EdTech is Evolving and Bringing New Challenges to Higher Ed IT
Technology in Higher Education is advancing at a rapid pace and continues to demand more of the IT departments tasked with supporting students, faculty, and staff. Now when considering that Gartner predicts that the number of connected devices will increase to 21 Billion by 2020 – 3x the current amount – we can expect unprecedented […]
Are You Ready for the EdTech Explosion?
According to Gartner, EdTech spend in Higher Ed alone is to reach $38B by the end of 2016. The report goes on to state that the focus has shifted from cost reduction to how can technology be used to gain a competitive advantage. Jan-Martin Lowendahl, vice president and distinguished analyst for Gartner said that for […]
How to Effectively Manage Resources in Higher Ed IT
How do you manage your resources? Every university has multiple projects taking place on any given day, and keeping track of all of them can be complex – especially when trying to manage a portfolio of projects across multiple campuses. One of the most daunting aspects of project management can be resource management. With such […]
Positive Student Experiences and IT – Are They Related?
What makes a university successful? While there are many possible answers to this question, there is one that stands out: positive student experiences. Student experiences can impact universities for years to come. With an overall high quality of student experiences, the appeal to prospective students will also be high. The number of applicants per year […]
Claim Back Your Team: The Rise of Managed Services in Higher Ed IT
Your key initiatives have a purpose. They forward the institution’s mission of learning and research. What’s keeping you back from moving your initiatives forward? It’s very simple – there is not enough time in the day to be strategic or to grow your talent base. That is why many organizations are looking for experts to […]
Build It and They Will Come: The Rise of Student Portals
Supporting and enhancing the ‘student experience’ throughout the student lifecycle (from first contact through to becoming alumni) is critical to the success in higher education today for both the student and the institution. The student experience encompasses all aspects of student life (i.e. academic, social, welfare and support) with the academic imperative at the heart […]
Greatest Risk to Your Projects – Your Other Projects!
Use Portfolio Management to Help Manage Risks to Your Projects’ Resources I will go out on a limb and state that – in most reasonably complex institutions, you probably cannot effectively deliver projects without also having effective project portfolio management in place. Most project managers and their traditional, proven project management methods and tools focus […]
Is Your Student Portal 508 Compliant?
According to the U.S. Department of Education, 11% of undergraduates have a disability. Section 508 guidelines help universities to understand how to best service this population. As part of that framework, there are minimum standards put forth for web accessibility. The student experience can be significantly improved through the use of student portals – which […]
Projects Begin & End – But a Project Portfolio’s Work is Never Done!
An effective project portfolio process starts long before projects are initiated, actively continues during projects, and even continues long after each project is closed. Too many project portfolios function only as pre-project approval processes and stop supporting effective project resource decision-making after each approved project actually begins. Imagine if your own stock portfolio only functioned […]
Pulling Service Management Excellence out of the Chaos – Why Does It Seem So Daunting?
It’s an old story – strapped with resources, a never-ending stream of new users, and increasing demand for more, faster and better – can the IT professional get ahead? Can the value that IT is bringing be effectively communicated? The good news is that the answer is “yes” to both. However, what many may not […]
The Impact of IT on the Institution Brand
According to the 2015 Survey of Admissions Directors, half of admissions directors were very concerned about meeting their enrollment goals for the 2015-16 academic year, and 58 percent did not meet their goals. Naturally, this trend initiates discussion and debate. Where are the students going? What is driving them? With any challenge today, technology often […]