Presentations

Presentations

The members of the Office of Decision Support participate regularly in regional and national conferences and make professional presentations on topics related to institutional research, data governance, data warehousing and business intelligence. Conference sessions appear below (newest first). Peer-reviewed work is listed separately on our Publications page.

  • JUN 2026

    Zhang, S., Shi, Q., Jiang, Y., Ferrar, T. (2026, June). NSF_HSI Implementation and Evaluation Project: Enhancing and Expanding Second-Year Experience (EESYE) to Improve Student Success in Engineering/Computer Science Programs. Proposal accepted for presentation at the annual conference & exposition of American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE). Charlotte, NC.

  • MAY 2026

    Crooker, J. R., Brattain, S., & Shi, Q. (2026, May). Course evaluation completion over student careers and policy impacts. Presented at the annual meeting of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Washington D.C.

  • MAY 2026

    Calkins, C. M., Crooker, J. R., & Shi, Q. (2026, May). Leniency and reliability - Faculty grading behaviors in the pandemic era. Presented at the annual meeting of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Washington D.C.

  • MAY 2026

    Zhang, X., Yang, D., Wu, J., & Shi, Q. (2026, May). Early engagement indicators and student success: Multi-campus perspectives. Presented at the annual meeting of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Washington D.C.

  • APR 2026

    Shi, Q., Fling, S., & Nelson, T. (2026, April). Integrating Canvas engagement data and student evaluations of teaching to predict academic performance. i-Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Los Angeles. CA.

  • APR 2026

    Crooker, J. R., Shi, Q., Drum, C., & Pritchard, L. (2026, April). Academic momentum, financial aid dynamics, and stop-out risk: Evidence from discrete-time hazard models. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Los Angeles. CA.

  • APR 2026

    Wade, R. (2026, April). Beyond Sankey Diagrams: A New Framework for Tracking Student Flows. Presented at the annual conference of Higher Education Data World (HEDW). Austin, TX.

  • JAN 2026

    Heavey, C., Barrie, E., Crooker, J. R., Korgan, K., & Anderson, L. L., & (2026, January). Building better feedback: Two universities’ journeys to improve course evaluations. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). Washington, D.C.

  • JAN 2026

    Garza, T., Shi, Q., Jiang, Y., & Ferrar, T. (2026, January). Artificial intelligence as a tool for uncovering themes in STEM student career fair experiences. Paper presented at the annual meeting of Hawaii International Conference on Education (HICE). Honolulu, HI.

  • JAN 2026

    Shi, Q., Zhang, S., Garza, T., & Jiang, Y. (2026, January). Transforming second-year experience and fostering a sense of belonging among engineering students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of Hawaii International Conference on Education (HICE). Honolulu, HI.

  • MAY 2025

    Crooker, J. R., Rogers, K., & Shi, Q., Guyer, A. (2025, May). From silos to solutions: Unifying data systems to promote student success. Presented at the annual conference of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Orlando, FL.

  • MAY 2025

    Fling, S., Shi, Q., & Nelson, T. (2025, May). Enhancing learning with Canvas engagement and course evaluation data. Presented at the annual conference of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Orlando, FL.

  • APR 2025

    Shi, Q., Li, C., Garza, T., Zhang, S., & Jiang, Y. (2025, April). Effects of learning environments, self-efficacy, and mindset on engineering students’ learning strategies. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Denver, CO.

  • APR 2025

    Shi, Q., Guyer A., & Crooker, J. R. (2025, April). Leveraging Canvas data to optimize student engagement and academic performance. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Denver, CO.

  • APR 2025

    Crooker, J. R., Shi, Q., Drum, C., & Guyer, A. (2025, April). Transforming gateway math: Analyzing the impact of corequisite models on course performance. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Denver, CO.

  • APR 2025

    Drum, C., Shi, Q., & Crooker, J. R. (2025, April). Unpacking study abroad: Examining its impact on student success metrics. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Denver, CO.

  • NOV 2024

    Garza, T., Shi, Q., Li, C., & Zhang, S. (2024, November). Evaluating learning approaches of Hispanic engineering students in an enhanced first-year experience course. Presented at the annual conference of Florida Educational Research Association. Orlando, FL.

  • OCT 2024

    Drum, C. R., Crooker, R. J., Shi, Q., & Guyer, A. (2024, October). Optimizing gateway math education: Analysis of co-requisite models and course redesign strategies. Presented at the Symposium for Transforming the Postsecondary Experience. Pittsburg, PA.

  • JUN 2024

    Farmer, T, & Wofford, K. (2024, June). Leveraging technology to increase student engagement. Presented at the annual conference of Blue Explorance World. Montreal, Canada.

  • MAY 2024

    Crooker, R. J., Shi, Q., & Guyer, A. (2024, May). Promoting Student Outcomes: Utilization of Canvas Activity Log Data. Presented at the annual conference of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • MAY 2024

    Simon, J., Skip Crooker, J. R., & Matthews, B. (2024, May). Advancing analytic maturity at Hispanic Serving Institutions. Presented at the annual conference of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • MAY 2024

    Crooker, R. J., Guyer, A., & Shi, Q. (2024, May). Involvement in Student Organizations to Promote Equity and Student Success. Presented at the annual conference of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • MAY 2024

    Wofford, K., Drum, C., Crooker, J., Mariscal, J., Shi, Q., & Guyer, A. (2024, May). Collaborative Efforts to Build Equity Dashboards and Foster Student Success. Presented at the annual conference of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • APR 2024

    Shi, Q., Crooker, R. J., & Guyer, A. (2024, April). Comparing First-Year Students' Civic Engagement Pre- and Post-Pandemic: Insights from NSSE 2018 and 2021. I-poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Philadelphia, PA.

  • APR 2024

    Crooker, R. J., Shi, Q., & Guyer, A. (2024, April). Student Involvement Dismantling Equity Gaps and Promoting Student Success: A Propensity Score Matching Approach. I-poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Philadelphia, PA.

  • APR 2024

    Calkins, C., Shi, Q., & Crooker, R. J. (2024, April). Modeling Grade Outcomes in Math Course Sequences Beyond the COVID Pandemic. Proposal submitted to the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Philadelphia, PA.

  • APR 2024

    Rogers, K., Mariscal, J., Pender, N., & Wofford, K. (2024, April). Ensuring Equity: Understanding Student Achievement Gaps Using SAS® Visual Analytics. Presented at the annual conference of SAS Innovate. Las Vegas, NV.

  • MAR 2024

    Kazim J., Pender, N., & Crooker, J. R. (2024, March). Impact of UNLV funding on the PhD student graduation rate and graduate time within STEM fields. Presented at the Conference of Gardner Institute - The Graduate Student Experience: Redesigning Graduate School So That Every Student Can Flourish and Finish. Asheville, N.C.

  • NOV 2023

    Mariscal, J., Pender, N., & Wofford, K. (2023, November). Understanding Achievement Gaps Using SAS Visual Analytics. Presented at the annual conference of the California Association for Institutional Research. Garden Grove, CA.

  • OCT 2023

    Crooker, R. J., Shi, Q., & Guyer, A. (2023, October). A Dynamic Model to Explain the Interaction between Higher Education Funding Sources and Student Outcomes. Presented at the annual meeting of Missouri Valley Economic Association. Kansas City, MI.

  • OCT 2023

    Crooker, R. J., Shi, Q., & Guyer, A. (2023, October). Senior College Students' Civic Engagement Pre and Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from NSSE 2018 and 2021. Proposal accepted and featured for presentation at the Annual Conference of Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research (RMAIR).

  • 2023

    Farmer, T., Wofford, K., Shi, Q. (2023). So… Who is Actually Doing Course Evaluation? Bluenotes GLOBAL Annual Conference. Louisville, KY.

  • JUN 2023

    Pritchard, L., Crooker, J., Orgera, J., Shi, Q., & Guyer, A. (2023, June). Creating pathways to success for historically underserved, racially minoritized, and academically at-risk students. Presented at the annual meeting of Symposium on Transforming Foundational Postsecondary Experience. Asheville, NC.

  • MAY 2023

    Crooker, R. J., Shi, Q., Guyer, A., Harbin, J., & Cousens, L. (2023, May-June). Does Student Involvement Bridge the Equity Gap in Student Success? Scholarly paper presented at the annual conference of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Cleveland, OH.

  • MAY 2023

    Crooker, R. J., & Shi, Q. (2023, May-June). Students' Civic Engagement Pre- and Post-Pandemic: Evidence from NSSE. Scholarly paper presented at the annual conference of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Cleveland, OH.

  • MAY 2023

    Drum, C., Crooker, R. J., & Shi, Q. (2023, May-June). Study Abroad: Does It Matter for Student Success? Scholarly paper presented at the annual conference of Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Cleveland, OH.

  • MAY 2023

    Calkins, C., Shi, Q., & Crooker, R. J. (2023, May). College algebra grades through the COVID-19 pandemic: Improved learning or new standards? Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Chicago, IL.

  • OCT 2022

    Crooker, R. J., Shi, Q., & Guyer, A. (2022, October). Senior college students' civic engagement: Evidence from NSSE 2018 and 2021. Proposal accepted for presentation at the Annual Conference of Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research (RMAIR). Lubbock, TX. The conference was canceled.

  • OCT 2022

    Crooker, R. J., & Shi, Q. (2022, October). The long-term effects of the 15-to-finish initiative on student success metrics: A synthetic control method approach. Proposal accepted for presentation at the Annual Conference of Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research (RMAIR). Lubbock, TX. The conference was canceled.

  • JUN 2022

    Crooker, J., & Shi, Q. (2022, June). The student decision to remain in a STEM program in the third fall: A forward-looking model. Scholarly paper presented at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Phoenix, AZ.

  • APR 2022

    Zhang, S., Shi, Q., Li, C., & Jiang, Y. (2022, April). STEM students' learning strategies and academic performance: Results from two cohorts. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Diego, CA.

  • APR 2022

    Calkins, C., Crooker, J., & Shi, Q. (2022, April). The influence of grading reliability and grading leniency metrics on student evaluations of teaching. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Diego, CA.

  • OCT 2021

    Crooker, J., Shi, Q., & Calkins, C. (2021, October). Modeling STEM students' decision making on persistence to the third fall: A rational expectations application. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research (RMAIR). Virtual.

  • JUN 2021

    Crooker, J., Shi, Q., & Calkins, C. (2021, June). Are college students forward-looking in choice of a major? Scholarly paper presented for presentation at the annual virtual conference of Western Economic Association International (WEAI). Virtual.

  • MAY 2021

    Crooker, R. J., & Shi, Q. (2021, May). A synthetic control method for estimating the impact of 15-to-Finish. Scholarly paper presented at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Virtual.

  • MAY 2021

    Crooker, J., Shi, Q., Calkins, C. (2021, May). Forward-looking model predicting degree success in engineering. Scholarly paper presented at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Virtual.

  • SEP 2020

    Calkins, C., Crooker, J., & Shi, Q. (2020, September-October). Instructors' grading practices and student evaluations of teaching. Presented at the Annual Conference of Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research. Virtual. This presentation won the RMAIR 2020 Best Presentation Award.

  • MAY 2020

    Crooker, J., Shi, Q., & Drake, B. M. (2020, May). Impacts of 15-to-Finish on success metrics. Proposal accepted for presentation at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. New Orleans, LA.

  • MAY 2020

    Shi, Q., Nelson, T., Bradley, S., & Crooker, J. (2020, May). Perceived civic awareness and engagement: Evidence from NSSE 2018. Proposal accepted for presentation at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. New Orleans, LA.

  • APR 2020

    Shi, Q., Drum, C., Crooker, J., & Drake, B. M. (2020, April). Estimating the effects of first-year seminars on retention and graduation [Paper Session]. Proposal accepted for presentation at the AERA Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA http://tinyurl.com/roks22f">http://tinyurl.com/roks22f">http://tinyurl.com/roks22f (Conference Canceled).

  • APR 2020

    Shi, Q., Nelson, T., & Bradley, S. (2020, April). Identifying at-risk factors of first-year attrition: A neural network approach [Roundtable Session]. Proposal accepted for presentation at the AERA Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA http://tinyurl.com/rdq4kbh">http://tinyurl.com/rdq4kbh">http://tinyurl.com/rdq4kbh (Conference Canceled).

  • APR 2020

    Crooker, J., Shi, Q., & Drake, B. M. (2020, April). Estimating the impact of the 15-to-finish initiative: A synthetic control method approach [Poster Session]. Proposal accepted for presentation at the AERA Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA http://tinyurl.com/wp2sxm9">http://tinyurl.com/wp2sxm9">http://tinyurl.com/wp2sxm9 (Conference Canceled)

  • JAN 2020

    Crooker, J., & Shi, Q. (2020, January). ACT Readiness benchmark indicators and GPA performance at UNLV. Presented at the 2020 Nevada ACT Conference. Las Vegas, NV.

  • OCT 2019

    Crooker, J., Shi, Q., Nelson, T., & Bradley, S. (2019, October-November). Multiple approaches to assessing the impacts of student success initiatives: Three examples at UNLV. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research. Midway, Utah.

  • OCT 2019

    Crooker, J., Shi, Q., Azevedo, C. D. (2019, October). Does inflating grades attract majors? Presented at the Conference of Missouri Valley Economic Association. Kansas City, MO.

  • 2019

    Bradley, S. (2019). Automating Custom Peer Reports Using IPEDS Data with SQL, R and LaTeX. Best Presentation Award from RMAIR presented at the 2019 Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • MAY 2019

    Drake, B. M. (2019, May). Easy Analytics to Impact Student Success on Your Campus. Presented at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • MAY 2019

    Blaich, C., Bramblett, S., Coughlin, M. A., Drake, B. M. (2019, May). Strong Leadership: Integrating IR, IE, and Assessment into the Institution. Presented at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • MAY 2019

    Mathies, C., Ferland, C., Johnson, G., Simon, J., Drake, B. M., Walz, A. Cantwell, B., Richter, S. (2019, May). Institutional Research in the Digital Era. Presented at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • MAY 2019

    Shi, Q., Drum, C., Crooker, J., & Drake, B. M. (2019, May). Do First-Year Seminars produce long term effects: Tracking a first-time full-time cohort. Scholarly paper presented at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • OCT 2018

    Drake, B. M., Crooker, J., Shi, Q., & Drum, C. (2018, October). Academic momentum and traditionally underrepresented student outcomes: Does the 15-to-Finish Initiative make a difference? Paper presented at the Annual Conference of Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research. Albuquerque, NM.

  • OCT 2018

    Drum, C., Crooker, J., & Shi, Q. (2018, October). Seriously studying sixth spring seniors. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research. Albuquerque, NM.

  • 2018

    Bradley, S. (2018). Automating Custom Peer Reports Using IPEDS Data with SQL, R and LaTeX. Presented at the Annual Conference of Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research (RMAIR). Albuquerque, NM. The presentation won the Best Presentation award and was invited to offer the webinar and present at the 2019 Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Denver, CO.

  • 2018

    Thanki, S., Shi, Q., Le-Nguyen, J., Scinta, T. & Haney, M. (2018). Learning With Technology as Student Engagement: Insights From NSSE 2016. Presented at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum. Orlando, FL.