The Publications Committee of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) is
seeking applications for the position of Editor-in-Chief of New Directions for Institutional
Research (NDIR). NDIR is a quarterly
sourcebook published by Jossey-Bass under the sponsorship and policies of the Association
for Institutional Research.
Deadline for Application
To apply, please submit a letter of interest and current CV to:
Stephen L. DesJardins
Chair, AIR Publications Committee
e-mail: sdesj@umich.edu
Deadline for application is Friday, February 19, 2010.
Position Description
The Editor-in-Chief selects topics and issue editors for each volume in consultation
with the AIR Publications Committee. Issue editors are recognized authorities who
assume responsibility for developing the volume and selecting appropriate individuals
to write each chapter. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for coordination and quality
control through assisting each issue editor in planning the volume, selecting chapter
authors, and reviewing chapters to ensure that they meet NDIR publication
standards. Manuscripts must pass a two-level review (volume editor and New Directions
for Institutional Research Editor-in-Chief) and meet standards for both
content and style before they are published.
Specific editorial responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief include:
- Define the strategic direction for the series in partnership with the AIR Publications
Committee.
- Actively solicit volume editors.
- Manage the peer review process.
- Evaluate manuscripts and provide feedback to authors.
- Select reviewers and synthesize reviewers' written evaluations.
- Work with volume editors and chapter authors to revise manuscripts based on reviewers’
comments and recommendations (e.g., clarity, development of ideas, scholarly accuracy,
overall quality, and compliance with publication guidelines).
- Make publication decisions and set publication schedules for the series.
- Work with the AIR Executive Office and the publisher to coordinate activities in
preparation for publication.
- Provide quarterly updates to the Publications Committee chair on the status of all
volumes in the pipeline.
- Prepare and present a report on the status of NDIR at the annual AIR Forum.
The Editor-in-Chief is an ex-officio, voting member of the AIR Publications Committee
and participates in the coordination of the Association’s publication activities.
Qualifications
Candidates must have a well-developed understanding of the literature in
the field of institutional research and higher education, as demonstrated by an
established record of publishing articles on higher education and institutional
research topics. The ideal candidate will have prior editorial experience.
Candidates must:
- Have experience reviewing articles submitted for publication in higher education
journals
- Possess excellent writing skills
- Work well with a variety of people
- Be cognizant of the evolving needs of institutional research professionals
- Understand both the scholarly aspects and the practical nature of institutional
research and its role in higher education.
Term of Service
The term of service is for five years, and will begin at the conclusion of the 2010
AIR Forum (June 2, 2010) when the current Editor-in-Chief’s term expires.
About NDIR
Each NDIR issue focuses in detail on a specific topic relating to institutional
research, planning, or higher education management in general. NDIR volumes
typically contain five to ten chapters that examine the various dimensions of each
topic, summarize the latest information, and point to future directions. Volumes
run 90 to 120 pages in length and have an annotated table of contents, explanatory
head notes, an index, and a list of sources for additional information. NDIR
has been one of the most successful in the Jossey-Bass series. For additional information
about NDIR, click here.