Session Presentations
The NCAIR 2026 Conference explores how data, analytics, and emerging technologies are transforming decision-making across higher education. Sessions highlight practical strategies for improving student success, enrollment, and institutional effectiveness through tools like predictive analytics, dashboards, and AI. Attendees also engaged with topics such as data storytelling, survey insights, and collaborative system-level initiatives, all aimed at turning data into meaningful action.
NOTE: Some sessions are not available for external sharing, may be sponsor sessions that cannot be distributed, or have not yet been submitted.
Below are session presentations in PDF format.
Sunday, March 22nd
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Building Resilience through Data Insights: A Hands-on Workshop using Informer 5
Presenter(s): Laura Boyles and Lindsey Tedder (CCCC) - UNC System Workshop and Working Session
Monday, March 23rd
9:45 – 10:35 AM
- An AI-Powered Guide to Support a Successful Accreditation Climb
Presenter(s): Tim Metz (WCU) - Data-Informed Advocacy for Colleges: Transforming Numbers into Narratives
Presenter(s): Carolyn Mata (NCICU) - Impact of Registration Timing on Student Success
Presenter(s): Laura Boyles (CCCC) - Joint Consideration of Admissions Yield, Higher Ed Competitors, and Non-Consumerism
Presenter(s): Jenna Tucker (UNCG)
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
- Exploring AI Adoption in Assessment and Accreditation: A Survey of Higher Education Practices and Perspectives
Presenter(s): Leslie Larchin, Tia Marie Doxey, & Becky Whitson (NCCU) - Unlocking the Power of Census PSEO: Showcasing Graduate Outcomes for North Carolina Colleges
Presenter(s): Carolyn Mata (NCICU) - Survey Insights about Students’ Freedom of Expression and Responsibility
Presenter(s): Thomas Kirnbauer & Brent Maher (Davidson)
2:00 – 2:50 PM
- Beyond the Cliff: Demographic Shifts, Migration Trends, and the New Reality for North Carolina Colleges
Presenter(s): Carolyn Mata (NCICU) - Empowering Decision Making: NCCCS Dashboards and NC Reports Supporting Propel NC
Presenter(s): Elizabeth Stoddard & Bill Schneider (NCCCS) - “How will you use that?” The life cycle of a data request
Presenter(s): Jackie Ross (NC State)
3:10 – 4:00 PM
- Integrated Course Load Matrix (ICLM) Modeling and Use Cases
Presenter(s): Rick Sears (ASU), Michael Smith & Aleeta James (UNCW) - Structural Equation Modeling and Higher Education
Presenter(s): Elizabeth Davis (UNCSA) & Kelly Smith (AEWAS Consulting)
4:10 – 5:00 PM
- Developing a Program Margin Report: Assessing Costs and Revenues of Degree Programs
Presenter(s): Jeff Konz (UNCA) - Out-of-State Enrollment Caps and Student Outcomes in the UNC System
Presenter(s): Prasidha Shakya (UNCSO)
Tuesday, March 24th
9:00 – 9:50 AM
- Propensity Score Matching and Higher Education
Presenter(s): Kelly Smith (AEWAS Consulting)
10:00 – 10:50 AM
- Implementing Early Momentum Metrics to Improve Retention in Engineering and Technology Programs
Presenter(s): Anne Oxenreider, Gretchen Dietz, Kristin Daiber, & Jessica Ottie (WCU) - From Spreadsheets to Scripts: Modernizing IR/IE Workflows with R
Presenter(s): Logan King (HCC) - Diagnosing and Dealing with Stress the IR/IE Way
Presenter(s): Kelly Smith (AEWAS Consulting)