Practical expertise. Strategic alignment. Solutions that scale.
In today’s higher education landscape, data is everywhere—but actionable insight is harder to come by. That’s where AIR Data & Decisions Consulting comes in. We partner with colleges and universities to turn information into impact—strengthening institutional strategy, compliance, operations, and student success.
Our consultants bring decades of experience at the intersection of people, data, and decision-making. Whether you’re solving a short-term challenge or investing in long-term transformation, we offer flexible, customized support built for higher ed institutions.
What We Help You Do
- Align Data with Strategic Goals
We help institutional leaders clarify priorities and ensure data systems, tools, and reports support what matters most. - Build Institutional Capacity
From IR/IE office structure to data governance and training, we strengthen the people and processes behind your data work. - Improve Data Quality and Use
We optimize reporting workflows, streamline tool usage, and ensure your data is accurate, timely, and actionable. - Navigate Accreditation, Compliance, and Reporting
We support accreditation preparation, IPEDS and PDP submissions, and assessment processes that demonstrate institutional effectiveness.
Let’s Partner
Share your needs and together we’ll find the right solution.
Customized Solutions
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Reach out to consulting@airweb.org to start the conversation about your specific needs.
Explore Services
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Accreditation and Assessment: Post-Accreditation Follow-Up and Reporting
Ensure sustained success after accreditation. Through Post-Accreditation Follow-Up and Reporting, you receive expert support to address recommendations, track improvement efforts, and prepare strategic progress reports—positioning your institution for ongoing compliance and continuous growth.
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Accreditation and Assessment Continuous Improvement Consulting
Build a sustainable culture of quality enhancement and evidence-based decision-making. Through Continuous Improvement Consulting, you develop integrated strategies that strengthen assessment practices, align with accreditation standards, and drive lasting institutional effectiveness.
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Accreditation and Assessment Documentation and Evidence Compilation
Organize, manage, and strengthen the foundation of your accreditation self-study. Through Accreditation Documentation and Evidence Compilation, you create a complete, well-organized, and accessible repository of documents aligned to accreditation standards—ensuring clarity, efficiency, and readiness throughout the self-study process.
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Accreditation Data Collection and Analysis
Support your accreditation narrative with comprehensive evidence. Through Accreditation Data Collection and Analysis, you gather, analyze, and present institutional data that demonstrates compliance, highlights progress, and strengthens your case for continued accreditation success.
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Accreditation and Assessment Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis
Strengthen your accreditation self-study with comprehensive benchmarking. Through Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis, you develop peer comparison groups, analyze key data points, and produce detailed reports that showcase your institution’s performance—and highlight opportunities for continuous improvement.
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Accreditation Coordination and Project Management
Manage the operational complexity of accreditation without overwhelming your team. Through Accreditation Coordination and Project Management, you get expert support to plan, organize, and track your self-study process—keeping stakeholders aligned, engaged, and on schedule while you focus on content and strategy.
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Accreditation and Assessment Self-Study Report Review
Strengthen your self-study before it counts. Through Accreditation and Assessment Self-Study Report Review, you receive independent, expert feedback to align your narrative with accreditor expectations, sharpen evidence, and improve clarity—giving you greater confidence ahead of submission.
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Data Governance Optimization
Strengthen your institution’s data governance practices to better support data quality, security, and decision-making. Through Data Governance Optimization, you refine structures, roles, and policies—implementing best practices and building a sustainable governance framework aligned with institutional goals.
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Data Governance Technical Assistance
Expand your institution’s capacity with hands-on support for data governance initiatives. Through Data Governance Technical Assistance, you embed an experienced professional into your team to lead projects, implement governance practices, and build momentum for sustainable, institution-wide improvements.
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IR/IE Office Support
Get the extra support your IR or IE office needs to strengthen operations, complete projects, and build best practices. Through IR/IE Office Support, you access expert assistance in data documentation, reporting development, office efficiencies, and day-to-day capacity building—tailored to your institution’s needs.
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IR/IE Office Optimization
Strengthen the efficiency, organization, and impact of your IR or IE office. Through IR/IE Office Optimization, you implement best practices for data management, reporting, and internal workflows—building a stronger, more strategic foundation for supporting institutional decision-making.
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IR/IE Office Review
Evaluate and strengthen your IR or IE office with a comprehensive review focused on efficiency, effectiveness, and strategic alignment. Through an IR/IE Office Review, you identify strengths, uncover opportunities, and receive actionable recommendations to enhance decision support, reporting, and institutional planning.
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IR/IE Office Planning
Establish a strong foundation for your IR or IE office. Through IR/IE Office Planning and Setup, you design organizational structures, workflows, and best practices that align with your institution’s strategic goals and support sustainable, high-impact data operations.
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Institutional Data Technical Assistance
Expand your team’s capacity with targeted, hands-on support for data-focused projects. Through Institutional Data Technical Assistance, you embed an experienced professional to help with data collection, cleaning, validation, analysis, or reporting—delivering practical results when and where you need them most.
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Institutional Data Optimization
Strengthen the quality, usability, and strategic value of your institutional data. Through Institutional Data Optimization, you implement improvements identified through Institutional Data Review—ensuring your data is clean, reliable, accessible, and aligned with your institution’s goals and decision-making needs.
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Institutional Data Review
Gain a clear understanding of your institution’s full data landscape. Through an Institutional Data Review, you assess how data is collected, stored, defined, accessed, and used—identifying strengths, gaps, and opportunities to strengthen data quality, governance, and strategic decision-making.
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Data-Informed Decision Planning Support
Use your data to make better decisions, faster. Through Data-Informed Decision Planning Support, you clarify key questions, analyze relevant data, and translate findings into actionable insights that strengthen programs, refine processes, and guide institutional strategy.
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PDP Data Submission and Utilization Support
Submit your PDP data accurately and build structures that support future success. Through PDP Data Submission and Utilization Support, you streamline your processes, strengthen data integrity, and ensure your dashboards and analysis-ready files are positioned to deliver maximum strategic value.
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IPEDS Keyholder Support
Strengthen your IPEDS reporting with hands-on support from an experienced data professional. Access expert help with submissions, review prior reporting for accuracy, and streamline processes through improved workflows, documentation, automation, and best practices.
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Reporting Optimization
Strengthen your reporting processes and reports to better serve compliance, planning, and decision-making needs. Through Reporting Optimization, you align current practices with institutional goals, implement proven strategies, and identify improvements that enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and impact of submissions like IPEDS and PDP.
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Reporting Review
Assess the strength and effectiveness of your institution’s reporting practices. Through a Reporting Audit, you evaluate key functions like IPEDS and PDP submissions, identify gaps and risks, and receive actionable recommendations to strengthen compliance, consistency, and strategic data use.
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Reporting Set-Up and Planning
Design a reporting function that meets your institution’s compliance, planning, and decision-making needs. Through Reporting Set-Up and Planning, you build a strong foundation for managing key reporting cycles like IPEDS and PDP, supported by clear processes, timelines, and internal structures.
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PDP Submission: Course for Teams
An 8-week course for a cohort of up to 25 institutional representatives designed to guide the submission of PDP data files. Included are 8 virtual sessions, weekly office hours, and one-on-one technical assistance to troubleshoot collection, cleaning, and formatting issues.
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IPEDS Training for Teams
For over a decade, AIR was funded by NCES to offer IPEDS training for those producing, submitting, and using IPEDS data. As the foremost expert in IPEDS data collection and reporting, AIR offers training for individual surveys, data tools, and benchmarking. Specialized training is available for IPEDS keyholders.
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Foundations of IR: Workshops for Teams
This series of five virtual workshops provides foundational skills for data-informed decision cultures. Skills covered by the workshops include research design, data, survey design, descriptive statistics, and effective reporting.
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Foundations of IR: Bootcamp for Teams
This bootcamp is an intensive exploration of IR’s agency in data-informed decision cultures and the requisite skills. Included are research design, survey design, descriptive statistics, effective reporting and communication, and translating findings into recommendations.
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Data Governance Planning
Establish a strong framework for managing and protecting your institutional data. Through Data Governance Planning, you design structures, roles, practices, and documentation that promote data quality, consistency, and trust across the institution.
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Data Visualization Technical Assistance
Expand your team’s capacity with hands-on support for data visualization projects and dashboard development. Through Data Visualization Technical Assistance, you embed focused expertise into your operations to implement, enhance, and maintain visualizations that drive clarity, engagement, and decision-making.
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Data Visualization Optimization
Take your dashboards and data visualizations to the next level. Through Data Visualization Optimization, you align existing tools with institutional goals, apply best practices, close gaps, and strengthen functionality—ensuring your visualizations deliver clearer insights, greater usability, and stronger strategic impact.
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Data Visualization Review
Evaluate the effectiveness of your dashboards and data visualizations. Through Data Visualization Review, you assess design, usability, audience alignment, and impact—receiving clear, specific recommendations to enhance functionality, improve engagement, and ensure your visual tools meet institutional needs.
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Data Visualization Planning
Plan and design dashboards and visualizations that meet your institution’s needs. Through Data Visualization Planning, you analyze common data requests, gather input from users, align with institutional goals, and apply best practices to create visual tools that drive understanding, transparency, and action.
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Tools and Technologies Technical Assistance
Strengthen your team’s capacity with focused technical support during busy cycles or special projects. Embed experienced professionals into your team to provide expert guidance across platforms like Excel, Power BI, Tableau, and more—building momentum when and where you need it most.
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Tools and Technologies Optimization
Strengthen how your institution uses Excel, Power BI, Tableau, and other data tools to maximize their impact. Through Tools and Technologies Optimization, you align your current platforms with institutional goals, implement proven practices, close gaps, and unlock greater efficiency, usability, and strategic value.
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Tools and Technologies Audit
Audit your use of Excel, Power BI, Tableau, and other data tools to ensure they fully support your goals. Identify gaps, uncover opportunities, and receive actionable recommendations to strengthen your data strategy, optimize operations, and maximize the value of your technology investments.
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Tools and Technologies Set-Up and Planning
Set up and plan your use of data tools like Excel, Power BI, and Tableau to maximize their impact. Implement platforms strategically, align them with your institutional goals, and ensure they support strong data usability, reporting efficiency, and decision-making.
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Data Governance: Moving Beyond Talking to Action: Webinar for Teams
This webinar covers the basics of data governance—organizational structures, common governance roles, data dimensions, and more. It includes a template for a self-study for participants to identify their institution’s data governance maturity and areas for improvement.
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Data Governance Review
Evaluate how well your institution’s data governance practices support data quality, security, and decision-making. Through a Data Governance Review, you assess current structures, identify gaps, benchmark against proven practices, and receive actionable recommendations to strengthen your governance framework.