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Data and Using AI for Analysis: What to Do and What to Keep in Mind
A practical guide for researchers and Institutional Research (IR) professionals navigating the AI-assisted analysis landscapeAs universities increasingly provide access to large language models (LLMs) for faculty, studen...Read Moreabout: Data and Using AI for Analysis: What to Do and What to Keep in Mind -
From Members to Leaders
Every year, Association for Institutional Research (AIR) members are encouraged to nominate themselves or a colleague for leadership opportunities. Yet many members hesitate—not because they lack the qualifications...Read Moreabout: From Members to Leaders -
Ready or Not, Start a Data Glossary
Counting students at an institution sounds simple—until you actually try to do it. That’s what I thought when I started my Institutional Research (IR) career. I quickly learned just how many ways a “stu...Read Moreabout: Ready or Not, Start a Data Glossary -
Get to Know Our Community: Arun Sharma
I work at the Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development as the Reporting and Systems Manager. I help our community make data-driven decisions including implementing new technological infrastructure a...Read Moreabout: Get to Know Our Community: Arun Sharma -
Holistic Census Reporting: A Data Strategy in Five Acts
The 2020s have been transformative for Institutional Research (IR). In previous decades, training an IR analyst to support the fall enrollment census alone may have covered 80% of the job. Today, term snapshots are no lo...Read Moreabout: Holistic Census Reporting: A Data Strategy in Five Acts -
Partnering for Impact: IR, Student Success, and Academic Advising
Introduction: Data as a practical guide for student supportHigher education institutions now have access to far more timely and actionable student data than even a decade ago. The challenge is no longer whether informati...Read Moreabout: Partnering for Impact: IR, Student Success, and Academic Advising -
From Frustrating to Useful: Getting Better Answers from AI
Have you tried using generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini, and been underwhelmed? You might have found the responses generic, hallucinatory, or unusable without significant rewriting. Did you know most la...Read Moreabout: From Frustrating to Useful: Getting Better Answers from AI -
Get to Know Our Community: Brandon Signorino
I am part of a team of five folks at Butler; each of us has certain areas we focus on. My primary areas of responsibility include internal employee data (both staff and faculty) along with any external reporting based on...Read Moreabout: Get to Know Our Community: Brandon Signorino -
Developing a Data Strategy for Your Institution: Steps for Best Practice
In today’s rapidly changing higher education landscape, making decisions grounded in accurate, timely data is essential. Competition for enrollment, scrutiny of outcomes and student ROI, budget constraints, regulat...Read Moreabout: Developing a Data Strategy for Your Institution: Steps for Best Practice -
Using Tableau Data Management to Simplify Ongoing Processes
Data Management is a suite of features designed to help organizations manage Tableau content and data assets within Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud environments. As of September 16, 2024, Data Management is integrated i...Read Moreabout: Using Tableau Data Management to Simplify Ongoing Processes -
AIR Announces the Edward L. Delaney, Jr. Rising Star Award & Scholarship
The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) is pleased to announce the renaming of the AIR Rising Star Award as the Edward L. Delaney, Jr. Rising Star Award & Scholarship. This designation honors the life,...Read Moreabout: AIR Announces the Edward L. Delaney, Jr. Rising Star Award & Scholarship -
Agentic AI Development in Higher Education and Implications for Institutional Research
Introduction: Agentic AI as the Next Frontier of AI DevelopmentArtificial intelligence is advancing quickly, and many IR/IE practitioners and data analytics professionals may feel as though the ground is shifting beneath...Read Moreabout: Agentic AI Development in Higher Education and Implications for Institutional Research -
Sustainable Documentation in Institutional Research: Practical Strategies for Busy Offices
When Institutional Knowledge Walks Out the DoorIn many institutional research offices, crucial knowledge lives primarily in the memories of individual staff. Institutional knowledge includes not only technical details&md...Read Moreabout: Sustainable Documentation in Institutional Research: Practical Strategies for Busy Offices -
AIR and Urban Institute Launch National Study on ACTS Implementation
The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) and the Urban Institute are partnering on a national study examining how colleges and universities are implementing the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (AC...Read Moreabout: AIR and Urban Institute Launch National Study on ACTS Implementation -
Get to Know Our Community: Osundwa F. Wanjera
My interest in institutional research emerged from a broader engagement with economics and public policy, particularly questions related to access, equity, and outcomes in education. I was initially drawn to understandin...Read Moreabout: Get to Know Our Community: Osundwa F. Wanjera -
AIR Signs on to Letter Regarding Proposed Workforce Pell Regulations
The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) has joined a coalition of higher education organizations in submitting comments on the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed regulations for the new Workforce Pell...Read Moreabout: AIR Signs on to Letter Regarding Proposed Workforce Pell Regulations -
What’s Worth Measuring Now? Rethinking KPIs in a Changing Higher Education Landscape
IntroductionIn Institutional Research (IR), key performance indicators (KPIs) such as first‑year retention, graduation rates, time to degree, and credit hour production have long served as cornerstones of accountability,...Read Moreabout: What’s Worth Measuring Now? Rethinking KPIs in a Changing Higher Education Landscape -
Get to Know Our Community: Stefano Fiorini
I work with a team of statisticians and data scientists to develop advanced analytics that support our institutional mission and progress toward Indiana University’s strategic plan. Our analytics range from the cla...Read Moreabout: Get to Know Our Community: Stefano Fiorini -
Institutional Research Community Joins National Higher Ed Coalition in Comments on ED’s RISE Proposal
On March 2, 2026, a broad coalition of higher education associations—including the Association for Institutional Research (AIR)—joined the American Council on Education (ACE) and more than 60 peer institution...Read Moreabout: Institutional Research Community Joins National Higher Ed Coalition in Comments on ED’s RISE Proposal -
Actionable Analytics the Ethical Way: Model Assessment Drives Transparency and Trust
How Rapidly Evolving AI-Powered Analytics Are Being Adopted to Support Student SuccessThe application of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to institutional student data offers pow...Read Moreabout: Actionable Analytics the Ethical Way: Model Assessment Drives Transparency and Trust
About eAIR
Since 1987, eAIR has been the trusted newsletter for institutional researchers and data-informed leaders. Each issue brings you the latest perspectives, news, and practical resources to help you succeed in a changing higher education landscape.