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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OMB Announces Review of the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), on behalf of the Standard Occupational Classification Policy Committee (SOCPC), announces the review of the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual for potential ...Read Moreabout: OMB Announces Review of the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System -
New Financial Value Transparency Rules for Higher Ed: What You Need to Know
If you work in higher education administration or institutional research (IR), you've probably heard rumblings about new federal regulations around "financial value transparency" and "gainful employment" that are set to ...Read Moreabout: New Financial Value Transparency Rules for Higher Ed: What You Need to Know -
OMB Seeks Comment on IPEDS Changes Proposed for 2024-25 through 2026-27
See the Federal Register posting [Federal Register Volume 89, Number 102, PP. 45870-45871] opening the 30-day public comment period on the request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for changes to the IPEDS col...Read Moreabout: OMB Seeks Comment on IPEDS Changes Proposed for 2024-25 through 2026-27
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
- 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.