More than five years ago, the Association has written its prediction on the future applications of Education Analytics (IRI–Institutional Research Intelligence).  At that time, some may not be able to comprehend or think it will happen.  But it did.

When AAEA shared the ideas of Education Analytics or Institutional Research Intelligence (IRI) as a must needed tool for the US higher education institutions, most organizations are not ready with this new game.  The reason is simple, the “old”  profession has been built on the “outdated mindset”, i.e., reporting only functionality.  However, it took years for decision makers at different levels and at different entities–state, or federal, private or public institutions to make the change and follow the “new IRI paradigm”.  But now, we all see how the prediction has become a major break through in the US higher ed industry to help many parties or players overcoming a more painful consequences.  Some open-minded institutions such as Harvard has prepared and made the changes, but others cannot adopt the new paradigm and adapt to the new challenges fast enough.  May be they do not have the resources and supports to react fast enough.

Some higher ed institutions never been able to see that competition in the industry is real and exist.  Only recently, college decision makers start seeing the new reality, and  are trying hard to make the changes.  However, most institutions are facing difficulty to find the “right professionals” with the “right skill sets” which can help winning the contests.  The reason is simple, because these professionals and “rare” and some campus administrators are bounded with the “old hiring practices”.  Consequently, the institution as awhole suffers.  Colleges have to be willing to pay a premium price or additional incentives to lure such a person for taking the job.  Remember these professional are “scarce“.