Dr. Kristina (Cragg) Powers, associate vice president of institutional research services at Bridgepoint Education, has been elected to the post of vice president for the California Association for Institutional Research. She also was selected to serve as lead author on a project funded by a grant the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The $675,000 grant is funding three key projects to build institutional research capacity in the United States. The three projects include the National Survey of Institutional Research Offices, Statements of Aspirational Practice for Institutional Research, and an Exploration of Shared Services for Institutional Research.
Dr. Powers served as lead author on the project to develop Statements of Aspirational Practice for Institutional Research. The project focuses on the changing landscape of higher education, data sources, and data tools, and the work reflects what matters most to future-looking institutional research offices in order to remain relevant and effective in decision support roles.
Institutional research covers a wide scope of work performed at schools and universities that is used in the planning and decision-making processes. It includes quantitative and qualitative data about the institution’s students, faculty, staff, curriculum, course offerings, and learning outcomes.
About Bridgepoint Education
Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI) harnesses the latest technology to reimagine the modern student experience. Bridgepoint’s technologies, including Waypoint Outcomes®, enhance the way people learn in the digital age. Bridgepoint owns two academic institutions – Ashford University and University of the Rockies. Together, these programs, technologies, and resources represent a unique model for advancing education in the 21st century. Bridgepoint stands for greater access, social learning, and exposure to leading minds. For more information, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com, www.facebook.com/BridgepointEducation, or call Shari Winet, Vice President of Public Relations, at 858.668.2580.
About the California Association for Institutional Research
The California Association for Institutional Research is dedicated to the fostering of unity and cooperation among persons having interests and activities related to institutional research and/or planning in California institutions of postsecondary education. CAIR provides a forum for the dissemination of information and interchange of ideas on problems of common interest in the field of institutional research. In addition, CAIR promotes the continued professional development of individuals engaging in institutional research and fosters the unity and cooperation among persons having interests and activities related to research.
About the Association for Institutional Research
The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) is the world's largest professional association for institutional researchers. The organization provides educational resources, best practices and professional development opportunities for more than 4,000 members. Its primary purpose is to support members in the process of collecting, analyzing, and converting data into information that supports decision-making in higher education.