Workshops

Workshop Descriptions

• Comparing PDP and IPEDS Metrics: Using What You Know to Explore What’s New

  As a data professional, you're likely fluent in IPEDS definitions and reporting structures. That familiarity can serve as a strong foundation for exploring the PDP, a student-centered data resource that offers a more comprehensive view of student progress and success.  

  This workshop uses a compare-and-contrast approach to help you build fluency in PDP metrics by anchoring them to concepts you already know. Through examination of where the PDP aligns with—and diverges from—IPEDS, you'll gain a clearer understanding of how to interpret PDP data, communicate insights, and decide when to use each system effectively. Whether you’re new to the PDP or are looking to deepen your understanding, this session will help you make the most of both data systems to: 

  • Compare key metrics from PDP and IPEDS to understand their different purposes  
  • Learn how PDP captures the full first-year student experience, including part-time and transfer populations 
  • Develop confidence in using PDP data for institutional analysis and student success efforts 
• Leveraging the PDP Dashboards for Effective Benchmarking

  Do you seek valuable insights from comparing of your institution to others? As a student-centered data resource that offers a comprehensive view of student progress and success, the PDP provides valuable metrics and subpopulations that aren’t available elsewhere. Join AIR for a case study-based exploration of PDP's benchmarking capabilities. You will learn how to: 

  • Select and apply appropriate benchmarks using PDP data 
  • Identify both opportunities and limitations when benchmarking institutional performance 
  • Analyze your institution’s performance relative to peer institutions 
  • Connect benchmarking results to institutional student success priorities and strategic goals 
• Turning PDP Analysis-Ready Data into Actionable Insights using Power BI

  Are you curious about how to unlock the full potential of the PDP Cohort and Course Analysis-Ready (AR) files? In this hands-on workshop, we show you how to turn these datasets into actionable insights. You will: 

  • Access and interpret the Cohort and Course AR files and how they will answer key student success questions 
  • Explore a Power BI dashboard featuring institutional characteristics, Gateway Course metrics, credits earned, and completion timelines
  • Use the dashboard in small groups using institutional data (or sample data) and discuss customization options 
• Understanding PDP Institution-Level Dashboards

  If you're new to the PDP or just beginning to explore what it offers, this session is for you. 

  Join AIR as we guide you through the PDP institution-level dashboards and show how they can transform the way your institution understands student success. These interactive tools offer powerful insights into early momentum and outcomes metrics—helping you answer critical questions around student success, performance gaps, and more. 

• Unlocking the Power of PDP Analysis-Ready Files

  Ready to go beyond what the dashboards show? This workshop introduces you to the powerful analysis-ready (AR) files available through the PDP—exportable datasets that let you dive deeper into the student experience. This workshop will enhance your analysis with deeper, customizable insights—extending the value of the dashboards by enabling broader exploration and tailored decision-making. You will learn how to:  

  • Access and interpret cohort and course AR files  
  • Merge PDP data with your own institutional data to uncover richer insights 
  • Explore multifaceted trends in student performance and equity 
  • Identify targeted outreach opportunities and strategies for improvement 
• Using the PDP for Student Retention: Who Are We Losing and When?

  Traditional retention metrics tell only part of a story. The PDP dashboards go further and offer a more complete picture of student retention across the full first-year student population, including transfer and part-time students. Join AIR to learn how the PDP can help you uncover deeper insights and drive meaningful changes at your institution. In this workshop, you'll learn how to use the PDP to:  

  • Move beyond narrow definitions of retention
  • Identify patterns in student departure across time
  • Explore data that better reflects the full student experience
  • Develop actionable insights to support student success 
• Using the PDP to Support a Student-Centered CQI Plan

  Ready to move from data to action? This workshop helps you operationalize the PDP to drive student-centered improvements at your institution. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) offers a proven structure for institutional effectiveness, and this workshop emphasizes how to use PDP data to fuel the process—ensuring your plans are both grounded in insight and built for impact. You will learn how to use PDP dashboards to: 

  • Identify a pressing challenge facing a specific first-year student population 
  • Construct a focused improvement plan
  • Develop a communication strategy to share findings, build stakeholder buy-in, and support sustainable change 
• Using the PDP to Understand Academic Momentum

  Academic momentum matters—and the PDP can help you track it early. This workshop focuses on using PDP dashboards to interpret key early momentum metrics like credit load, credit progression, and credits earned—critical indicators of timely completion. You will gain the skills to turn early indicators into proactive student support and meaningful institutional change to: 

  • Identify students at risk of losing academic momentum 
  • Use data to inform early interventions and support strategies 
  • Communicate findings to institutional stakeholders to drive action