2015
SAIR in Haunted Savannah
Brave Encounters: Data Discussions and Actionable Solutions
The field of Institutional Research and Assessment has spent years completing data requests often in the name of accountability, accreditation and publicity. This conference is a call to share how your institution is using data collected. As one example, comparing characteristics and quality indicators of your incoming class to your graduating class can lead to tough decisions about where resources should be spent. You can share your best tools for data display or analysis and decisions made after the analysis. Sometimes those of us who are social scientists need additional technical help with data display and you may have tips to bridge a potential skill gap. With a theme of: "Brave Encounters: Data Discussions and Actionable Solutions", share your data presentations and discoveries which lead to action. Yes, it will be fun to create scary titles from movies and songs as well...... SAIR will try to make our costume party scary too.
Savannah has a rich history and is known for being one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. There are night tours through cemeteries, historic houses, haunted pubs (including pub crawls), and even more haunts on Tybee Island with its beach, fishing pier, and many recreational activities. Or, visit the Historic Savannah Theatre (in operation since 1818) and saunter along Factors’ Walk and River Street to absorb the real feel of history while watching huge container ships from around the world float by. Try out the numerous unique shopping and dining opportunities in Savannah, including Paris Market offering a taste of French homes goods; Candy Kitchen, a local favorite where sweets are made before your eyes; Huey’s On The River where brunch features not-to-be-missed Café Au Lait and Beignets.(Yum!) Don’t miss Jim Williams’ house (featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil); the Colonial Cemetery where General Sherman encamped his army after occupying Savannah in 1864 (his soldiers target practiced on tomb stones); or Juliette Low’s home from which girl scouts were unleashed on the world. Or, you might enjoy Daffin Park with Grayson Stadium (baseball fans) or the Oatland Island Wildlife Center filled with creatures (gators, bison, tortoise, deer, & birds of many feathers for wildlife lovers).