Contributing Editor: Mark McCormack, Senior Director of Analytics & Research, EDUCAUSE
As institutions face a multitude of challenges and anticipate budget reductions and resource shortages, data for benchmarking and decision-making and the affordances of new technologies can help illuminate paths forward.
Higher education institutions are investing in sustainability initiatives, but their specific goals and challenges remain unclear to many. Student and campus community engagement continues to be a key force in advancing these efforts.
Technical debt is widespread across higher education, introducing both risks and benefits to the institution. Cybersecurity supports are lagging, and smaller institutions in particular may be weighed down by compounding debts.
Collaborative partnerships between higher education institutions and technology solution providers are strengthened by focusing on great communication, shared vision, and top-notch expertise.
Institutional constituents hope to see improved efficiency and support for users across campus from the use of AI tools in communications applications.
In a recent Cybersecurity and Privacy Program evaluation survey, EDUCAUSE asked IT professionals whether cybersecurity and privacy functions should be integrated or kept separate.
Institutional leaders want and plan to advance their use of analytics in many functional areas across campus, but doing so will require overcoming numerous challenges that call for new strategies and technologies.
Implementing a formal third-party risk management process can help institutions manage the increasing volume and complexity of risks associated with third-party products and services.
Any leadership transition can be hard for an institution, but CFO/CBO transitions appear to be especially challenging for technology teams. Early and frequent communication with new leaders, as well as strategic alignment, can help.
The use of generative AI in higher education shows no signs of slowing, and the need for supporting resources and processes means institutions should be focused on creating strategies to set themselves up for success.
