It's that time of year again for the inevitable prediction pieces. It takes a brave person to try and divine what’s ahead these days. I was able to convince Kris Astle, Global Education Strategist at SMART Technologies to have a go. As you will hear, she puts together some pretty strong, and positive, outlooks for campuses in the coming months and years. Kris covers the gamut—the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), the persistence of remote learning models, and the importance of technology in reshaping user behavior. She emphasizes the need for higher education to adapt and meet the changing demands of students—leveraging technologies like AI, collaborative tools, and Smart solutions to enhance the learning experience. She also touches on the concept of "high flex" education and the emergence of micro-credentialing, highlighting the importance of personalized, accessible, and efficient learning pathways. Have a listen. Three Takeaways: Rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is becoming a significant player in education, not only in instructional aspects but also in administrative tasks. The discussion highlights AI's role in managing legislation, interpreting data, and serving as an assistant to enhance efficiency in educational institutions.High Flex Education Model: The pandemic-driven shift towards remote learning has given rise to the "high flex" model, allowing students to choose when, where, and how they engage with learning. This model is expected to persist, offering greater accessibility to education, especially for working students and those with different learning preferences.Technology Enabling Collaboration: Collaborative tools, such as Smart Ink, are changing the way students and educators interact with content. The emphasis is on creating engaging and interactive learning experiences, where students can collaborate seamlessly, providing immediate feedback and contributing to a more dynamic learning environment.

This episode of Innovations in Education highlights the concerning state of student mental health, which persists even as the pandemic subsides. Statistics from the 2020-2021 school year reveal that over 60 percent of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, while another national survey found that nearly three-quarters reported moderate or severe psychological distress. To address this crisis, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, initiated the "We Are Made to Connect" Tour, promoting social connection as crucial to well-being. Additionally, higher education groups are advocating for increased focus on college student mental health, recognizing the unique challenges faced by different student demographics. Some institutions are proactively partnering with mental health providers, like Mantra Health, to offer comprehensive support services. The article emphasizes that investing in student mental health is vital for academic and economic success, and it suggests several actions that education leaders can take to address this pressing issue. Ultimately, the hope is that increased mental health awareness and support will benefit students and society as a whole.

Jarret Cummings, EDUCAUSE Senior Advisor for Policy and Government Relations, speaks to the current state of innovation in higher ed, the impacts of federal policy and government relations, and why higher ed leaders need to be cognizant of policy changes. Key Takeaways: The Importance of Policy and Compliance: The conversation underscores the increasing significance of policy and compliance issues, particularly in the realm of higher education and IT. Institutions, regardless of their size or type, must navigate evolving regulations and cybersecurity concerns. How to Engage with Professional Organizations: Staying informed about policy changes is crucial. Institutions are encouraged to engage with organizations like Educause to keep track of policy developments, share knowledge, and adapt to new requirements effectively.Future Policy Trends: Jarret hints at the continuous evolution of policy issues in the higher education sector, such as cybersecurity and web/mobile app accessibility regulations. He anticipates that the regulatory landscape will continue to change, influenced by political shifts and government initiatives. For details, listen in!

Joe Potchanat, Director of the EDUCAUSE Cybersecurity Program, talks on the new opportunities for improvement and awareness when it comes to cybersecurity and shares best practices for higher ed IT leaders to stay on the defensive. Three Takeaways: User Education is Key: Joseph underscores the significance of user education in higher education institutions. He highlights that cybersecurity risks, particularly ransomware, often originate at the end-user level. This includes students, faculty, staff, and contractors. It's essential for everyone in the institution to have a good understanding of the risks they face and actively contribute to cybersecurity solutions.Data Minimization Matters: Joseph advises institutions to practice data minimization. By only collecting and retaining necessary data, they can reduce their exposure to potential breaches. He explains that even anonymized data can be pieced together to identify individuals, so minimizing data collection is a proactive step in safeguarding information. Privacy and Cybersecurity Go Hand in Hand: While cybersecurity focuses on the "how" of protection, privacy concerns address the "why." Joseph highlights the growing importance of privacy in the field of cybersecurity. Balancing the need for security with individuals' privacy rights is critical, and organizations should consider the implications of collecting and using personal data.

Betsy Reinitz, Director of the CIO and Senior Technology Leader Program for EDUCAUSE, discusses the concept of institutional resilience in higher education and its connection to digital transformation and data-informed culture. Topics include: What is Institutional Resilience: The conversation revolves around the concept of "institutional resilience" in higher education, which refers to an institution's ability to anticipate, respond to, and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances while maximizing opportunities and minimizing the impacts of unforeseen events. This concept emerged as a response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for higher education institutions to adapt quickly to remote learning and other changes. Characteristics of Institutional Resilience: The conversation highlights several key characteristics that contribute to institutional resilience. These include being trustworthy, prepared, adaptive, interdependent, decisive, and data fluent. These attributes enable institutions to not only survive challenging times but also thrive and make the most of opportunities presented by change. The Role of Data and Analytics: The transcript emphasizes the importance of a data-informed culture within higher education institutions. Data integration, collaboration, and the use of data to inform decision-making are essential components of both institutional resilience and digital transformation. The conversation underscores that institutions need to prioritize data governance and make data-driven decisions to navigate the evolving landscape of higher education effectively.

I'm glad you found your way here to eCampus News Live exclusive coverage of the 2023 Educause conference being held in Chicago October 8th through 10th. My name is Kevin Hogan. I'm content director for eCampus News, and I'm excited to get out to the Windy City and meet up with folks again in person to talk about the latest and greatest in higher Ed.

Get expert insight on what's happening with today's students--and where higher-ed learning trends are headed This episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan and sponsored by Renkus-Heinz. In this episode of Innovations in Education, Mark McCormack, Senior Director of Research and Insights at EDUCAUSE, breaks down the recently released 2023 Students and Technology Report: Flexibility, Choice, and Equity in the Student Experience and what it says about higher ed’s need for new learning modalities. The report draws on data from EDUCAUSE’s 2023 Student Survey, representing 1,951 students from across 10 U.S. institutions. In this conversation, Mark underscores the importance of flexibility and choice in the student experience and their demands for more personalized, adaptable learning environments. Online and hybrid learning modalities have become integral, enabling students to tailor their educational journey to fit their needs. This emphasis on flexibility is not only a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic but a broader recognition of the diverse needs and circumstances of today’s students. Mark also emphasizes that equity is another essential aspect going forward. As higher ed institutions embrace new modalities, it’s imperative to ensure that all students have equal access to these opportunities.

Understanding the Unique Support Needs of Community College Students In this episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan and sponsored by Renkus-HeinzCommunity colleges play a pivotal role in providing accessible and quality education to a diverse range of students. However, as many of us are aware, the challenges faced by these students can differ significantly from those at traditional four-year institutions. From juggling work and family responsibilities to navigating financial constraints, community college students often find themselves in unique situations that demand equally unique solutions. In this episode, we're going to unravel the intricacies of the support landscape for community college students with Alex Leader, Chief Impact Officer for Watermark, a software platform designed for higher education institutions to help them collect and use data to gain insights into how programs can be improved to support student success.

Instructure’s senior leadership discusses the course of one of the world’s leading open-source learning management systems. On this special edition of Innovations of Education, host Kevin Hogan sits with CEO Steve Daly, CPO Shiren Vijiasingam, and Vice President of Global Strategy Ryan Lufkin to lay out post-pandemic strategies for the company.

In this episode of Innovations in Education, Silicon Valley veteran and serial entrepreneur Eric Pulier, founder and CEO of a virtual spaces company called Vatom, discusses the potential of AR/VR platforms for institutes of higher learning. From guiding students through immersive life-like, real-world modules to gamifying the learning experience, schools can now engage students in more thoughtful ways and gain key insights on learning types and student behaviors, all through the simple scan of a QR code and use of web browser or mobile device.

Recruiting low-income students and seeing them through graduation are among top priorities for higher-ed leaders In this episode of Innovations in Education, Muhlenberg College President Kathleen Harring discusses the reasons behind why her institution was named an American Talent Initiative (ATI) High-Flier by Bloomberg Philanthropies, one of a group of 28 high-graduation-rate institutions nationwide recognized as leaders in college access and success for lower-income students.

IT is critical in providing efficient and effective services to students and staff on college and university campusesIn this latest episode of Innovations in Education, join host Kevin Hogan with Keith S. Kellermeyer, Product Manager at Transact Campus Inc., as he discusses how technology can transform higher education. In today's world, students demand advanced and seamless digital experiences, and IT is critical in providing efficient and effective services to students and staff on college and university campuses. Topics include the benefits of implementing a centralized payment system, mobile credential solutions, and other techniques that can help you better manage campus card programs, including meal plans, access control, and vending machines.

Esports opens up a wealth of opportunities for students--here's what it looks like at higher-ed institutions today Esports, or competitive video gaming, has been steadily gaining popularity amongst students in recent years, and only accelerated during the pandemic to be a rising phenomenon in higher education. In this episode of Innovations in Education, host Kevin Hogan chats with esports veteran Victor Gomez, Esports Manager at Seton Hall University, about what it takes to create, manage, a grow a program for success.

Leadership can make or break a school's success--discover some of the most innovative campus leadership strategies in play today. While many institutional leadership practices remain fairly solid, the pandemic certainly changed other outdated approaches to leadership. The best leaders took the pandemic’s positive shifts and fully embraced them, changing the culture of their institution and modeling innovative progress. One of the biggest changes, to date, is how online learning programs are viewed and supported—and how acceptance of online education is growing. In this episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan, listen to Dr. Steve Baule of Winona State University discuss some of the latest trends and initiatives in institutional leadership.

Higher-ed leadership requires an open mind and a willingness to embrace innovation. In this episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan: How higher-ed leaders can move their institutions forwardDon’t lead alone: A leadership coach is the secret ingredientDefending Your Data

Students are your institution's most important customer--here's how to meet their needs and improve the student experience In this episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan: 6 things students want to know about their digital coursesOvercoming barriers to on-time completionEsports is Upgrading

In this episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan:There are plenty of tools to help improve the student experience--here's how to manage them Finding lost transfer creditsHow to challenge misperceptions around exam integrityEmpowering HR with tools to enhance engagement

Keeping your campus competitive means looking to the future from a student, faculty, and administrative perspective In this episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan: How higher ed can turn the tide on enrollment and retention3 ways to improve time management in an administrative roleSustainability in higher education

Data and network security are top issues for campus IT leaders--here's how to maintain top-level protection In this episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan: Identity security helps higher-ed IT pros mitigate riskGrowing ransomware threats require maximum data protectionHow to make data safe and networks sound for schools Related:How to make the grade with today’s studentsNo more paper chase: Digital strategies for higher ed

Today's students have high expectations for their higher education path--here's how your institution can innovate In this episode of Innovations in Education, hosted by Kevin Hogan: Boosting the student experience by meeting digital expectations5 costly impacts of ignoring digital student engagementEsports is upgrading