This topic area features the recognition of stakeholders with: 

• Attention to equity, 
• Identification of their information, data, and analysis needs, and 
• Determination of effective and ethical approaches to meeting those needs in support of student and institutional success; including interpretation, contextualization, reporting, and communication. 

Impact sessions are broad interest sessions, with multiple presenters/perspectives, focused on emerging and important topics and issues with impact for everyone in higher education fields. These key sessions typically kick-off AIR Forum content and provide a venue for addressing opportunities, challenges, updates, and forward-looking insight into topics of broad interest that require an in-depth presentation. Four to six session slots are available for this format. Sessions that are not accepted as impact sessions due to capacity constraints may be accepted as panel or speaker sessions. 

Impact sessions will be 90 minutes and set up in theater seating. The set-up includes standard audio/visual including a podium, microphone(s), projector, screen, and  projection cable. 

Speaker sessions present research, share applications, practices, or topics of interest related to the effective use of data, analytics, information, and evidence for decision making that benefit students and institutions. Sessions may be led by one to three presenters. At least 10 minutes should be reserved for Q&A. Presentation slides are expected and supplementary materials/handouts summarizing the presentation should be uploaded to the presenter portal at least two weeks prior to AIR Forum. 

Speaker sessions will be 45 minutes and set up in theater seating. The set-up includes standard audio/visual including a podium, microphone(s), projector, screen, and VGA projection cable. Presenters must supply their own laptop for presentations. Internet access, projector adapters for MACs or mobile devices, and/or U.S. voltage adapters are not provided. 

Panel Sessions include multiple perspectives about an application, practice, or topic of interest related to the effective use of data in higher education. Panels are composed of a maximum of 4 presenters with an additional option for a moderator. Panelists should have identifiable, unique points of view about the topic. Proposals must identify the presentation structure that will be used to present the multi-perspective discussion session. Supplementary materials/handouts summarizing the presentation should be uploaded to the presenter portal at least two weeks prior to AIR Forum.

Panel sessions will be 60 minutes and set up in theater style seating. The set-up includes basic audio/visual including a podium, microphone(s), a projector, screen, and one  projection cable. Presenters must supply their own laptop for presentations. Internet access, projector adapters for MACs or mobile devices, and/or U.S. voltage adapters are not provided. 

Discussion groups are highly interactive group discussions that focus on research, applications, practice, or topic of interest related to the effective use of data in higher education. The discussion leader(s) briefly presents opening remarks to define the session and set the context. Three to five questions submitted with the session proposal provide the structure for the discussion that follows. The discussion leader role also includes encouraging participants to share their perspectives and providing a summary and closure to the discussion. Discussions may be led by an individual or two co-leaders. Supplementary materials/handouts summarizing the presentation should be uploaded to the presenter portal at least two weeks prior to AIR Forum. 

Discussion groups will be 45 minutes and set up in individual rooms with semi-circle seating. Because discussion groups are intended to be interactive conversations and not presentations, no audio-visual equipment is provided, however, a flip chart and markers are available upon request. 

Posters visually communicate the purpose, research approach, data sources, and outcomes of a scholarly or applied research project study. They efficiently communicate concepts and data to an audience using a combination of visuals and text. 

Posters are displayed in the Exhibit Hall with presenters available for a 60-minute question and answer period. Each poster is allotted an area approximately 45” x 45” (half of a 4' x 8' free-standing poster board). To allow for 2 posters per side posters should be no larger than 40” x 40”. Posters should be printed on thin/lightweight poster paper or fabric as heavy materials may be difficult to attach to the display board. Presenters are encouraged to include a QR code for attendees to scan for additional insights as well as contact information for any follow-up questions. Supplementary materials/handouts summarizing the presentation should be uploaded to the presenter portal at least two weeks prior to AIR Forum and may include a short (5 minute) recording summarizing the content linked with other resources via the QR code printed on the poster. 

A: Proposals are evaluated by AIR members using a rubric that evaluates session quality and potential draw (interest or popularity). Proposals are then ranked based on reviewer ratings. Because there are usually more high-quality proposals than space available, additional screening is required to reduce the number of sessions and balance the overall program in terms of topics and sector representation. It is unfortunate, but space limitations usually mean that some high-quality sessions are not accepted.   

A: Proposals undergo a half-blind review process, meaning that reviewers are not revealed to the session proposer(s) but session authors are revealed to reviewers. 

A successful concurrent session requires great content and organization, as well as a presenter who has the background and experience to handle the topic. The half-blind review allows presenters to share their backgrounds, affiliations, and any other evidence of their expertise with reviewers. Often, it is critical to know that a presenter has access to data or technologies. The half-blind review puts all presenters on a level playing field to build the case for their expertise. 

Why does AIR use a full-blind review for publications and a half-blind review for AIR Forum sessions? When reviewing a print manuscript, the full evidence of the author’s proficiency in the topic is evident in the document itself. Reviewers have the actual product to review. In AIR Forum session reviews, however, there is only a brief description and “promise” of what will be delivered. The presenter’s capacity to fulfill the promise is legitimately part of the selection process. 

A: No. However, all AIR Forum presenters must be registered and attend the AIR Forum to present. AIR membership is not required, but members do receive a significant discount on the registration fee. You may purchase a membership along with AIR Forum registration.

Note: Pre-/post-conference workshop presenters do not need to register for the AIR Forum to present.  

A: Any session can be designated as a scholarly paper session. To be designated as such in the AIR Forum session listing, a scholarly paper of academic nature must be uploaded via the presenter portal by April 28, 2023. Please note that the criteria to be eligible for the Charles F. Elton Best Paper Award has been revised. 

High-quality draft versions are acceptable. However, outlines, PowerPoint presentations, or speaking notes are not. Authors retain all copyright to the paper and are free to submit the final version to an academic or practitioner scholarly journal. Scholarly papers are typically 8–30 pages in length and contain research questions, methodologies, literature reviews, and findings (though variations are acceptable). Only .PDF, .DOC, and .DOCX formats can be uploaded. 

All scholarly papers and authors will be highlighted in a special section of the AIR Forum session listing and on the AIR Forum website if uploaded by the deadline.