Cleveland, Here We Come!

AIR Forum

With the advent of spring, we now begin deeper preparations and travel plans for the 63rd AIR Forum, which takes place May 30 – June 2 in Cleveland, OH. From across the IR globe, I hope you will be joining us for many opportunities to learn, network, and enjoy our conference city. The Cleveland Convention Center and nearby hotels are excellent and provide ample space for our meeting and lodging. Sitting on the edge of Lake Erie, the downtown area is replete with restaurants, shops, museums, and of course the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (where we will gather for a dessert reception).

Alongside the lineup of traditional AIR Forum sessions, the Board is hosting a number of gatherings, including an update from the Future of IR as well as the Board Structure for Accountability and Effectiveness committees. There will also be a session on AIR leadership and engagement opportunities. We hope you’ll join us for these discussions.

AIR Leadership Election

We welcome the newest AIR members elected to serve as leaders of the association. Those elected will take office during the annual business meeting at the 2023 AIR Forum in May, and together we will continue to focus on carrying out the mission of AIR (revised in 2022): To empower those individuals at all levels to use data, analytics, information, and evidence to make decisions that are effective, ethical, and equitable and take actions that benefit all students and institutions and improve higher education. We thank all members who were part of our annual election process; we deeply value each and every esteemed candidate and appreciate their willingness to serve our association.

Board Work

Members of the AIR Board of Directors remain busy with many important tasks that seek to strengthen IR and our association. As you recall, members of AIR voted in early 2023 to accept proposed changes to the process for electing of the Board chair (president), vice chair (president), and NEC chair. Members of the Board Structure for Accountability and Effectiveness Committee have been diligent in their efforts to further detail plans to implement these changes. Please check airweb.org/motion for more information.

Again, I note that knowledgeable, savvy, and capable IR leaders will move our profession forward. Each day, I’m reminded of many ways in which IR professionals can contribute to informed decision making. For example, ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools have recently captured our attention. These tools will likely have an impact on higher education, and I hope that you are engaged in conversations and policy developments with your institution or organization colleagues. This is just one way that you can seize you IR day! However you get involved, do it! And keep IR and IE at the forefront of campus decision support.

Warmly, Karen