PNAIRP 2025 Workshops

Workshops are INCLUDED in the conference registration fee. There are two time blocks, each with two workshops offered concurrently. 

Wednesday Morning

Git Basics

Andy Samuel - Database Administrator, Western Washington University Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Beth Hartsoch - Associate Director, Western Washington University Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Do you want to improve the quality of your team’s coding skills?  Do you want to know how your colleague got a number?  Do you want to know why numbers generated today for differ from numbers generated last year?

Join us for a hands-on workshop on getting started with Git. At the end of this workshop you will have one Git repository on your local machine and a corresponding remote repository. You will know the basics of using the Git client Sourcetree. You will have a better understanding of how to use Git and how it can improve your work.

Git is a version control tool originally developed for software engineering. Today, the constellation of Git tooling not only facilitates code versioning and documentation but also collaboration, workflow, and code review.

Workshop presenters Andy Samuel and Beth Hartsoch use Git, GitLab, and Sourcetree in their roles at Western Washington University's Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Andy introduced the tools to the OIE team in 2019 and has led code development and tooling for the team. Beth brings the perspective of working in IR/IE before and after adopting Git, and has seen first-hand the associated increase in efficiency, collaboration, responsiveness to requests, and accuracy of reporting.

Tableau Dashboards

Allyson Meyers - Senior Research Analyst,  Portland State University Office of Institutional Research and Planning

Steve Salem - manager, Thompson Rivers University Integrated Planning and Effectiveness

Jake Morrision - Executive Director, Eastern Washington University Office of Institutional Research

Description coming soon!

Wednesday Afternoon

Data in Tandem: Building Trust, Effectiveness, and Institutional Unity

Erik McFarland - Director of Academic Advising, Western Seminary

In the evolving landscape of higher education, data professionals play a crucial role in informing decisions, shaping policies, and driving institutional success. However, their effectiveness often hinges on one critical factor: trust. Without trust in the data they provide, even the most sophisticated analyses can be underutilized.

This workshop will explore how principles from Jeffrey Buller’s Positive Academic Leadership can empower data professionals to foster trust, enhance their effectiveness, and contribute to a stronger, more unified institution. Through interactive discussions and real-world applications, participants will learn how positive leadership practices can:

• Strengthening relationships with campus stakeholders, fostering confidence in institutional data.

• Improve job satisfaction and engagement by applying leadership techniques that encourage collaboration and shared vision.

• Increase efficiency and effectiveness, enabling data teams to do more with fewer resources.

• Align data initiatives with institutional goals, driving unity and strategic progress.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Apply positive leadership strategies to build credibility and trust in institutional data.

• Identify techniques to enhance collaboration between data professionals and academic leaders.

• Leverage positive leadership to improve workplace satisfaction and team effectiveness.

• Implement practical approaches to maximize impact, even with limited resources.

Target Audience:

This workshop is designed for institutional researchers, data analysts, assessment professionals, and administrators in higher education who seek to improve the effectiveness and reception of their work while fostering a positive and cohesive institutional culture.

Format & Engagement:

The session will include an interactive presentation, small-group discussions, and scenario-based exercises that allow participants to apply positive leadership principles to their daily challenges. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies they can implement immediately in their roles.

Conclusion:

By integrating positive academic leadership into their practice, data professionals can elevate their work from transactional to transformational. This session will provide the tools and mindset shifts necessary to strengthen trust in data, enhance job effectiveness, and contribute to a thriving institution—even in resource-constrained environments.

DevOps Processes for IR

Chrystian Shepperd - Director, University of Washington Office of Institutional Research

This workshop will introduce the principles and practices of DevOps to institutional research offices, with a focus on ones that are not currently following any DevOps processes. Participants will learn how DevOps can streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and improve the quality and consistency of reports/outputs. 

Topics Covered:

1. Agile Methodology: Principles and practices; relationship to DevOps

2. Introduction to DevOps: Definition, key concepts, and benefits

3. DevOps Tools and Technologies: Overview of popular tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jira, Asana)

4. Implementing DevOps Practices: Project management, version control with Git

5. Hands-on Activities: Setting up projects, managing tasks and workflows, working with Kanban boards 

Targeted Audience:

• Institutional research professionals with varying levels of experience

• Beginners with no prior knowledge of DevOps

• Intermediate users familiar with basic project management tools but new to DevOps practices 

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Understand the fundamental principles of Agile and DevOps and their relevance to institutional research

• Be able to identify and implement key DevOps tools and practices

• Gain practical experience in using project management tools  (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jira, Asana) 

• Gain practical experience in using Git for version control