Email: forum@airweb.org
Phone: 850-385-4155 x201

Targeted Affinity Groups (TAGs) Targeted Affinity Groups (TAGs) encourage you to focus on a broad topic with attendees who have similar interests. Each TAG will begin with a special invited plenary presentation, and will be followed by two sets of concurrent sessions on related topics. The afternoon will conclude with the opportunity for open discussion with presenters. Sessions for each TAG, as well as the afternoon break, will be located in adjoining rooms to facilitate networking with AIR members who share common interests. Topics discussed will include:

• Accountability
• Accreditation/Assessment
• Enrollment Management
• Faculty and Student Diversity
• Managing Information
• Technology/Data Warehousing

White Paper Discussion Groups
The 50th Forum will feature a series of discussion groups that gather institutional researchers from different sectors, with different levels of experience. These groups will be charged with discussing the future of institutional research and higher education, as well as new ways in which institutional researchers will support higher education in the coming decades. Our field’s most prominent experts will lead discussions on the critical topics, with discussion participants to develop papers for publication.

Why is the Forum on Memorial Day?

Some of our members wonder why we scheduled the 2010 AIR Forum to encompass the Memorial Day weekend.

First, some background. The size of our Forum limits us to a select group of cities and facilities that can accommodate us. To be sure that we have the option of good space in a desirable city, AIR books hotels 4 or 5 years in advance. Doing so is standard practice for associations. For example, the contract for Chicago was negotiated and approved by the AIR Board over 5 years ago.

By starting the main Forum activities on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, AIR can take the event to highly desirable cities at affordable prices. The 2008 Forum in Seattle and the 2010 Forum in Chicago are possible because of the discounts AIR negotiated for members. We use Memorial Day weekend as a bargaining point to keep hotel rooms and associated meeting costs as low as possible.

Didn’t Executive Director, Randy Swing, promise not to book the Forum on Memorial Day?

Yes. The Board has approved only one contract since Randy started as Executive Director. The 2013 Forum will be in Long Beach, California and NOT on a Memorial Day weekend. AIR will attempt to avoid booking future Forums on Memorial Day, while keeping in mind that members want attractive destination cities, affordable hotel costs, and good facilities to support their learning and networking.

Before booking the next Forum city, AIR will conduct new research to confirm member preferences about cities and dates.

How do members feel about Forums held on Memorial Day weekend?

Some members have expressed that they do not like the choice of Memorial Day weekend for the Forum, while others do not care. A survey of members in the past found that a majority of respondents did not object to the Forum being held on Memorial Day weekend. Recent feedback from members indicates that some prefer the holiday date so that family members can travel with them. Others report that being away from campus on a holiday means less disruption to their office duties. Members who expressed a negative opinion report that they do not wish to be away from family on Memorial Day.

It is not surprising that members have different views for what constitutes the “best date” for the Forum. AIR will continue to survey members and attempt to provide services that best fit the wishes and needs of current members.