AIR Joins National Organizations in Support of DEI in Higher Education

In February 2025, the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) joined over 100 national organizations in signing a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, affirming a shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education.

The letter, coordinated in response to the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, emphasizes the importance of maintaining DEI efforts that are both lawful and essential to student success and institutional excellence. The signatories, including AIR, expressed concern over increasing legal challenges and misinformation that may deter colleges and universities from pursuing evidence-based strategies that foster access and equity.

As the professional association for institutional research, AIR supports the use of data and analysis to advance inclusive student success. By signing onto this joint letter, AIR reinforces its commitment to helping institutions make informed, mission-aligned decisions that uphold the values of fairness, opportunity, and educational excellence for all students.

Read the full letter here.