2026 AIR Forum Scholarship

The AIR Forum Scholarship provides financial support to help eligible professionals attend the AIR Forum and participate in high-quality professional development within the institutional research and effectiveness community. The 2026 program is funded by the Julia M. Duckwall Memorial Scholarship Fund, reflecting AIR's enduring commitment to expanding access to professional development opportunities.

Award Details:

• Amount: $200 toward AIR Forum registration
• Availability: Limited to 250 scholarships, awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
• Limit: One scholarship per registrant
• Application: Must be applied at time of registration; cannot be applied retroactively

Eligibility: Applicant must be an AIR member or work at an AIR member institution AND meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Work in a small IR/IE office (fewer than 3 full-time equivalent staff)
• Be an early-career professional (fewer than 5 years in the field)
• Be a first-time AIR Forum attendee in 2026
• Work at an under-resourced institution (total institutional expenditures under $75 million in most recent fiscal year)

Not Eligible:

• Graduate Student members
• Retired members (who already receive discounted rates)
• Sponsors and nonmembers

About the Julia M. Duckwall Memorial Scholarship Fund: Established by the AIR Board in memory of Julia Duckwall, a dedicated leader and advocate within the AIR community. Julia served on the AIR Board as Professional Development Services Committee Chair and worked as a Senior Research Analyst in the Office of Institutional Research at Johnson County Community College.

How to Apply

1. Apply during AIR Forum registration process
2. Eligibility verification: If eligible, a voucher code will be issued for use at checkout
3. Application timing: Scholarship must be applied at time of registration and cannot be applied retroactively