Colleagues: I don't know how many of you subscribe to the AIR listserv, so I thought that I'd post it. However, let me know if you already get it & would prefer not to have your e-mail boxes cluttered up w/ this. ================================================== Doug Easterling Director, Institutional Planning and Research Sinclair Community College 444 West Third Street Dayton, Ohio 45402 Phone: (513) 226-2854 Fax: (513) 226-3080 Internet Address: [log in to unmask] ================================================== ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 12:45:01 -0700 From: LARRY NELSON, PLU INST. RESEARCH & ASSESSMENT <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list AIR-L <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Electronic AIR, 10/31/95, Part A * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Electronic AIR * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Electronic Newsletter * * of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) * * Serving Institutional Research Professionals * * and those Engaged in Mgt. Research, Policy Analysis & Planning * * * * October 31, 1995. . . . . . . . . . .Volume 15, Number 15 * * Part A * * Editor - Larry Nelson, Pacific Lutheran University * * <[log in to unmask]> * * Subscription Mgt. - Rob Thomas, AIR Office <[log in to unmask]> * * Jobs Editing - Jacque Frost, Purdue University * * <[log in to unmask]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Current Subscribers = 1481 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TABLE OF CONTENTS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * EDITOR'S NOTE: Happy Halloween & My Fall Vacation * * THE CHANGING SCENE * * AIR NEWS - AIR Membership Survey Results (Final Installment) * * AIR NEWS - Editor Sought for AIR Newsletter (print version) * * 1996 AIR FORUM NEWS - Record Number of Forum Proposals Received * * NEWS - Joint Commission (JCAR) on Accountability Reporting Update * * NEWS - NCES Announces Availability of 1992 IPEDS CD-ROM * * NEWS - AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowships * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - CAIR WWW Page Now Available * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - Electronic Factbooks On-Line * * Clearinghouse * * LISTWATCH - AERA-D (AERA Discussion List D) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * EDITOR'S NOTE: Happy Halloween & My Fall Vacation * * Larry Nelson, Pacific Lutheran University <[log in to unmask]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Happy Halloween! Thank you for your patience in waiting for this issue. I have been away from my desk far too much recently. Reasons for my absence included a mini-vacation, attending an AIR Publications Committee meeting, attending a PNAIRP meeting, and (most recently) serving on jury duty. While going to Atlanta for the Publications Committee meeting, I took advantage of the opportunity by going South 3 days early and taking a brief driving vacation in Alabama and Georgia. I continued my quest to see things connected with civil rights and political history and was not disappointed. I had a chance to tour part of Alabama's famous Tuskegee University and spent considerable time in a marvelous museum illustrating the lives and work of Booker Washington and George Washington Carver as well as the University's historical development. What an inspirational story! In Montgomery, I saw the State historical archive museum, the famous Civil Rights Memorial located outside the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Baptist Church on Dexter Avenue pastored by Martin Luther King, Jr. while he led the bus boycott, and the first "White House" of the Confederate States (located across from the state capitol). An unexpected surprise included meeting former Alabama governor George Wallace during a tour of a museum that will eventually become part of the George and Lurleen Wallace Center for the Study of Southern Politics. In addition, I traveled to Selma to tour the National Voting Rights Museum and see where the historic voting rights march of 30 years ago was begun. In Georgia, I saw historic Plains (home of President Jimmy Carter along with many other Carters). What a peaceful and attractive little town that seems to have maintained its charm now that it's at least partially "out of the spotlight." I also stopped at the park and memorial where the infamous Andersonville prison stood during the Civil War. Once again, Southern hospitality lived up to its reputation. The fall scenery was beautiful. The food was tasty and reasonably priced. History was all around. There was much food for thought and reflection. Only the remaining ravages of Hurricane Opal detracted from the scene. Unfortunately, many of the places I visited had suffered extensive damage during the recent hurricane. Although most places were "open for business" again, there remains much work to be done in the months and years ahead to clean up, fix up and replace what this devastating storm destroyed. I apologize for taking what was probably too much space to tell you about my "fall vacation." Nevertheless, it's important to me that you know that I'm something besides a "computer nerd" who pecks away at the keyboard all the time to bring you this newsletter. I had a great vacation, a productive meeting with the AIR Publications Committee, and a great reunion with fellow committee members (most of whom I see only twice a year). Special congratulations go to our Publications Committee chair, Larry Jones <[log in to unmask]>, who took top honors in our efforts to see who could eat a dessert closest in size to their own body. Ask Larry for the gory details. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * THE CHANGING SCENE * * "A way to keep up with news about our colleagues." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This portion of the newsletter is devoted to keeping you informed about changes such as readers who relocate to new positions and/or institutions, professional recognition awards and honors, retirements, deaths, newly hired colleagues, promotions, etc. If you become aware of a change on your campus or elsewhere which should be mentioned in "The Changing Scene," please send me a note at <[log in to unmask]> with the key facts. Keep it brief, but include the information you think others would like to know. The Office of Institutional Research and Evaluation at Southeastern Louisiana University has been re-named the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. BEATRICE BALDWIN <[log in to unmask]> has been named Director and Assistant to the Vice-President for Planning, Research, and Development. Also new to that office is Research Associate MICHELLE HALL <[log in to unmask]>, formerly at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Best wishes, Beatrice and Michelle! GARY HOUSE will, beginning November 1, assume the position of Performance Measures Specialist with the Office of Community College Services at the Oregon Board of Education. Gary has been at Portland Community College. Congratulations and best wishes, Gary! The AIR Office was notified last week that LOIS TORRENCE suffered a stroke in September. Lois is a "founding mother" of AIR; she was a charter member and present at the very first meeting. She was AIR president in 1974-75 and given the Outstanding Service Award winner in 1984. She served as director of IR at the University of Connecticut and is an emeritus member of AIR. Lois is unable to use the telephone, but would appreciate cards and letters. Send them to: Lois Torrence Room 103 Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation 100 Warren Circle Storrs, CT 06268 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AIR NEWS - AIR Membership Survey Results (Final Installment) * * Sarah Lindquist, AIR Membership Comm. Chair<[log in to unmask]>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Editor's Note: I wish to extend my appreciation to Sarah and her committee for the great effort they put into development and implementation of last year's membership survey and to Sarah in particular for her efforts in writing a series of articles to communicate the results to AIR members. I can tell you from personal experience that the AIR leadership is paying attention to the results. - - - - - The AIR Membership survey was administered in Fall 1994. The purpose of the survey was to help build a more in-depth profile of AIR members and to aid in planning AIR programs, publications, and services for the next three years. In three previous issues of the Electronic AIR, survey results which focused on a membership profile, the AIR Forum, and AIR professional development activities were presented. This report will highlight survey findings on AIR and other postsecondary education publications. The survey was mailed to every 1994-95 AIR member and to those 1993-94 members who had not yet renewed for 1994-95. Approximately 2,700 surveys were mailed around the world. Over 1,250 surveys were returned to the AIR Executive Office for a 46% response rate. A comparison of the profile of survey respondents with the AIR membership database showed that respondents were generally representative of all AIR members geographically and by place of employment. The survey included a list of eleven AIR publications. Members were asked to indicate how valuable each publication had been in their work and professional development. The top five rated AIR publications are given below. The number in parentheses is the percentage of respondents who indicated that the publication was "highly valuable." Five Most Valuable AIR Publications 1. New Directions for Institutional Research (47%) 2. AIR Membership Directory (36%) 3. Primer for Institutional Research (36%) 4. Research in Higher Education (32%) 5. Electronic AIR Newsletter (26%) The survey also included a list of 20 professional education journals and bulletins. Respondents were asked whether they read the publication regularly, occasionally, or not at all. The Chronicle of Higher Education was the overwhelming favorite of AIR members with 72% indicating that they read it regularly. The next tier of regularly read publications by our members included New Directions in Institutional Research (44%), Research in Higher Education (34%), Change Magazine (26%), AAHE Bulletin (23%), and New Directions for Higher Education (21%). The survey also focused on whether AIR members would want an AIR journal, either New Directions in Institutional Research (NDIR) or Research in Higher Education (RIHE), as part of their membership package. This benefit would, of course, necessitate an increase in AIR dues projected at about $25. Sixty percent of survey respondents said that they would support a dues increase to receive a journal subscription. Sixteen percent would not support a dues increase for a journal and 23% were not sure. As a side note to the 1994 survey report, AIR in 1995 negotiated significant discounts for AIR members subscribing to either NDIR or RIHE. Consequently, this issue has basically faded away. This article concludes a general overview of the findings of the 1994 AIR Membership survey. Results from the survey have been and will continue to be used in AIR planning. If you have any questions about the membership survey, please contact me (Sarah.Lindquist, AIR Membership Chair) at <[log in to unmask]>. Sarah Lindquist Arizona State University Box 870511 Tempe, AZ 85287-0511 Phone: (602) 965-7146 FAX: (602) 965-6859 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AIR NEWS - Editor Sought for AIR Newsletter (print version) * * Tim Sanford, AIR Vice-President <[log in to unmask]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * An AIR Opportunity The Association for Institutional Research is seeking a member of the Association to become involved in AIR activities by serving as the Editor of the quarterly AIR print newsletter. The Editor will be an ex officio member of the Publications Committee and will work closely with the staff of the AIR Office. Duties include gathering news and writing copy as well as developing new features of interest to members. Considerable latitude will be enjoyed by the Editor in revitalizing the print newsletter. Design, layout, printing, and distribution will be handled by the AIR Office staff. The newsletter is published in October, January, April, and July. Interested individuals should contact AIR Vice President Tim Sanford by phone: (919) 962-1500) or e-mail <[log in to unmask]>. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1996 AIR FORUM NEWS - Record Number of Forum Proposals Received * * Darrell Glenn, West Virginia System <[log in to unmask]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Betty Stanley, 1996 Forum Chair, reports that the Forum Committee received a record number of proposals for contributed papers, panels and demonstrations for the May 5-8, 1996 Albuquerque Forum. A total of 276 proposals were submitted for presentations in the seven Forum Tracks - on Enrollment Management and Student Affairs; Institutional Effectiveness, Student Learning, and Outcomes Assessment; Academic Program and Faculty Issues; Resource Management and Quality Improvement; Policy Analysis, Planning, and Governance; Theory, Practice and Ethics of Institutional Research; and Technology and Tools for Institutional Research. The proposals are being reviewed by seven-person track committees, and recommendations will be sent to Betty Stanley by the track chairs. Preliminary reports indicate that the quality of the proposals is just as impressive as the quantity, suggesting that the quality of the presentations at the Forum will also be high. The preliminary program and registration materials for the 1996 Forum will be mailed in February. In the meantime, for information on the Forum, please contact: Forum Chair Elizabeth C. Stanley E-Mail: <[log in to unmask]> OR Associate Forum Chair Michael Middaugh E-Mail: <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 10:52:15 -0600 (MDT) From: [log in to unmask] Subject: JCAR information for AIR electronic newsletter * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - Joint Commission (JCAR) on Accountability Reporting Update * * Trudy Bers, AIR President <[log in to unmask]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Joint Commission on Accountability Reporting, an interassociation project of AACC, AASCU and NASULGC, has completed its recommendations for compiling and reporting data about three broad accountability areas: higher education costs to students, student advancement in and among institutions, and licensure and employment and leaving college. Recommendations for reporting on the fourth topic being considered by JCAR -- faculty activity -- are still being developed. The JCAR recommendations are available in two versions, an Executive Summary and a Technical Manual. The Executive Summary will be released at AASCU's annual meeting on Tuesday, November 21. It will be mailed after that to all members of the three sponsoring associations, governors, legislative leaders concerned about higher education, JCAR Monitors and others who have indicated an interest. The Technical Manual is available at a modest charge from AASCU. An order form and pricing information follows. For additional information contact John Hammang and AASCU, One Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C. 20036. - - - - - Order from: AASCU Publications 1 Dupont Circle Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 Checks or money orders should be made payable to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Prices include shipping. Include a complete address and name of a person to whom the manuals are to be shipped. Prices for Members of AASCU, AACC or NASULGC 1-4 copies when ordered at one time $25/copy 5-10 copies when orderd at one time $22.50/copy 11+ copies when orderd at one time $21.00/copy Prices for Non-members 1-4 copies when ordered at one time $35/copy 5-10 copies when orderd at one time $32.50/copy 11+ copies when orderd at one time $31.00/copy * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - NCES Announces Availability of 1992 IPEDS CD-ROM * * Bill Freund, NCES <[log in to unmask]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NCES has announced the availability of the 1992 IPEDS CD-ROM. This new Windows-based version contains selected institutional data from 3 years of IPEDS (1990-91 through 1992-93) plus the full survey files from the 1992-93 survey cycle. The CD-ROM is being mailed to all accredited higher education institutions during the week of October 10. But remember that NCES uses the institutional address of the main administrative office (President, etc.). So look for a red (yes, red) CD-ROM in the mail sometime during the week of October 16. Finally, Bill Freund will have some copies available at the SAIR and NEAIR meetings. If you can't locate the CD-ROM, a copy can be mailed to you by calling Tracy Ferbish, National Data Resource Center (NDRC) at (703) 845-3151 or sending an e-mail message to <[log in to unmask]>. For those of you who returned the 1991 registration card, NDRC will mail you a personal copy within a week or so. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowships * * Reprinted From: AERA-MI - AERA Educational Research Forum on * * Minority Issues <[log in to unmask]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Recognizing the limited number of educational researchers from under-represented groups, AERA has initiated a Fellowship Program to assist in increasing that pool. The program will support two minority fellows this year. Eligibility: Applicants must be 1) a members of one of the groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education in the United States: for example, African American, Native American, Alaskan native (Eskimo or Aleut), Native Pacific Islander, Filipino American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican; 2) an enrolled doctoral student in an accredited university of the United States, have successfully completed most course requirements, and have an accepted PhD/EdD dissertation proposal; 3) committed to working full-time on the dissertation; and 4) interested in a career in higher education/educational research. Awards: The program will support two minority fellows each year. The awards will be for $10,000 per year and are designed to assist in the final two years of the doctoral program. Support funds are not intended to be used for payment of tuition. Deadline: Application materials must be received by February 26, 1996. Awards will be announced in late May, 1996. Contact: AERA, Minority Fellowships, 1230 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-3078, (202) 223-9485. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - CAIR WWW Page Now Available * * Bob Daly, University of California - Irvine <[log in to unmask]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CAIR's (California Association for Institutional Research) World Wide Web page is now available. The URL is "http://www.cair.org/" (no quotes, of course). CAIR's web site contains many valuable sources of information, including an environmental scanning page, called "CAIR Outlook," and a link to "The Electronic AIR" archives. Please contact CAIR's Webmaster, Bob Daly at the University of California, Irvine, at [log in to unmask], or CAIR's President, Joan Sallee at the California Postsecondary Education Commission, at <[log in to unmask]>, if you have questions or comments. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY - Electronic Factbooks On-Line * * Clearinghouse * * Reprinted From: IR Software List <[log in to unmask]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The URL below points to web-based clearinghouse for electronic factbooks. It includes a list of pointers to web-based electronic factbooks, locations for descriptions of non-WWW factbooks (with a discussion of my new e-factbook to appear soon), and web versions of previous papers and workshops about electronic factbooks. I apologize in advance for the me-centric nature of some of the stuff but it is what I had to start with. Any other contributions of papers, etc. are more than welcome! http://www.willamette.edu:80/~tmassa/factbooks/factbooks.html The goal of this effort is to provide a variety of discussions, techniques, examples, tools, etc. that may be of use to our colleagues in building electronic factbooks. Tod R. Massa Asst. Registrar for Institutional Research Willamette University Phone: (503) 375-5303 E-Mail: <[log in to unmask]> http://www.willamette.edu/~tmassa/ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * LISTWATCH - AERA-D (AERA Discussion List D) * * Darrell Glenn, WV State Coll/Univ. Systems <[log in to unmask]>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AERA-D discusses measurement and research methodology in education. Participants range in background from university faculty in psychology and educational research to assessment practitioners in K12 school districts. The list is busy, with 65 posts in the 14 day observation period between September 15 to September 28. I do not know if the list is moderated, but the posts were very free of clutter. The major threads during the two week period included: validity in testing (22), factor analysis (4), the Degrees of Reading Power test (5), the purpose of qualifying exams in education graduate programs (3), tests vs. assessment (8), mathematics in the training of psychology students (4), standardized vs. performance tests (8). Very helpful people participate in this list. The lengthy thread on validity in testing was sparked by a brief inquiry made by a graduate student. Institutional researchers involved in assessment could profit from a subscription to this list. To subscribe, send the following message to <[log in to unmask]>, or if you are on BITNET, <[log in to unmask]>: subscribe aera-d <yourfirstname> <yourlastname> - - - - - I would greatly appreciate reader suggestions on other discussions lists that might be of interest to institutional researchers. E-Mail all suggestions to <[log in to unmask]>. - - - - - - - - - This newsletter is continued in Part B, sent separately. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * If you wish to subscribe, change your e-mail address, or request a * * subscription for someone else, send it to Rob Thomas, AIR Exec- * * utive Office, <[log in to unmask]> (Florida State University). * * If you have AIR news, send it to Larry Nelson, Editor, at: * * <[log in to unmask]> (Pacific Lutheran University). * * (Please limit submissions to 72 characters or fewer per line and * * use mixed case, NOT ALL CAPS--NO NEED TO SHOUT.) * * If you have news for the SCUP electronic newsletter, send it to * * Terry Calhoun, SCUP Publ. Dir.,<[log in to unmask]>. * * For further information regarding individual or organizational * * membership in the Association for Institutional Research, contact * * Terrence Russell, Executive Director, AIR, 114 Stone Bldg., * * Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-3038; * * Telephone: (904) 644-4470 or on Internet: <[log in to unmask]>. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *