The State of the Profession: Results from the 2024 AIR National Survey 

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Darlena Jones (The Association for Institutional Research)

Across institutions, the role of the IR/IE Office varies dramatically, as captured in the 2024 AIR National Survey. In some settings, the office focuses solely on mandatory reporting, responding to national surveys, and providing information to senior leadership. In others, its responsibilities expand to include research, institutional effectiveness, accreditation, strategic planning, and business analytics. Moreover, some institutions centralize IR and IE functions within a single office, while others distribute these roles across multiple units—either working collaboratively or independently. The organizational structures range from streamlined to complex multi-layered models, making it challenging to capture the full spectrum of our IR/IE profession. The AIR National Survey launched for the fourth time in fall 2024, and this Impact Session presents summary results covering areas such as organizational structure, staffing, office work output, and institutional data maturity.

Party at the Lakehouse: Enhancing Data Ecosystems & Stakeholder Engagement

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Henry Zheng (Carnegie Mellon University), Matthew Hoolsema (Carnegie Mellon University), Roman Mitz (Carnegie Mellon University)

Join us on our continuing data strategy journey. This session builds on last year’s data lakehouse impact session. This year we explore the evolution of CMU’s Data Lakehouse strategy and its impact on our campus. This session will cover three key topics: the growth of our data lakehouse, the vital role of community engagement in data initiatives, and our recent decision to adopt a franchise model for scaling up our growing data needs. Attendees will discover how an integrated data strategy can enhance institutional effectiveness and data governance. The session will provide actionable insights and practical strategies to foster collaboration and informed decision-making within their institutions. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to data strategies, this session will equip you with valuable tools and knowledge to navigate the challenges of a data-driven environment. Join us to share our data evolution and learn how to elevate your institution’s approach to data. 

Contributing author: Alexis Parker (Carnegie Mellon University)

Unpacking the 2025 Carnegie Classifications

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Sara Gast (American Council on Education), Kyle Whitman (American Council on Education)

The Carnegie Classifications have been the nation’s leading framework in understanding and organizing American higher education institutions since 1973. To keep pace with the evolving and rapidly diversifying higher education landscape, the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching began a partnership in February 2022 to reimagine the Carnegie Classifications. In spring 2025, we introduced the new classification system. In this session, Carnegie Classifications leaders will share the context for the approach to the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, how the classifications work, and what is planned for the future. We will also share initial observations on these updates and how they will inform our ongoing work to better reflect the breadth of higher education institutions and their public purpose, mission, focus, and impact. (Encore Session: Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. See Session listing for details.) 

Chief Data Officers and the Functions They Lead: Imagining and Strategizing for a Future We Can’t See 

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Darlena Jones (The Association for Institutional Research), Olivia Kew-Ficus (Vanderbilt University)

As an extension of the 2024 National Survey, AIR surveyed Chief Data Officers (CDOs) in 2025 to explore their roles and responsibilities. The survey included individuals who are CDOs by title and self-identified “de facto” CDOs. The summary results will be presented in this Impact Session, including a crosswalk with the National Survey.  Findings will be illuminated by current CDOs. Join us to learn about the creation and work of the data and analytics functions led by CDOs. Of particular focus is the need for leadership and strategic thinking to identify what an institution needs right now while imagining a future we can’t see or predict. Attention will be paid to the ways in which CDO functions differ from more traditional IR/IE offices and to the essential mindsets required of the CDO role.

Insights that Impact: Engaging Stakeholders through Survey Data Storytelling 

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Nichole Peterson (Century College), Joe Ludlum (Georgia Tech), Michael Bolen (University of South Florida), Martin Stelmach (McMasters University), Simran Kaur (Stony Brook University) 

The Analytics Transformation: From Data Informed to Data Engaged Campus

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Heather Epstein-Diaz (Florida State University), James Hunt (Florida State University), Samantha Nix (Florida State University) 

As our institution navigates the complexities of a data-centric landscape, transitioning from being data-informed to actively data-engaged is critical for remaining relevant. This session will highlight various approaches to data engagement and showcase transformative practices that create a robust framework for support—whether technical, strategic, or educational. We will present multiple strategies, including course analytics that enhance student success, initiatives in data literacy, and the implementation of cloud-based data warehouses. These elements, woven together by IR as the center of excellence on data and analytics, will form an institutional data fabric that underpins informed decision-making. Participants will learn how our institutional research office positions itself as a strategic partner, fostering a dynamic data-engaged culture that ultimately improves student outcomes and enhances institutional effectiveness. 

Contributing author: Rick Burnette (Florida State University)