Author: John D'Annunzio

Universities face an ever-increasing challenge of improving student retention and success, as well as reducing student loan debt. To tackle this challenge, universities can leverage the power of data analytics. By analyzing data related to student behavior, academic performance, and other factors, universities can gain valuable insights into what drives student success and how to support students effectively.

One major benefit of using data analytics in higher education is improved student retention. By analyzing data on student behavior and academic performance, universities can identify students who may be at risk of dropping out and intervene early to provide them with the support they need to persist. For example, Degree Analytics provides a retention analytics tool that uses machine learning to identify at-risk students based on factors such as GPA, course selection, and engagement with campus resources. By addressing these issues early on, universities can improve retention and reduce the number of students who drop out or take longer to graduate.

Another benefit of using data analytics in higher education is improving student success and on-time graduation rates. Universities can use data to understand what factors contribute to student success, such as academic preparation, engagement with campus resources, and personal factors. Based on this information, universities can design and implement programs and initiatives that support student success and improve on-time graduation rates.

Additionally, data analytics can also help universities reduce student loan debt by providing valuable insights into the cost of higher education. By analyzing data on student spending and borrowing patterns, universities can identify areas where they can reduce costs and make higher education more affordable for students. For example, Gartner predicts that by 2023, 40% of higher education institutions will use predictive analytics to optimize student loan and financial aid decisions, resulting in reduced student loan debt.

Data analytics is a powerful tool that can help universities improve student retention, success, and on-time graduation rates, as well as reduce student loan debt. By leveraging the power of data, universities can gain valuable insights into what drives student success and design programs and initiatives that support students effectively. It is essential for universities to embrace data analytics and use it to make data-driven decisions to improve the student experience and outcomes.

The role of technology in education has been growing rapidly in recent years, and higher education institutions have been embracing it to improve student success. Information Technology (IT) and data analytics are two tools that higher education officials can utilize to understand the factors that drive student success and allocate resources effectively. In this blog, we will explore how higher education officials can use IT and data analytics to improve student success and the potential benefits these tools can provide educational institutions.

Tracking Enrollment and Retention Rates

One of the most important aspects of higher education is student enrollment and retention rates. Higher education officials can use data analytics to track these rates and gain insights into the effectiveness of their recruitment and retention strategies. By analyzing student data, such as their academic performance and engagement with various programs and services, administrators can develop interventions to support students who are at risk of dropping out.

For example, the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) used predictive analytics to identify students who were at risk of dropping out. The analytics tool used student data such as grades, attendance, and engagement to identify students who were struggling. Based on this information, UMUC developed a student success program that provided customized support to these students. As a result, UMUC saw an 11% increase in retention rates and a 2.3% increase in graduation rates.

Evaluating Student Services

Student services such as tutoring, advising, and counseling are critical for student success. Higher education officials can use data analytics to evaluate these services’ effectiveness and identify improvement areas. By analyzing student usage data and feedback, administrators can allocate resources more effectively and provide better support to students.

For example, the University of Iowa used data analytics to evaluate its tutoring program. By analyzing usage data and feedback from students, the university identified areas for improvement and made changes to the tutoring program. As a result, the university saw a 19% increase in student participation in the tutoring program and a 10% increase in student satisfaction.

Monitoring Financial Performance

Higher education institutions are under constant pressure to manage their finances effectively. Data analytics can help administrators monitor the institution’s financial performance, such as revenue, expenses, and cost per student. This information can help administrators make data-driven decisions about resource allocation and identify areas for cost savings.

For example, the University of Kentucky used data analytics to monitor its financial performance. By analyzing data such as revenue, expenses, and enrollment, the university identified areas for cost savings and developed strategies to reduce expenses. As a result, the university was able to save $48 million over a five-year period.

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics can help higher education officials identify students who are at risk of dropping out or falling behind in their studies. By analyzing student data such as grades, attendance, and engagement, administrators can intervene early to support students and improve their chances of success.

For example, Georgia State University used predictive analytics to identify students who were at risk of dropping out. Based on this information, the university developed a student success program that provided customized support to these students. As a result, the university saw a 22% increase in graduation rates and a 6% increase in retention rates.

Personalized Learning

IT applications can be used to provide personalized learning experiences for students. By analyzing student data and preferences, administrators can develop customized learning pathways that meet each student’s unique needs and interests.

For example, Arizona State University used an adaptive learning platform to provide personalized learning experiences to students. The platform provided customized content and assessments to each student by analyzing student data and preferences. As a result, the university saw a 7% increase in student retention rates and a 5% increase in graduation rates.

Research-Based Data

Research-based data supports the potential benefits that IT applications can provide to educational institutions. A study conducted by the EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and Research found that institutions that effectively use data analytics are more likely to have higher retention rates, graduation rates, and improved student satisfaction. Additionally, a National Center for Education Statistics report found that institutions that use data analytics to support student success are more likely to have higher graduation rates.

It is clear that IT and data analytics can provide significant benefits to higher education institutions. Higher education officials can improve student success and allocate resources more effectively by tracking enrollment and retention rates, evaluating student services, monitoring financial performance, using predictive analytics, and providing personalized learning experiences.

In addition, tracking enrollment, retention, and graduation rates, evaluating student services, and monitoring financial performance through data analytics can be extremely beneficial to educational institutions’ administration. Here are some key benefits of using data analytics for these purposes:

As the world of esports continues to grow, colleges and universities are beginning to take notice of the potential benefits of incorporating esports programs into their curriculum. From increasing enrollment to providing students with valuable skills, esports programs have the potential to have a positive impact on higher education institutions. 

One of the most significant benefits of esports programs is the potential to increase enrollment. According to a report by Inside Higher Ed, colleges and universities with esports programs have seen an increase in enrollment, particularly among male students. The report states that “colleges are finding that offering esports programs can help them attract and retain students who might not otherwise be interested in attending college.” This is also supported by a recent study by EdTech Magazine, which found that colleges and universities that have implemented esports programs have seen an increase in enrollment and retention. 

But it’s not just about the enrollment numbers, esports programs can also provide students with valuable skills that are in high demand in the workforce. Esports requires a combination of teamwork, communication, strategy, and critical thinking. These skills are transferable to many different industries, including game development, streaming, and marketing. According to a report by AV Network, “esports programs offer students the opportunity to develop and enhance skills that are in high demand in today’s job market, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These skills are not only important for success in the esports industry but also for a wide range of other industries.”

Furthermore, esports programs can also provide a pathway for students to pursue careers in the rapidly growing esports industry.   According to Fortune Business Insights “The global eSports market is projected to grow from $1.44 billion in 2022 to $5.48 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 21.0% in forecast period, 2022-2029. (https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/esports-market-106820).  As the industry continues to grow, so will the demand for professionals with expertise in areas such as game development, streaming, and marketing. This is supported by another recent study by SportsEngine, which found that “colleges and universities that offer esports programs are providing students with a pathway to careers in the rapidly growing esports industry.”

Another benefit of esports programs is the opportunity to foster a sense of community and belonging on campus. According to a report by the Higher Education Video Game Alliance, “esports can be an effective way to create a sense of community and belonging for students who may not otherwise find it in traditional student groups.” This is especially important for non-traditional students who may not have the same opportunities to participate in traditional sports or extracurricular activities.

In addition, many colleges and universities are beginning to offer scholarships for esports programs, providing students with the opportunity to earn money to pay for their education while also participating in their passion for esports. This is a great way to attract and retain students who may not have the financial means to attend college otherwise.

Furthermore, esports is a way to keep students engaged and motivated to stay in school. Esports program provides students with an opportunity to experience the same level of competitive excitement and camaraderie as traditional sports, while also providing a pathway to careers in the esports industry.

However, it is important to note that implementing an esports program is not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of funding for esports programs. Many colleges and universities struggle to secure funding for their esports programs, which can limit their ability to provide students with the resources and support they need to be successful. Additionally, it can be difficult for schools to build the infrastructure and support systems needed to sustain an esports program in the long term.

In conclusion, higher education institutions should consider implementing esports programs to improve enrollment and retention. Esports programs can provide students with a unique opportunity to develop valuable skills, pursue careers in the esports industry, and improve the college experience especially for non-traditional students. 

Higher education institutions are constantly looking for ways to improve student retention rates, and analytics can provide invaluable insights into how to do that. Through predictive analytics, colleges and universities can identify current and potential students who may be at risk of dropping out or not completing their degrees on time. By utilizing data-driven methods to identify warning signs such as a lack of engagement or poor grades, administrators can take proactive steps to address these issues before they become too serious.

For example, Degree Analytics is a company that offers an AI-based platform that tracks student data to predict risk factors. It collects information from admissions applications, transcripts, course records, and surveys – then uses machine learning algorithms to analyze the data and send targeted interventions when students are deemed at risk of leaving. These personalized interventions (such as targeted emails, text messages, or phone calls) enable institutions to reach out directly to students in need more quickly and effectively than ever.

Another way higher education institutions can use analytics to improve student retention is by creating personalized education plans for each student. By combining analytic tools with existing university resources, administrators can develop a comprehensive plan tailored to each student’s academic goals and strengths. This will enable them to get ahead in their studies faster and more effectively and stay on track toward graduation.

Finally, analytics can aid higher education institutions in developing better communication strategies between faculty and students – allowing them to understand better what’s working well (and where there’s room for improvement). By tracking what topics are discussed during lectures or which teaching techniques tend to lead to improved performance among different learners, faculty members can adjust their approach accordingly – leading to more successful outcomes in the classroom.

In summary, there’s no doubt that using analytical processes can help higher education institutions increase their student retention rates – enabling them to retain more students and create a better college experience overall. Several companies have already developed powerful platforms that utilize sophisticated analytical techniques; such tools allow administrators to take advantage of these benefits immediately and see marked improvements over traditional methods.

A common challenge in higher education often centers around managing technology lifecycles, which can be crucial. Technology is constantly evolving and improving, and hardware can quickly become outdated. At times, even before it has been installed and put into service. In addition, every capital equipment purchase incurs expense costs regarding support agreements, labor for supporting assets, configuring assets, patches, etc.

Technology departments continually work towards addressing the challenges which include, but are not limited to:

• • Planning changes, upgrades, and budgeting, including depreciation of assets.
  • Management and justification of unplanned cost per incident (i.e., fix on failure) due to asset failure and replacement.
  • Mitigating risk related to security, reliability, performance, usability, obsolescence/maintainability, etc.
  • Addressing audit findings for at-risk assets no longer supported by the vendor.
  • Elevating resource skill sets, knowledge and maintaining technical relevance.

Refreshing technology is of vital importance. The inhibitors to these challenges are often external: IT models driven by departmental projects and CAPEX budgets inherent in a cost center model.

One example of refreshing hardware’s importance is seen in the aviation industry, as outlined in a recent Wall Street Journal article. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) warning pilots and airlines about the potential risks of using older navigation hardware. The NOTAM stated that some older navigation hardware might not properly process satellite signals transmitted by the next generation of GPS satellites. This highlights the importance of regularly upgrading and refreshing hardware to stay current with the latest technology and ensure systems function properly.

The higher education market greatly benefits from a managed approach to upgrading and refreshing hardware. With the growing emphasis on technology in classrooms, universities and colleges must ensure that their hardware is up to date to provide students with the best possible learning experience. This includes upgrading and refreshing equipment such as computer labs, classrooms, and lecture halls. Obsolete computer equipment will no longer be able to support the current Operating Systems (OS), thus no longer be supported for security patching. They may also not support modern software. Upgrading hardware also allows institutions to adopt new and innovative teaching methods, such as online and blended learning, which are becoming increasingly popular.

Higher Education can mitigate some of these costs by leveraging cloud technologies for servers. Using capital server purchases requires purchasing hardware to meet peak demand, thus, over-purchasing capacity is needed for only 20% of the year. Cloud technologies can provide right-sized servers with in-place server “upgrades” or “downgrades” dynamically. This provides better cost management. It also offers the advantage of reducing the number of servers where a single, more powerful computer can be used to consolidate multiple smaller servers, thus lowering overall cost and support effort.

Yet some hardware assets live on the campus, such as external and in-building network infrastructure and classroom technologies. Failure to keep up with network technologies can translate into poor performance with newer laptops/phones/tablets, etc. In addition, known security vulnerabilities in obsolete equipment pose a significant risk. Cybersecurity audit findings for obsolete network equipment can cost millions of dollars to retrofit.

In conclusion, upgrading and refreshing hardware is essential to maintaining any system’s reliability and efficiency. This is particularly true in industries that rely heavily on technology, such as aviation, commercial, and higher education markets. Staying current with the latest hardware allows businesses and organizations to improve efficiency, stay competitive and provide the best possible service to customers and students.   Staying current with technology is a strategic and financial decision.  Can businesses afford to wait to invest in technology only after failure?

Leaders need to pay attention to the technology mix within their organization.  As technology stacks reach their peak simultaneously, the organization’s resources will be consumed by operational plays while contributing little to strategic development.   Consequently, leaders face the challenge of escaping the trap of rigidly staying too long with a set of successful technology ventures.  New technology platforms are always needed, and the skills to transform from old to new are demanded.

About Columbia Advisory Group:
Columbia Advisory Group (CAG) is a leading Information Technology (IT) consulting firm. CAG’s team has assessed and helped improve the performance of more than 300 technology organizations and IT departments, including many higher education institutions, state agencies, and Fortune 50 customers. Practice specialty areas include Infrastructure, IT Service Management, Cybersecurity, and A/V Services. CAG improves business outcomes with IT insights and expert technical support. Based in Dallas, Texas, CAG works extensively with clients throughout the U.S. Contact us at info@columbiaadvisory.com.