Expanding What's Possible for SRI

The Siena Research Institute is now formally integrated with ReconMR, a national research and analytics firm based in Texas. As announced by President Chuck Seifert before the holiday break, the move expands SRI's national footprint while creating a more sustainable and efficient operating model that keeps Siena's academic leadership front and center in public opinion research.

While certain integration elements will continue over the next several months, the partnership officially took effect on January 1, and was celebrated with a December 18 open house at SRI's offices in Hines Hall.

"We are now positioned to do what we've always aspired to do: advance the science of public opinion with even greater depth, precision, and integrity," said Don Levy, Ph.D., executive director of SRI. "By combining Siena's academic rigor and polling expertise with ReconMR's exceptional data collection and analytics capacity, we're expanding what's possible for researchers, policymakers, and the public. Together, we'll deliver insights that are not only more comprehensive, but more meaningful for the communities we serve."

SRI and ReconMR have been combined into one organization, with each division focusing on its core competencies, while also collaborating to offer clients more value and expertise.

"By joining forces with ReconMR, the Siena Research Institute will be able to broaden its reach, deepen its impact, and continue setting the national standard for high-quality, nonpartisan public opinion research," said President Seifert. "We are proud of this collaboration and excited for the new possibilities it creates for our students, faculty, and the public."

Research and analytics will provide actionable insights on business, economic, political, voter, social, academic and historical issues, according to Levy, who will remain on the Siena campus as leader of SRI. Future surveys and reports will be formally released under the name The Siena Research Institute at Siena University powered by ReconMR. SRI will maintain its presence on the Siena campus, complete with employment opportunities for students.

Under the new structure, SRI staff have transitioned to ReconMR employment, with administrative functions such as payroll now handled through ReconMR. Levy said the change eliminates the need for temporary staffing agencies, increases efficiency, maintains the reputational and brand benefit, and enables the SRI team to focus entirely on research design, implementation, and analysis.

The announcement generated positive coverage across the polling industry and in the Times Union, which described SRI as "one of the nation's best-regarded polling operations" and detailed the expanded scope and benefits of the integration. for student involvement.