previous recipients from 1993 to 1996 are Ken Feldman, Walter Allen, Michael Olivas, James Hearn, and Helen Astin. This year's Awards Committee consists of John Braxton, Jennifer Grant Haworth, Jim Hearn, and Ann Austin (chairperson). Please consider colleagues whom you would like to nominate for this award and send a brief letter or e-mail communication to Ann Austin (AAUSTIN@msu.edu or 417 Erickson Hall, Michihan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824). Nominations need only consist of a brief letter or e-mail communication; the Awards Committee will seek additional information as needed. The Awards Committee invites you to take a moment to consider colleagues who should receive this honor and to forward your nomination to the committee. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - Common Data Set (for Survey Responses) Completed & On-Line * * Reprinted From: Rankings Discussion List * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The items and definitions will be used on the surveys of College Board, Winter Green/Orchard House, U.S. News and Peterson's this fall. College Board is mailing a copy to college presidents encouraging institutions to adopt CDS definitions to improve data comparability. Questions or comments may be sent to College Board at: . The final Fall 96 version of the CDS is available at: http://www.collegeboard.org/gp/html/commondataset.html Lynn McCloskey Washington University in St. Louis E-Mail: - - - - - The Common Data Set is also available on Peterson's Education Center at: http://www.petersons.com In addition, we have established a Discussion Board at our site to facilitate discussion among survey respondents regarding the Common Data Set. The URL to get to the CDS and the Discussion Board is http://www.petersons.com/ugsurvey/. Comments can be shared via the Discussion Board, and E-mail can be sent directly to Peterson's at . Kimberly Hoeritz Director of Higher Education Research Peterson's * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - 11th Annual INAIR Conference * * Jack Letarte, Taylor University * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The 11th Annual INAIR Conference will take place at the Seasons Lodge in Nashville, Indiana on March 20-21, 1997. The conference theme will be Student Learning and Institutional Research: IR goes to Class, and the keynote speaker will be Dr. Thomas Angelo. For further information, contact: Jack Letarte, Taylor University, Upland, Indiana, 317-998-5153, or e-mail at . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - A Report from the SAIR Conference * * Darrell Glenn, WV State Coll/Univ. Systems * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I had the pleasure of attending the 1996 Southern Association for Institutional Research conference in Mobile, Alabama October 12-15. This was my second SAIR conference, and from two observations (do you really need more than that?) I conclude that this group knows how to throw a special event. This year, Al Yeager of the University of Southern Alabama arranged a great one. We toured the battleship U.S.S. Alabama and ate a seafood dinner catered by Rousso's, a premier Mobile restaurant. We had free run of the battleship for over two hours, in which we lost ourselves in thoughts of the Pacific Ocean in World War II. A lot of us got physically lost in the bowels of the ship. Once you got in, getting out was your own business. No tour guides! I hope nobody is still in there. When we emerged, we went to a nearby aircraft hangar for a dinner of fried catfish, raw oysters, fried oysters, fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, and fixings. Dinner was followed by music and dancing. Some of these SAIR folks must live stressful lives at the office, because they tend to cut loose at these special events. I hadn't seen such uninhibited displays of footwork since SAIR '95 in Roanoke, Virginia. A special feature of the evening was the vocals supplied by the more musically talented SAIR members. I can't wait for SAIR '97 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. As was noted by the Hot Springs Local Arrangements Chair at the business meeting, there is no battleship in Arkansas, but I know that they will come up with a special events winner, too. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - Economic Indicators by E-Mail * * Reprinted From: NEW-LIST * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Economics By E-Mail is a free, weekly list of about 25 important economic statistics and indicators of the U.S. economy. It is used by investors, professionals, researchers, managers, professors, students, executives and business owners. There is also a weekly quiz with each week's list. To subscribe, fill out the form at http://www.dezines.com/web/econ Persons without access to a graphical web browser may subscribe by sending an e-mail message to . Listowner: Braden Albert * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - New AERA Home Page * * Reprinted From: AERA Discussion List * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The American Educational Research Association has a newly designed home page with new information. The address is: http://www.ed.asu.edu/aera/ Among the new features is a News & Job Ads page and a Points of Contact page where educational researchers may register their names and e-mail addresses in a searchable database. Web surfers will also find information about the Annual Meeting, Publications, Special Interest Groups, Membership, the AERA Divisions, and links to resources on the World Wide Web for educational researchers. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - Intro. to ERIC On-Line System * * Reprinted From: Graduate Studies Discussion Forum * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This week's NET TIPS feature is a brief introduction to the ERIC on-line research system. Bobbi (Kerlin) and I (Scott Kerlin) have developed a broad collection of Educational Research resources on our home pages, including references to a number of sites for ERIC: The Educational Resources Information Clearinghouse operated by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are able to visit either of our websites, you will find sections under our main menus devoted to "Educational Research References". If you go to these sections, you will find a number of ERIC resources for conducting searches of Educational literature (published journal articles, scholarly papers, and sometimes text books) that has been reviewed and catalogued by one of the many ERIC information clearinghouses. In working with students in off-campus locations who have limited access to on-campus journals and books, we have found the ERIC websites to be indispensable for assisting with the research process, particularly at the stages of literature review, topic selection, analysis of the contents and scope of original sources, and just plain making sense of the huge archive of ERIC resources (currently in its 30th year). There are two particular sites on the web we'd like to recommend for the most effective on-line ERIC searches: (1) Website for the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS), which permits full retrieval of search results while other ERIC websites only produce partial information. Address: ERIC Document Reproduction Service http://edrs.com/cgi-bin/askERIC This website provides a multiple-item search resource, permitting searches based on Keywords (or descriptors), authors, journal titles, etc. (2) Telnet Instructions to the University of Saskatchewan Library: The instructions for telnetting to the U of Saskatchewan are displayed on both Bobbi's and my sites, and permit you to run searches for full retrievals of ERIC abstracts and other relevant information. Individuals who have access to telnetting features on their own computers but who are unable to utilize the web should write to one of us for a copy of the instructions via e-mail. The direct links to our Educational Research Pages are: Scott's Home (Page): http://bolt.lakeheadu.ca/~facedwww/Scott/home.html Scott's Library--Educational Research Room: http://bolt.lakeheadu.ca/~facedwww/Scott/edResearch.html Bobbi's Place: http://bolt.lakeheadu.ca/~facedwww/Kerlin/home.html Bobbi's Educational Research Resources: http://bolt.lakeheadu.ca/~facedwww/Kerlin/edResearch.html Under Bobbi's "Hot Sites of the Moment" at the entrance to her home page you will find details on how to order your own copies of ERIC resources on CD-ROM. Scott and Bobbi Kerlin E-Mail: - - - - - - - - - This newsletter is continued in Part B, sent separately. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * If you wish to subscribe, change your e-mail address, or request a * * subscription for someone else, send it to Rob Thomas, AIR Exec- * * utive Office, (Florida State University). * * If you have AIR news, send it to Larry Nelson, Editor, at: * * (Pacific Lutheran University). * * (Please limit submissions to 72 characters or fewer per line and * * use mixed case, NOT ALL CAPS--NO NEED TO SHOUT.) * * If you have news for the SCUP electronic newsletter, send it to * * Terry Calhoun, SCUP Publ. Dir.,. * * For further information regarding individual or organizational * * membership in the Association for Institutional Research, contact * * Terrence Russell, Executive Director, AIR, 114 Stone Bldg., * * Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-3038; * * Telephone: (904) 644-4470 or on Internet: . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *