Meet Iris: A Secure AI Assistant for IR Data and Knowledge Management

Session Abstract: Institutional Research (IR) professionals often spend valuable time navigating fragmented documentation and inconsistent definitions across departments. This session introduces Iris—a secure, home-grown AI data assistant designed specifically for IR knowledge management and documentation. Built with local deployment and data governance in mind, Iris reduces information search time, improves documentation consistency, and strengthens cross-department collaboration.

Attendees will learn how our team built Iris to preserve institutional knowledge, provide consistent definitions, and streamline reporting workflows. We will share lessons learned, measurable outcomes, and a practical framework for adopting similar approaches in other institutions. Participants will leave with concrete strategies to enhance efficiency, documentation quality, and knowledge sharing within their own IR offices.

Keywords: AI, Local Deploy, Data Management, Staff Transition, System Engineering