Category: Featured

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.

Data is an Asset

Data is a critical asset to higher education institutions, especially in today’s digital age where vast amounts of data are being collected and analyzed to inform decision-making. According to the Education Data Initiative, college enrollment peaked in 2010 and statistics indicate enrollment has declined 9.6% by 2020. In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau indicates the number of postsecondary eligible 18-year-olds will decrease starting in 2025. Data is continuing to play a critical role for postsecondary institutions to remain competitive, to make informed decisions about programs, to bring about strategic decisions and to allocate resources effectively.

Over the past decade, technology use in postsecondary education has increased significantly, driven by factors such as the growth of online and blended learning, the adoption of learning management systems (LMS), the use of mobile devices and apps, and the integration of data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The more technology used, the greater the sources of information for analysis, and thus increasing complexity. Managing data effectively will be mandatory to leverage data effectively.

Data Governance is a Crucial Aspect of Data Management

Data governance refers to the management of data assets to ensure accuracy, availability, integrity, and security. It encompasses policies, procedures, and practices that define how data is collected, stored, accessed, and shared across an organization. In higher education, data governance ensures that data is being used effectively to support student success, research, and institutional effectiveness. The Educause 2023 Horizon Action Plan recognizes the importance of data governance and recommends that higher education institutions prioritize this area.

There are several reasons why data governance is essential to higher education.

• First and foremost, it ensures data accuracy and consistency. With so many data sources and systems in use across campuses, it is essential to have a standardized approach to data management to avoid inconsistencies and errors in reporting. This ensures that data is reliable and trustworthy, which is crucial when making decisions that impact students and the institution as a whole.
• Second, data governance promotes data security and privacy. Higher education institutions collect and store vast amounts of sensitive data, including student records, financial information, and research data. Data governance policies and procedures help ensure that this data is secure and protected from unauthorized access or use.
• Third, data governance enables effective decision-making. By establishing clear guidelines for data collection, analysis, and reporting, institutions can ensure that data is being used effectively to support decision-making at all levels of the organization. This can lead to better student outcomes, more efficient operations, and improved institutional effectiveness.
• Finally, data governance promotes transparency and accountability. By establishing clear policies and procedures for data management, institutions can ensure that all stakeholders understand how data is being used and why. This promotes trust and accountability, which is essential in an era where data-driven decision-making is becoming increasingly prevalent.

In conclusion, data governance is critical to higher education institutions. By ensuring data accuracy, consistency, security, and privacy, promoting effective decision-making, and promoting transparency and accountability, data governance enables institutions to use data effectively to support student success and institutional effectiveness. As recommended by the Educause 2023 Horizon Action Plan, higher education institutions should prioritize data governance to ensure they are making the most of their data assets.

Eastern European organized cybercrime organizations are intentionally targeting US Higher Education institutions with ransomware attacks because they believe that these organizations are vulnerable and easy targets. The goal of these attacks is to encrypt the organization’s data, making it inaccessible to the users, and then demand a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key.

Higher education institutions are particularly vulnerable to ransomware attacks because they have large amounts of sensitive information, such as personal data, research data, and financial information, stored on their networks. They also have limited budgets and resources, which makes it difficult for them to implement and maintain effective security measures. Additionally, many higher education institutions have outdated systems and software, which are more susceptible to exploitation.

The cost-effective approach to preventing ransomware attacks on higher education institutions involves a combination of technical and non-technical measures.

Educause recommends institutions implement a comprehensive security framework that includes the following elements:

       • Network security: This includes the use of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software to prevent unauthorized access to the network.
       • Endpoint security: Including the use of antivirus software and other security tools on end-user devices, such as computers and smartphones, to protect against malware infections.
       • User awareness: Instituting training and communication educating users on safe computing practices, such as avoiding suspicious email attachments and not downloading software from untrusted sources.
       • Data backup and recovery: This involves regularly backing up important data and having a disaster recovery plan in place in case of a security breach.
       • Incident response plan: Institutions need a plan in place for responding to security incidents, such as ransomware attacks, to minimize the impact of the attack and reduce the recovery time.

Gartner recommends that institutions also implement the following measures:

       • Application control: Protocols controlling the execution of software on end-user devices to prevent the execution of malicious software.
       • File integrity monitoring: This involves monitoring the changes to files on the network to detect and prevent unauthorized changes.
       • Security information and event management (SIEM): Systematically collecting, analyzing, and reporting on security-related data to detect security incidents and respond to them.
       • Vulnerability management: Regularly scanning the network for vulnerabilities and patching them to prevent exploitation.

In addition to these technical measures, it is important for higher education institutions to have a culture of security, where data security is considered a top priority and all employees are trained on safe computing practices.

As Eastern European organized cybercrime organizations continually target US Higher Education institutions with ransomware attacks, the large amounts of sensitive information stored on their networks are vulnerable. A cost-effective approach to preventing these attacks involves a combination of technical and non-technical measures, such as network security, endpoint security, user awareness, data backup and recovery, and incident response planning. It is important for higher education institutions to have a culture of security and to educate their employees on safe computing practices.

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:

The role of technology in higher education has grown tremendously in recent years, with IT infrastructure playing a crucial part in the daily operations of universities. For higher education CFOs, maintaining a robust IT department can be challenging, and outsourcing to Managed IT Services can sometimes offer a more cost-effective and efficient alternative. According to Educause,  MSPs can provide institutions with greater flexibility, scalability, and cost savings, as well as support for compliance and regulatory requirements. Similarly, Gartner suggests that MSPs can help higher education institutions stay current with emerging technologies and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their IT operations. Here are some key examples of when higher education CFOs should consider using a Managed IT Services provider:

Limited Internal IT Resources
Higher education institutions often have limited internal IT resources, making providing comprehensive IT support and services difficult. According to Educause, MSPs can help fill the gap by providing additional resources to support the institution’s IT needs.

Lack of In-House Expertise
CFOs may find that their in-house IT teams lack expertise in certain areas, such as cybersecurity or cloud computing. Gartner suggests that MSPs can fill this knowledge gap by providing specialized expertise.

Need to Focus on Core Competencies
According to Educause, higher education institutions must focus on their core competencies, like providing education, research, and community services. Outsourcing IT management to a managed services provider allows the institution to focus on its core competencies while leaving IT management to experts.

Cost Savings
According to Gartner, MSPs can often help higher education institutions reduce costs associated with IT management by providing economies of scale and more efficient IT operations.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements
Higher education institutions are subject to various regulatory and compliance requirements, such as HIPAA and FERPA. MSPs can help ensure institutions follow these requirements by providing regular security audits, threat management, and incident response services.

Scalability
As higher education institutions grow and evolve, their IT needs may also change. According to Gartner, MSPs can help institutions scale their IT operations as needed, ensuring they always have the resources necessary to support their IT needs.

New or Emerging Technologies
As Gartner points out, the field of IT is constantly evolving, and new technologies are always emerging. A managed IT services provider can help CFOs understand new technologies’ potential benefits and costs and assist with implementing and managing these new solutions.

According to Educause and Gartner, higher education CFOs should consider using MSPs when facing limited internal IT resources, lack of expertise in certain areas, need to focus on core competencies, need for cost savings, compliance requirements, scalability, and new or emerging technologies. MSPs can bring the necessary expertise, resources, and scalability for the IT department to thrive and support the institution’s growth.

Practical Advice and Recommendations

Before outsourcing IT operations, higher education CFOs should consider the following recommendations:

1. Define the scope of services: Clearly outline the specific IT functions and services to be outsourced, and ensure that the Managed IT Service provider can meet these needs.

2. Evaluate potential providers: Thoroughly assess them by reviewing their experience, technical expertise, and client testimonials.

3. Establish performance metrics: Set clear performance metrics and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure the Managed IT Service provider is held accountable for delivering the expected quality of service.

4. Plan for a smooth transition: Develop a transition plan to minimize disruption to university operations during outsourcing.

Outsourcing IT functions to Managed IT Services can offer significant benefits for higher education institutions, including cost savings, access to expert technical resources, and improved security and compliance. However, it is crucial for CFOs to carefully assess their university’s specific needs and circumstances before deciding to outsource. By following the practical advice and recommendations outlined in this post, higher education CFOs can make informed decisions about outsourcing their IT operations to Managed IT Services.