TAIR Strategic Plan Task Force
2004-2005
Notes of TAIR’s Strategic Planning
Process
Charge to the Task Force
The strategic planning
committee will review the mission of TAIR and update it as necessary,
perform relevant environmental scanning, and solicit input from the
membership via survey, email discussion, and/or focus groups. They will
develop a vision, goals and initiatives that will move the organization
forward toward the desired future.
The committee will
conduct their work either in person or via email/Internet as they determine
necessary. If focus groups are to be used for member input, the committee
will determine the time and place for such meetings (e.g., at the TAIR
summer workshops; at SAIR, etc.), and provide a facilitator for such events.
The strategic planning
committee will develop a draft of a five-year strategic plan for TAIR, which
will be revealed to the TAIR membership in advance of the 2005 annual
conference in Arlington. Members will be given a chance at the annual
business meeting in Arlington to discuss the plan and suggest revisions.
Suggestions will be incorporated into a final draft of the plan as
appropriate. The plan will become final once it gains approval of executive
committee.
TAIR’s Current
Activities
Karen will prepare a
list of TAIR’s current activities, services to members for us to use as a
baseline when developing the plan.
Mission of TAIR
The Task Force agreed to
use the “Purpose” statement from the TAIR Constitution as the “Mission
Statement” for this round of planning, since it was revised last year and
approved by the membership at the February 2004 annual meeting. Below is
the text:
The major purposes of
the Texas Association for Institutional Research shall be to provide: 1) for
the fostering of unity and cooperation among persons having interests and
activities related to institutional research, planning, evaluation, and
policy analysis in Texas institutions of postsecondary education; 2) for the
dissemination of information and the interchange of ideas on problems of
common interest; and 3) for the continued professional development of
individuals engaged in institutional research, planning, evaluation, and
policy analysis.
Review of Other IR
Strategic Plans
Each Team member, as
indicated below, contacted the president of various state, regional and
national institutional research associations to see if they have a strategic
plan. If found, they were asked:
· May we
have a copy? Electronic, preferably.
· What is
the process they used to develop/update the plan?
· If they
have gone through an evaluation cycle for the plan, may we have a copy of
pertinent documents, and an outline of the process for evaluation?
· (Anything
else you can think of!)
Susan R.
Griffith |
Alabama AIR |
Susan Brown |
AIR |
Darline Morris |
Northeast AIR |
Marilyn Greer |
Georgia AIR |
Rose Austin |
Tennessee AIR |
Dr. Gerry
Dizinno |
SAIR and N/S
Carolina AIR |
Fonda Vera |
N/A. She’s on
vacation until August 2. |
Nick Valcik |
Rocky Mountain
AIR |
Karen Laljiani |
California AIR |
Results: Only AIR had
any kind of planning document, and it consists of a list of strategies and
person responsible, which is reviewed at Executive Committee meetings.
Timeline for Activities in 2004-2005
Time |
Activity |
Responsible |
|
June |
Appointment of
Task Force |
Karen |
|
July/August |
· Orient Task Force, agree on process, make assignments |
Susan |
|
| |
· Review sample of state, regional, national institutional research
associations’ plans for format, content, etc.
· Develop a format for the TAIR plan
Develop a set of
survey questions to solicit input from membership on what they would
like the organization to achieve in the future – in order to achieve
the vision and mission. Review sample of state, regional, national
institutional research associations’ plans for format, content, etc. |
TF |
|
September |
Survey
membership via web survey with an introduction from Karen |
TF |
|
Oct/Nov |
Develop a set of
draft goals, strategies, outcomes, etc. |
TF |
|
December |
Distribute draft
to membership online for comments |
TF |
|
February |
Have roundtables
to discuss draft plan, obtain revisions. |
TF |
|
March |
Email draft once
more for member comment. |
Susan |
|
April |
Incorporate
comments and send final plan to Executive Committee. |
TF |
|
May |
Make any changes
required by EC |
TF |
Summer |
Develop
priorities, target measures, year of completion and responsible
party for the goals and strategies in the plan. Post on TAIR
website. |
EC |
Fall |
Notify
responsible parties of planning responsibilities |
EC |
February 2006 |
Update TAIR
membership on progress of the planning process |
President |
TAIR Strategic Plan
Following is the final
TAIR Strategic Plan, submitted to the Executive Committee by the Strategic
Planning Task Force. It reflects the comments made by the membership via two
online survey opportunities and at the TAIR conference, February 23-25, 2005.
Listed on the plan are
items from the initial draft that were marked “continue” or “maintain”. These
are listed at the beginning of the plan to communicate to the Executive
Committee EC those items with which the membership is pleased, but not be
included as a strategy. These items are:
- Monitor and maintain
or improve TAIR’s inclusiveness with respect to diversity of membership to
include 2-year, 4-year, public, private, systems, health care institutions,
composition of the state, etc.
- Keep cost of PD’s
affordable.
- Maintain focus on:
- State issues,
federal issues: changing regulations, etc.
- General
information related to IR offices.
- Keep cost of
conference, special events affordable; continue travel grants.
- Continue state
special interest group meetings at regional/national meetings.
Several respondents
indicated priorities for the strategies. These are indicated in that box for
the consideration of EC.
TAIR Strategic Plan
GOAL
ONE: IMPROVE TAIR LEADERSHIP.
Strategy |
Priority (H/M/L) |
Target Measure |
Year of
Completion |
Responsible
Party |
1.1: Establish
a vision and core values for TAIR. |
HMHHM |
|
|
|
1.2: Establish
a permanent planning committee, with a specific charge and scope. |
HMLHM |
|
|
|
1.3: Offer
orientation/training sessions for officers. |
MHMHM |
|
|
|
1.4 Expand
leadership/volunteer/ involvement opportunities for members by requiring
the Program Committee to have “x” new people (1-3 years in TAIR) each
year; new person on each subcommittee to increase participation,
training, volunteering, leadership development. |
HHHL |
|
|
|
GOAL
TWO: IMPROVE SERVICES TO THE MEMBERSHIP.
Strategy |
Priority (H/M/L) |
Target Measure |
Year of Completion |
Responsible Party |
2.1 Provide mentoring to newcomers, to include:
- Establishment of
a resource contact list of veteran researchers for use by newcomers.
- Establishment of
a buddy/mentor system, pairing veterans with newcomers.
|
HMMMHH |
|
|
|
2.2 Improve
marketing/outreach to better serve and expand membership; for example:
- Send notices to
ALL IR offices in the state, not just current members.
- Invite graduate
students in higher education programs, statistics, social sciences,
etc.
- Tell members
what they get out of membership.
- Put notification
of conferences, workshops by TAIR and other organizations on the
website. Notify via TAIR-L.
- Explain how TAIR
contributes to individual IR professional and the higher education
community of Texas.
|
HHMLM |
|
|
|
2.3 Develop
interventions to minimize the perceived friction between 2-year and
4-year membership. |
HHLL |
|
|
|
GOAL
THREE: IMPROVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TAIR MEMBERSHIP.
Strategy |
Priority (H/M/L) |
Target Measure |
Year of Completion |
Responsible Party |
3.1: Offer
professional development for small offices: one-half of TAIR members
work in offices of 2 or less; two-thirds, 4 or less. |
HLHLL |
|
|
|
3.2: Use
technology for teleconferencing and more professional development
opportunities.
- Offer
online/web-based/web cast professional development and training
opportunities.
|
MLMHM |
|
|
|
3.3: Expand
professional development (PD) opportunities; for example:
- Sessions on data
mining, surveys (paper and online), focus groups, planning,
scanning, market analysis, evaluation/assessment. Ex.:
- Demonstration of Inquisite online survey software (Dr. S.J.
Sethi)
- Demonstration of SPSS forecasting software (Dr. Paul Orser)
- IPEDS
cutting tool where members develop their own peer sets at the
workshop.
- Offer a
“crash course” in the new SACS criteria.
- Offer more PD
opportunities throughout the year
- Focus on current
topics
- How to write a
cogent report.
- How to discover
“vital signs” and answer questions that really matter.
- How to conduct
collaborative research.
- How to develop a
mature research agenda in IR.
|
HLMMH |
|
|
|
3.4
Collaborate with other IR groups – state, regional and national – to
increase opportunities for networking, professional development
opportunities, conference speakers and sessions, joint workshops, etc. |
HMMHM |
|
|
|
3.5 Offer
same PD session in regions of Texas to improve access, reduce travel
cost |
MLHLH |
|
|
|
3.6 Inventory
resources, models, processes, studies provided by veteran TAIR members;
offer PD sessions online access, links through TAIR website. |
MLMML |
|
|
|
3.7 Solicit
from newcomers topics for which they need help so PD and sessions can be
tailored to them. |
HMMHM |
|
|
|
3.8 Host an
AIR Research or Technology Institute in Texas. |
MLMHH |
|
|
|
3.9
Investigate IR certification programs in US, how TAIR members can
participate, or develop a TAIR Institute. |
MLHML |
|
|
|
3.10 Offer
annual leadership training for members. |
LL |
|
|
|
GOAL
FOUR: IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT.
Strategy |
Priority (H/M/L) |
Target Measure |
Year of Completion |
Responsible Party |
4.1 Develop
track for presentations/workshops/panels revolving around the 8 top
functions of offices that are engaged in by one-third or more of the
membership; for example:
· institutional research
· CB/IPEDS reporting
· Institutional assessment/effectiveness: academic and institutional
assessments.
· SACS
and other accreditations
· Strategic planning
· Executive management research
· Enrollment management |
LLMM |
|
|
|
4.2
Collaborate with other IR groups – state, regional and national – to
increase opportunities for networking, professional development
opportunities, conference speakers and sessions, joint workshops, etc. |
MMHM |
|
|
|
4.3 Expand
“Newcomers” sessions, since 57% have been with TAIR < 5 years; 45% in IR
< 5 years. |
MMHMM |
|
|
|
4.4 Offer
standard sessions on IR essentials that are tailored to:
- Beginners,
intermediates, experts, and so designate in program.
- 2-year and
4-year institutions
- Ex.: Offer a
general session on CB changes that impact all institutions, then
breakout into smaller groups for tailored discussions.
- Privates
- Offer a
special session for private institutions.
|
LHMM |
|
|
|
4.5 Improve
quality of presentations.
- Offer a session
on “How to Organize and Present a Paper/Demonstration” taught by an
English professor, Business Communication, etc.
- Give presenters
feedback from the facilitator, proctor, and old-timers at the
sessions.
|
HHMMHH |
|
|
|
4.6 Take
advantage of the experience and expertise of old-timers: solicit them
for topics, sessions. |
HLMHH |
|
|
|
4.7 Schedule
the conference to minimize conflict with LLB reporting, 12th/21st class day reporting, CB deadlines, etc. |
HMMHH |
|
|
|
4.8 Tailor
sessions to meet the needs of the subgroups. |
HMMH |
|
|
|
4.9 Improve
quality of workshops – vet them, get references, etc. |
MMM |
|
|
|
4.10 Adjust
time for sessions – allow person to sign up for two back-to-back time
slots if their presentation is long. |
MLLHM |
|
|
|
4.11 Offer more
skill training workshops. |
LLMM |
|
|
|
4.12 Encourage members to present research and best practices |
HLMHH |
|
|
|
4.13 Evaluate the activities of vendors at conferences; should it be
increased, decreased, stay the same? |
LLML |
|
|
|
GOAL
FIVE: IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AMONG THE MEMBERSHIP.
Strategy |
Priority (H/M/L) |
Target Measure |
Year of Completion |
Responsible Party |
5.1 Improve
the TAIR website/TAIR-L; for example:
- Keep membership
lists current
- Post and share
information on the site, as 12th class day numbers, best
practices, models, links to helpful sites, definitions of terms,
etc.
- Improve/simplify
logon protocol
- Notify members
of posting of quarterly newsletters via TAIR-L
- Improve the look
of TAIR-L. Can’t tell the difference between introductory material
and the message.
- Post more
information on changes in state/federal reporting.
- Use TAIR-L to
share pertinent articles from the Chronicle of Higher Education.
|
HHMHHL |
|
|
|
5.2 Improve
communication on topical issues; for example:
- Use as a model
the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Colloquy’s, “First Year
Experience” telecasts, etc.
|
MMMML |
|
|
|
5.3 Improve
communication among members and member institutions. |
MMMML |
|
|
|
5.4 Establish
protocol for data sharing between 2-year and 4-year, 4-year and 4-year,
etc. to track performance of transfers. |
HMHHH |
|
|
|
5.5 Develop a
TAIR-L notification; for example:
- “News from
Austin/AIR/SAIR/SCUP/DOE” (as recent IPEDS changes)
- Share pertinent
information from TASSCUBO, Council of Presidents, TCCTA, TACRAO,
etc.
|
HHMHL |
|
|
|
5.6 Monitor
AIR, SCUP, etc. for “emerging issues” for the TAIR leadership to
address. |
HMMMHL |
|
|
|
GOAL
SIX: BECOME A LEADER IN THE STATE, REGION AND NATIONALLY WITHIN
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS.
Strategy |
Priority (H/M/L) |
Target Measure |
Year of Completion |
Responsible Party |
6.1 Become
a leader/activist/catalyst for change, influence state and federal
initiatives that impact the membership; for example:
· Establish a permanent issues/trend identification committee.
- Increase the
visibility and activity of the Data Advisory Group to influence
THECB with membership concerns, issues.
- Encourage
members to publish research on the TAIR “Virtually Professional”
online magazine, and in other IR publications.
|
HHMMHH |
|
|
|
|
