Blog author: Fred Rocha, Senior Consultant (previously Chief Information Technology Officer for Coast Community College District) We are all familiar with the concept of financial debt; the state of owing money to someone. For many, this is an uncomfortable feeling. Many of us strive to be debt-free and feel a great sense of relief when […]

Every college or university has an ERP (SIS, HR, Fin) of some sort or another.  Whether it be a commercial product, one that is consortially developed, completely homegrown, or a combination of components, the ERP is essential to the day-to-day operations of the institution as well as its long-term planning efforts.  For decades, institutions have […]

Over the course of 2023, as I conducted more than 100 interviews with esteemed leaders in higher education, including Presidents, Provosts, Vice-Chancellors, and Chief Information Officers, a tapestry of valuable insights and lessons from these leaders has emerged.   My conversations unveiled key lessons from leaders that not only reflect the dynamic landscape of academia […]

For the last twenty-three years, EDUCAUSE – a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance the strategic use of technology and data to further the promise of higher education – has been publishing a Top 10 IT Issues list to help IT organizations contemplate major trends and what may come in the new year. But […]

Every time I go out to dinner with friends or family, I see an opportunity to split two (or more) dishes to diversify and enrich my dining experience. While my wife is often embarrassed when I do this with anyone outside the inner circle, she too has become a fan of “splitting” and apparently reserves […]

For centuries, most of higher education has relied upon a relatively “authoritarian” teaching model: deeply educated professors would share their academic knowledge and test students on their ability to echo that knowledge in classic forms that fit the structures accumulated by academia. With the exception of the creative arts, it was more the exception than […]

In today’s rapidly evolving higher ed landscape, successful, ongoing digital transformation is no longer just an option; it’s a necessity for institutions to remain competitive and relevant. However, embarking on this transformative journey requires more than “simply” implementing the latest technology. It demands a strategic alignment of leadership, change management, and technology—a synergy that forms […]

While higher education institutions must serve a variety of stakeholders and users with their digital systems and services, active students are their ultimate customers and therefore critical to getting things right. I am excited to share some great examples of how co-creation with students is helping some institutions up their digital transformation game while incorporating […]