Rob Springer

Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness

Department: Institutional Research and Assessment

Alamance Building, Office 216 2309 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Brief Biography

Dr. Robert Springer is the Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness at Elon University where he has served since July 1999. Dr. Springer earned his Ph.D. in Educational Research Methodology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Dr. Springer has served in various positions on the executive committee for the North Carolina Association for Institutional Research (NCAIR) and has twice been president. He has presented nationally, conducted workshops on assessment and institutional research, and has helped to establish and maintain the annual assessment conference (est. 2005) for the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU). In addition to being involved in accreditation visits at Elon, he serves on visiting teams for reaffirmation and substantive change reviews for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

News & Notes

Education

Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Educational Research Methodology
Dissertation Title: Applying the Use, Methods, and Values Branches of Evaluations’ Theory Tree to Institutional Research

M.A. Old Dominion University: Economics

B.S.B.A. Old Dominion University: Economics

Employment History

Elon University, Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness   1999-present
Reinhardt University, Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness 1996-1999
Old Dominion University, Planner/Analyst, Institutional Research  1992-1996
Old Dominion University, Statistical Analyst, Facilities Planning  1987-1992

Publications

O’Mara, K., Strempek, B., Springer, R. (2007). Purifying a Murky Mission: Responsible Business Leadership. Journal of the Academy of Business Education. Fall 2007, Vol.8, 92-104.

Springer, R. (2006). Using Effect Size to Assist in NSSE Reporting. Research and Practice in Assessment. Spring 2006, Vol. 1, No. 1, on the World Wide Web: http://www.rpajournal.com/

Presentations

Springer, R. (2017, March). How Elon University is Using SAS Visual Analytics Dashboards. Presented at the North Carolina Association for Institutional Research (NCAIR) Annual Conference, Durham, NC.

Springer, R. (2017, March). Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Study Abroad. Presented at the North Carolina Association for Institutional Research (NCAIR) Annual Conference, Durham, NC.

Bohannon, T., Springer, R. (2015, May). Data Informed Decisions for the Modern IR Shop. Presented at the Association for Institutional Research 55th Annual Forum (AIR), Denver, CO.

Springer, R. (2015, April). SAS Visual Analytics: Are we there yet? Presented at the North Carolina Association for Institutional Research (NCAIR) Annual Conference, Asheville NC.

Springer, R. (2015. March). So You Want a Data Mining/Warehouse Package: Starting the Process and Beyond. Presented at the Texas Association for Institutional Research (TAIR) Annual Conference, Addison TX.

House, S., Pelton, W., Geis, P., Springer, R. (2014, November). Data-Driven Decision Making in Addressing Study Abroad Barriers. Presented at the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Belton, R., Springer, R. (2014, March). Create Your Online Institutional Fact Book using SAS Software. Presented at the North Carolina Association for Institutional Research (NCAIR) Annual Conference, Concord, NC.

Sheeley, S., Eubanks, D., Springer, R. (2012, May). The Value of Assessment. Presented at the 8th Annual North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Assessment Conference (NCICU), Methodist University, Fayetteville, NC.

Ricciardi, C., Springer, R. (2012, March). Web Portal Data Analysis and Reporting for the Small IR Office. Presented at the North Carolina Association for Institutional Research (NCAIR) Annual Conference, Winston-Salem, NC.

Springer, R. (2011, April). Using SAS to Simplify Your Life. Presented at the North Carolina Association for Institutional Research (NCAIR) Annual Conference, Boone, NC.

Springer, R. (2009, May). Moving IR forward: Is IR’s future in Evaluation’s lessons? Presented at the Association for Institutional Research 49th Annual Forum (AIR), Atlanta, GA.

Springer, R. (2009, October). Partnering with Your Institutional Research Office. Presented at the Institute on First-Year Assessment, Charlotte, NC.

Springer, R. (2008, April). An HGLM Approach to Measuring the Impact of Campus Community. Presented at the Joint Conference of the North Carolina and South Carolina Associations for Institutional Research (NCAIR & SCAIR), Asheville, NC.

Springer, R. (2006, November). Practical Implications of Institutional Research Findings. Presented at the MELMAC Education Foundation’s Supporting Early Success in College: Best Practices in Student Retention, Rockport, ME.

Keup, J., Wernig, S., Rollings, B., Springer, R. (2004, May). YFCY: Using Assessment Data to Enhance the First-Year Experience. Presented at the Association for Institutional Research 44th Annual Forum (AIR), Boston MA.

Springer, R. (2004, May). Community: Influencing Learning Outcomes and Retention. Presented at the Association for Institutional Research 44th Annual Forum (AIR), Boston MA.

Premo-Hopkins, B., Ulmer-Sottong, L., Springer, R. (2003, December). Creating an Assessment Environment to Support Continuous Improvement. Presented at the Annual Conference Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Nashville, TN.

Springer, R. (2003, December). Campus Community: Influencing Learning Outcomes and Retention. Presented at the Annual Conference Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Nashville, TN.

Springer, R. (2003, November). Campus Community: Influencing Learning Outcomes and Retention. Presented at the Annual Conference Virginia Assessment Group (VAG) and Virginia Management and Analysis Planning (VMAP), Williamsburg, VA.

Springer, R. (2003, October). Campus Community: Influencing Learning Outcomes and Retention. Presented at the Annual Conference Southern Association for Institutional Research (SAIR), San Antonio, TX.

Springer, R. (2003, February). Using the YFCY for Assessing the First Year Experience. Presented at the 22nd Annual Conference on the First Year Experience, Atlanta, GA.

Workshops
Springer, R. (2017, June). Survey Design. Conducted at the 13th Annual North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) Assessment Conference, High Point, NC.

Springer, R. (2002, February). Building a Partnership with Your Institutional Research Office. Conducted at the 3rd National Forum on First-Year Assessment, Kissimmee, FL.

Kuh, G., Quimet, J., Smallwood, B., Springer, R. (2001, June). Effective Educational Practices Workshop. Conducted at the AAHE 2001 Assessment Conference in Denver, CO.

Professional Activities

Association for Institutional Research (AIR)
Southern Association for Institutional Research (SAIR)
North Carolina Association for Institutional Research (NCAIR)
President NCAIR 2003-04 and 2015-16