AIR advocates for policies, regulations, and legislation that support the optimization of data access, infrastructure, transparency, and use within higher education. The association also contributes the perspective and expertise of institutional research, institutional effectiveness, and other data professionals in policy and regulatory discussions as well as to support emerging research and innovations that expand the informed use of data and analysis.
Latest Advocacy Activities & Policy-Related News
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Higher Education Associations Call for Extension of Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment Reporting Deadline
On December 13, 2024, several higher education associations sent a letter urging U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to extend the January 15, 2025, deadline for financial value transparency (FVT) and gainful empl...Read Moreabout: Higher Education Associations Call for Extension of Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment Reporting Deadline -
AIR Joins Washington Higher Education Secretariat
In November, AIR was accepted into the Washington Higher Education Secretariat (WHES), a group of more than 50 national associations and organizations that represent a broad spectrum of higher education interests in the ...Read Moreabout: AIR Joins Washington Higher Education Secretariat -
AIR Urges Clarification and Support for Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment Reporting
AIR is among more than 40 higher education associations expressing concerns to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the reporting requirements for the Financial Value Transparency (FVT) and Gainful Employment (GE) ...Read Moreabout: AIR Urges Clarification and Support for Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment Reporting
Ongoing Advisory and Advocacy Work
AIR participates in advisory groups, coalitions, and committees at the national level to support research, policies, and data collections that advance the effective, ethical, and equitable use of data, information, and analytics within higher education.
AIR also seeks to elevate the expertise, insights, and experience of AIR community members in the development and implementation of policies and practices
- Washington Higher Education Secretariat
- College Board Admissions Research Consortium Advisory Board
- Higher Endeavor—Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Postsecondary Ecosystem
- IHEP Postsecondary Data Collaborative
- College Scorecard Technical Review Panel
- IPEDS Technical Review Panels
- IPEDS National Postsecondary Education Cooperative
- 2023-24 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:24) Technical Review Panel
- Faculty, Academic Careers, and Environments (FACE) Advisory Board
- Common Data Set Advisory Board
- National Coalition to Accelerate Adoption of Learning and Employment Records in Postsecondary Education (LER Accelerator)
Abilities and Limitations
AIR Can
- Partner with other associations or organizations to provide the perspective of data professionals on particular policies, regulations or legislation.
- Advocate for legislation, policies, and/or regulations that support improved data availability, infrastructure, metrics, and transparency.
- Provide technical assistance to or educate legislators and legislative staff.
- Educate members and stakeholders on the (potential) impact of policies, regulations, and legislation.
AIR Cannot
- Ask a legislator to vote for, against, or amend a specific bill through social media, letters, email, or visits to legislative offices.
- Mobilize AIR members or stakeholders to take a particular action for or against a specific bill or legislation.
- Publicly support policy or legislative positions that do not reflect general agreement within the IR/data community.