2012 Pre-conference Workshop Schedule and Fees

Workshops are interactive and engage participants in learning about practical tools and techniques of assessment, institutional research, and statistics. These half- and full-day sessions will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2012 and Sunday, June 3, 2012. Seating is limited and advance registration is required.

Saturday, June 2
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  • Data Mining: An Intensive Introduction ($190)

    Presenters:
    Sutee Sujitparapitaya, San Jose State University
    Lin Chang, Colorado State University–Pueblo

    This workshop will introduce the basic concepts of data mining and identify the types of data typically found in large institutional databases, research questions to consider before mining data, and issues of data quality. The data selection and mining process will be covered, along with techniques to improve research quality and efficiency. Participants will also become familiar with data mining tools that are prevalent in the field.

    Participants attending this workshop are required to bring a laptop computer. Laptop computers must meet the following requirements:

    • Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 7 (Professional and Enterprise x86 and x64 editions), with Service Pack 1 and above, Microsoft Windows Vista (Business and Enterprise x86 and x64 editions), with Vista Service Pack 2 and above, Microsoft Windows XP Professional (x86 and x64 editions), with XP Service Pack 3 and above, Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 (AMD64/EM64T) edition, Standard and Enterprise editions
    • Software: IBM PASW Modeler (AIR will provide a trial version of this software)
    • Configuration: Intel® Pentium® or Pentium-class processor or higher (for 32-bit Windows), x64 (AMD 64 and EM64T) processor family (for 64-bit Windows), a monitor with 1024x768 resolution or higher, DVD-ROM drive if installing from the installation disk. Free disk space: 2 GB of available hard-disk space, RAM: 2 GB or more recommended

  • Excel Macros Boot Camp for Spreadsheet Automation ($190)

    Presenters:
    Mark Leany, Utah Valley University
    Tim Stanley, Utah Valley University

    In this workshop, participants will learn how to set up and run Excel macros including how to record, re-write, and use conditional logic and loop control statements. Participants will also learn to access methods and commands that cannot be recorded. A workbook with step-by-step instructions to produce macros practiced during the workshop will be provided. Prior macro experience is not required, but participants should have a working knowledge of Excel.

    Participants attending this workshop are required to bring a laptop computer. Laptop computers must meet the following requirements:

    • Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (32-bit version), Vista/Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions), Apple Mac OS X
    • Software: Microsoft Excel 2007 or Microsoft Excel 2010 (AIR will not provide this software)
    • Configuration: Intel or AMD x86 processor running at 1 gigahertz (GHz) or higher, 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM or more (at least 1 gigabyte (GB) is recommended), a monitor with 1024x768 resolution or higher

  • Introduction to Statistics Using SPSS ($190)

    Presenters:
    Kevin Eagan, University of California-Los Angeles
    Jessica Sharkness, Tufts University

    In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of descriptive and inferential statistical concepts. This workshop will cover SPSS file management, including how to handle missing data and the unique characteristics of continuous and categorical data. Topics covered include how to produce and apply measures of central tendency, variance, and outliers; confidence intervals, frequency distributions and cross tabulations; tests of group differences (i.e., t-tests, ANOVA); correlation; regression; and statistical versus substantive significance.

    Participants attending this workshop are required to bring a laptop computer. Laptop computers must meet the following requirements:

    • Operating System: Microsoft® Windows XP (Professional, 32-bit) or Vista (Home, Business, 32- or 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- or 64-bit), Apple Mac 10.6x (Snow Leopard) or 10.7 (Lion)
    • Software: IBM SPSS Statistics 19 (AIR will provide this software)
    • Configuration: Intel® or AMD x86 processor running at 1GHz or higher, Memory: 1GB RAM or more recommended, Minimum free drive space: 800MB, DVD drive, XGA (1024x768) or higher-resolution monitor, for connecting with IBM SPSS Statistics Server, a network adapter running the TCP/IP network protocol

Saturday, June 2
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

  • Basics of Program Evaluation ($95)

    Presenter:
    Sharron Ronco, Marquette University

    This workshop will introduce basic program evaluation methods, and focus on evaluating academic support programs such as freshman learning communities, tutoring or mentoring programs, and advising services.

    Participants are not required to bring a laptop to this workshop.

  • Designing Effective Tables and Charts: Theory and Practice ($95)

    Presenters:
    Rebecca Carr, Association of American Universities Data Exchange
    Mary Harrington, University of Mississippi

    This workshop will describe and demonstrate best practices in the design of high visual impact analytical tables and charts. A combination of presentation, small group activities, discussion, and hands-on exercises will be used. Participants are encouraged to bring content for evaluation and feedback.

    Participants attending this workshop are required to bring a laptop computer. Laptop computers must meet the following requirements:

    • Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (32-bit version), Vista/Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions), Apple Mac OS X
    • Software: Microsoft Excel 2003 through Microsoft Excel 2010 (AIR will not provide this software)
    • Configuration: Intel or AMD x86 processor running at 1 gigahertz (GHz) or higher, 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM or more (at least 1 gigabyte (GB) is recommended), a monitor with 1024x768 resolution or higher

  • Improving Student Success: A Closer Look at a Successful Institutional Change Model ($95)

    Presenters:
    Jan Lyddon, Organizational Effectiveness Consultants
    Rigoberto Rincones-Gomez, Broward College

    This workshop will take the topic of student retention beyond simply reporting data to identifying how IR professionals can leverage the data to improve student success. Participants will learn about key milestone metrics, cohort-based data and cross-sectional data, and will identify when and how to use and effectively communicate these data to key stakeholders. Workshop participants will also identify key elements of a student success intervention plan for their institution.

    Participants are not required to bring a laptop to this workshop.

Saturday, June 2
12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  • Assessing Student Learning in the Major: Strategies and Instruments ($95)

    Presenter:
    J. Fredricks Volkwein, Pennsylvania State University

    This workshop will examine various assessment strategies and instruments for collecting data and measuring student learning in the major. Participants will learn effective strategies to assist faculty with department assessment programs and to collect useful outcomes information for the entire institution.

    Participants are not required to bring a laptop to this workshop.

  • Fundamentals of Logic Models and Evaluation ($95)

    Presenters:
    Rigoberto Rincones-Gomez, Broward College
    Liliana Rodriguez-Campos, University of South Florida

    Using interactive discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises, this workshop will demonstrate how to use logic modeling as a tool to describe intervention strategies and develop evaluation questions. Through institutional examples, participants will learn strategies to develop logic models and evaluation plans. An evaluation guide and checklists for use in developing logic models and evaluation tools will be provided.

    Participants are not required to bring a laptop to this workshop.

Sunday, June 3
8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

  • Assessing Institutional Effectiveness: A Basic Toolbox ($190)

    Presenter:
    Michael Middaugh, University of Delaware

    This workshop will examine a broad range of strategies, methodologies, and tools for assessing institutional effectiveness. The workshop will focus on measuring the effectiveness of institutional processes which affect prospective and current students, faculty, and staff; issues related to academic productivity and cost containment; administrative effectiveness; and tools for clearly communicating information about institutional effectiveness.

    Participants are not required to bring a laptop to this workshop.

  • Balanced Scorecards: Development and Use in Strategy Execution ($190)

    Presenters:
    Jan Lyddon, Organizational Effectiveness Consultants
    Bruce McComb, Organizational Effectiveness Consultants

    This workshop will demonstrate how to develop and use balanced scorecards, dashboards, and performance indicators to chart institutional performance and improve strategy execution. Participants will develop draft Key Performance Indicators for an institutional strategic plan, identify leadership roles in building a scorecard, and determine the role of the institutional research office in the process. Participants will also learn how to identify sources and methods for setting benchmarks, gain an understanding of the implementation plan for a balanced scorecard, and discover how to effectively use the scorecard system to improve strategy execution.

    Participants are not required to bring a laptop to this workshop.

  • Data Mining: Clustering and Predictive Modeling Techniques ($190)

    Presenters:
    Sutee Sujitparapitaya, San Jose State University
    Lin Chang, Colorado State University–Pueblo

    In this workshop, participants will learn how to apply clustering and predictive modeling techniques to identify correlations, patterns, and trends using a mock database and the IBM data mining program, PASW Modeler (formerly known as SPSS Clementine). Through hands-on activities, participants will explore extracting data from a transactional data system, preparing data for analytical file formats, data audits, K-means clustering, and predictive modeling. This workshop will cover advanced data analysis and modeling techniques and a general understanding of statistical concepts, data marts, and data warehousing are prerequisite. A manual with step-by-step instructions to produce models practiced during the workshop will be provided.

    Participants attending this workshop are required to bring a laptop computer. Laptop computers must meet the following requirements:

    • Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 7 (Professional and Enterprise x86 and x64 editions), with Service Pack 1 and above, Microsoft Windows Vista (Business and Enterprise x86 and x64 editions), with Vista Service Pack 2 and above, Microsoft Windows XP Professional (x86 and x64 editions), with XP Service Pack 3 and above, Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 (AMD64/EM64T) edition, Standard and Enterprise editions
    • Software: IBM PASW Modeler (AIR will provide a trial version of this software)
    • Configuration: Intel® Pentium® or Pentium-class processor or higher (for 32-bit Windows), x64 (AMD 64 and EM64T) processor family (for 64-bit Windows), a monitor with 1024x768 resolution or higher, DVD-ROM drive if installing from the installation disk. Free disk space: 2 GB of available hard-disk space, RAM: 2 GB or more recommended

  • Data Warehousing: An Introduction ($190)

    Presenter:
    John Milam, Lord Fairfax Community College

    This workshop will explore the roles, functions, and processes of data administration. The constraints and benefits of different data models and designs will be discussed, along with security, access, ETL processes, and data integrity. Reporting tools, online data applications, dashboards, data marts, and data warehouse software systems and technologies will be covered. Participants will assess where their organization’s efforts fall within maturity models, document their skillsets and expectations, share lessons in overcoming predictable hurdles, sketch milestones, and plan strategies to move forward.

    Participants are not required to bring a laptop to this workshop.

Sunday, June 3
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

  • Dashboards in Excel: An Introduction ($95)

    Presenter:
    Craig Abbey, The Center for Measuring University Performance

    In this workshop, participants will learn about various types of dashboards, how to create dashboards with high-quality graphs in Excel 2007/2010, and how to customize output to highlight the data's meaning. Topics covered will include creating and formatting charts for time-series, ranking, part-to-whole, deviation, distribution and nominal comparison relationships.

    Participants attending this workshop are required to bring a laptop computer. Laptop computers must meet the following requirements:

    • Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (32-bit version), Vista/Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions), Apple Mac OS X
    • Software: Microsoft Excel 2007 or Microsoft Excel 2010 (AIR will not provide this software)
    • Configuration: Intel or AMD x86 processor running at 1 gigahertz (GHz) or higher, 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM or more (at least 1 gigabyte (GB) is recommended), a monitor with 1024x768 resolution or higher

  • Qualitative Research: Best Practices ($95)

    Presenters:
    Bill Hayward, Slover Linett Strategies
    Anne Lee, Slover Linett Strategies

    Participants will learn best practices, strategies, techniques, and tips for conducting qualitative research using case studies from a range of colleges and universities. The workshop will incorporate hands-on exercises to explore all aspects of qualitative research, including focus groups, individual interviews, and emerging approaches. Materials covered will draw from a variety of constituents spanning the entire student life cycle, as well as faculty, staff, and other stakeholders.

    Participants are not required to bring a laptop to this workshop.

Sunday, June 3
12:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

  • Dashboards in Excel: Advanced ($95)

    Presenter:
    Craig Abbey, The Center for Measuring University Performance

    In this workshop, participants will learn how to dynamically update visual displays of data for dashboards including updating the functionality of graphs using the OFFSET function in Excel. Participants will also learn how to use combo boxes for displaying data on multiple reporting units, how to create traffic light indicators and how to automatically change the number of graphed data points.

    Participants attending this workshop are required to bring a laptop computer. Laptop computers must meet the following requirements:

    • Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (32-bit version), Vista/Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions), Apple Mac OS X
    • Software: Microsoft Excel 2007 or Microsoft Excel 2010 (AIR will not provide this software)
    • Configuration: Intel or AMD x86 processor running at 1 gigahertz (GHz) or higher, 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM or more (at least 1 gigabyte (GB) is recommended), a monitor with 1024x768 resolution or higher

  • The Well-Organized Institutional Research Office: A Better Practice Checklist ($95)

    Presenter:
    Mary Lelik, University of Illinois at Chicago

    In this workshop, participants will explore best practices and novel techniques for disseminating information in a timely manner. Practical solutions to facilitate greater organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity will be offered for both the newly formed or well established IR office. Participants will learn how to balance competing priorities and to set measurable, realistic, and achievable office and personnel goals.

    Participants are not required to bring a laptop to this workshop.

Pre-conference Masters Seminars

Sunday, June 3
1:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

  • Assessment of Learning Outcomes: Selecting the Measurement Device and Data to Collect ($75)

    Keston Fulcher
    Associate Director
    Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University

    • Most institutions endeavor to use learning assessments to improve their programs. Unfortunately, after the data are collected, faculty often argue that the measurement device (test) did not cover what they value or that data collection issues diminish the meaning of results. This lecture will help institutional effectiveness professionals confront such issues. Attendees will learn how assessment and measurement experts address two important aspects of the assessment process: test selection and data collection. Attendees will receive decision tree templates related to both areas, which will also include references to guide deeper exploration. The focus will be on foundational topics though more advanced issues will be broached.

  • Research Design, Statistics and the Practice of Institutional Research: Comparing Group Mean Differences ($75)

    Mary Ann Coughlin
    Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs
    Springfield College

    • Institutional Researchers often struggle to determine the appropriate statistic to use even after successfully creating solid research designs and appropriately providing descriptive statistics. So how does one move from research designs and descriptive statistics to inferential statistics that best answer the research question? This Masters Seminars will discuss the link between research design and statistics. More specifically, the seminar will explore common research questions from IR applications about group mean differences and describe the link between these research questions and the appropriate use of inferential statistics such as t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The presenter will discuss and explore the theory behind these statistics and the appropriate link to practical applications within the field of Institutional Research. The goal of this session is to empower participants to make informed decisions about group mean comparisons.