North East Association for Institutional Research

Calendar of Events

Events available for Registration...

NEAIR Membership Networking Event (June 2026)
6/9/2026
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The NEAIR Conference Experience: Past, Present & Future
6/11/2026
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From Draft to Data: Designing Effective Surveys
6/16/2026
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Using DuckDB in RStudio for Institutional Research: Fast, Local SQL for Enrollment, Retention, and Reporting
7/14/2026
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Engaging the Campus Community - Data Literacy in Action
7/15/2026
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Building a Data Literacy Program Using a Data Lifecycle Lens
7/22/2026
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Googling to Guided Learning: AI as a Learning Partner in IR
7/24/2026
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Enhancing Institutional Capacity to Analyze Student Success
9/17/2026
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53rd Annual Conference -- Albany, New York --- DRAFT
11/7/2026 - 11/10/2026
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Purchase a Sponsorship for 2026 NEAIR Annual Conference
11/8/2026 - 11/10/2026
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Events in the month of July 2026

Using DuckDB in RStudio for Institutional Research: Fast, Local SQL for Enrollment, Retention, and Reporting

7/14/2026

This introductory session explains how DuckDB can speed Institutional Research workflows inside RStudio by providing an in process analytical SQL engine that runs inside RStudio.

Participants in this session learn:

How to connect to DuckDB in RStudio and run SQL against local files and in memory tables.
How to combine DuckDB with R packages like dplyr and dbplyr to keep familiar R syntax while gaining SQL performance.
IR patterns for DuckDB including fast cohort extraction, large file joins, and exporting query results for dashboards and reports.

Intended Audience: All levels. Best for IR staff who work with institutional datasets and want faster SQL analytics inside RStudio. A basic understanding of R, RStudio, and SQL is recommended though not required. The workshop will not focus on DuckDB or RStudio installation but will provide guidance on how to install, set up, and use DuckDB in RStudio.

Format: Webinar - recorded sessions in which attendees view content and interact only via chat

Cost: $40 - Member; $100 Non-Member

Presenter: James Salamon, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)

Tuesday, July 14, 2026; 10:30 AM - NOON

Engaging the Campus Community - Data Literacy in Action

7/15/2026

Recent research conducted by Forrester Consulting (2022) notes that 69% of leaders say a lack of data skills stops employees from using data effectively in decision-making. Decision-makers also basic data skills are rated among the most important skills for employees to succeed in day-to-day work. Over the last three academic years, the Office of Institutional Research & Decision Support at Bridgewater State University has engaged in a number of opportunities and events with a data literacy focus, including three we’d like to highlight in this PDS: Data Cafés, a Student Engagement Survey Data Roadshow, and International Love Data Week. We look forward to sharing our strategies, what we’ve learned, and how we continue to iterate and improve for next year.

Participants in this session will:

define data literacy.
examine research on the importance of data literacy in practice and professional growth.
compare and contrast three different approaches to data literacy efforts from one campus.
reflect on lessons learned from one campus in order to plan for their own data literacy efforts.

Intended Audience: All levels.

Format: Webinar - recorded sessions in which attendees view content and interact only via chat

Cost: $40 - Member; $100 Non-Member

Presenter: Amanda Colligan, Bridgewater State University

Wednesday, July 15, 2026; 10:00 AM - 11:30 am

Building a Data Literacy Program Using a Data Lifecycle Lens

7/22/2026

Data literacy programs often focus on the latter stages of the data lifecycle – specifically, data analysis, visualization, and interpretation. However, a more expansive view of data literacy – from data creation to data destruction/archiving – is needed to be data literate in modern organizations. Experts require depth of knowledge in specific areas to perform their job duties effectively. Alternatively, today’s employees generally need a breadth of knowledge about data processes at critical junctures (along the data lifecycle) to do their jobs more efficiently. Empowering data users and consumers to understand better, for example, how to submit effective data requests, explore data via self-service platforms, read reports and visualizations, and gain a deeper understanding of the infrastructure and applications that power today’s institutions increases data literacy across the board and fulfills a key component of data governance. In this workshop, we’ll explore how a data lifecycle lens streamlines data conversations between units, why a data literacy program functions best within a data governance program, and how attendees might consider creating a data literacy program through this lens.

Participants in this session:will:

learn to differentiate between the domain-specific and data lifecycle approaches to data literacy.
draft a mind map of a potential data literacy program.
be able to identify what makes a strong data literacy program.

Intended Audience: This workshop is a foundational one. No prior skills or knowledge necessary.

Format: This is an Interactive Workshop: Participants will be able to interact with presenter and one another; these are not recorded.

Cost: $40 - Member; $100 Non-Member

Presenter:Melissa Barnett, Limelight Dataworks

Wednesday, July 22, 2026; 10:00 - 11:30

Googling to Guided Learning: AI as a Learning Partner in IR

7/24/2026

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how conversational AI can serve as a practical learning partner in institutional research. Rather than replacing IR expertise, AI can support day-to-day work by helping users understand tool logic, translate technical concepts, troubleshoot errors, and refine how findings are communicated.

Designed for AI-curious IR professionals, this session offers approachable, low-barrier strategies for integrating AI into everyday workflows—no prior experience required. Participants will learn core concepts, best practices, and ethical considerations for responsible AI use, followed by hands-on application through real-world scenarios.

The workshop includes a live demonstration using IPEDS admissions data to build a stakeholder-facing dashboard with help from AI. While the demo will be conducted in Tableau, participants are encouraged to follow along using their tool of choice, such as Power BI, Excel, or others. Interactive group activities and guided exercises will provide opportunities to practice, collaborate, and apply concepts in real time.

Participants in this session:will be able to:

describe how conversational AI can function as a learning partner to support the development of IR technical skills, without replacing professional expertise or judgment.
practice crafting effective, learning-oriented prompts to use AI for troubleshooting, sense-making, and refining analytical outputs.
apply AI to explore IR-related workflows, including working with public IPEDS data, making visualization decisions, and supporting analytical reasoning.
identify key ethical considerations when incorporating AI into institutional research work, including data sensitivity, accuracy, and appropriate use. Intended

Audience: Participants are expected to:

Have a general understanding of institutional research workflows (e.g., working with data requests, creating reports, or building dashboards for stakeholders)
Be able to work with data in at least one tool such as Excel, Tableau, Power BI, or a similar platform (e.g., creating basic charts, filtering data, or building simple tables)
Have a basic familiarity with IPEDS and general awareness of Admissions Survey data elements (e.g., applicants, admits, and enrollment counts)
Be comfortable following a live demonstration and optionally replicating steps in their tool of choice

Participants should have access to a laptop with Microsoft Excel or another data analysis/visualization tool, such as Tableau or Power BI (any recent version), if they wish to follow along during the hands-on portion of the session.

The workshop will include a live demonstration in Tableau using an IPEDS Admissions dataset provided in Excel format. Participants who choose to follow along should be able to open and work with Excel files (e.g., view data, sort/filter, and create basic charts or tables). No advanced features or add-ins are required.

Format: This is an Interactive Workshop: Participants will be able to interact with presenter and one another; these are not recorded.

Cost: $40 - Member; $100 Non-Member

Presenter: Megan Yosko, Rice University

Wednesday, July 24, 2026; 10:00 - 11:30

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