The 2026–27 IRPE Summer-to-Summer Institute is a comprehensive learning experience focused on advancing equity-minded research, planning, effectiveness, and innovation across California’s community colleges. The Institute is designed to be an immersive learning experience that emphasizes equity-minded leadership, in which participants will reflect on their own equity journeys, work at their institutions, and learn strategies to integrate racial equity and social justice into college processes, structures, and practices.

Core Competencies

The 2026–27 IRPE Summer-to-Summer Institute curriculum has been aligned with The RP Group’s 2025–27 IRPE Professional Development Core Competencies. These core competencies represent the foundational knowledge, skills, and practices that IRPE professionals are expected to develop through participation in The RP Group’s various professional development offerings.

Collecting/accessing and analyzing data appropriate to address research question(s)

Effectively communicating research findings to diverse groups of Constituencies

Leveraging integrated and inclusive practices to facilitate data-informed decision-making across various college constituent groups, including faculty, staff, students, and administrators

Assessing and analyzing the organizational, regional, state, and national context of institutional research and planning in the California Community Colleges

Integrating professional responsibilities, professional development, and personal/professional goals

Advocating for evidence-based, equity-minded college practices, processes, and policies

Effectively advocate for student-centered and equity-minded planning

Use this crosswalk to understand how each session connects to core competencies and to support case-making for participation in The RP Group’s professional development offerings.

Learner Paths

Designed to meet participants where they are in their IRPE journey, the institute offers two distinct Learning Paths (Newcomers and Seasoned Professionals) that include interactive breakout sessions, panel presentations, scenario-based learning experiences, and Canvas learning modules (accessible to participants for 1 year after participation ends).

In some cases, determining the ideal pathway can be nuanced and challenging. If you have questions about which path is best aligned with your learning and development priorities, please reach out to Brad Trimble at professionaldevelopment@rpgroup.org.