Episodes

Today’s sociopolitical climate has been drastically influenced by the rise of digital media and 24-hour news sources. Unfortunately, a gradual decline in civics exposure in our classrooms has also contributed to an unsettling polarization in our societ...

Any number of socioeconomic roadblocks may prevent underserved college students from fulfilling their higher education dream. As someone with a disadvantaged upbringing himself, Galen Dehay (https://www.linkedin.com/in/galendehay/), President of Tri-Co...

Some in higher ed assume that colleges and university information technology departments are simply tasked with fixing computer glitches and resetting passwords. But IT does far more than just “keep the lights running.” IT leaders are pioneering innova...

State commissioners have the exceptional duty of coordinating with public and independent institutions to define public college operations and initiatives that will shape their higher education infrastructure. In this episode, Chris Lowery (https://w...

College and university provosts are tasked with a unique mission in higher education. Now called Chief Academic Officers at many institutions, provosts ensure that business-minded school administrations never lose sight of their core purpose: preparing...

HBCUs were birthed out of necessity during America’s segregation period, giving black students a place of belonging in higher education. Today, they continue that mission while leading the charge in educating and promoting diverse, global-minded talent...

In 2019, Bill Groves (https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-r-groves-23814527/), Chancellor of Antioch University (https://www.antioch.edu/), and the school’s board agreed that affiliation was key to advancing their mission of social justice. Their searc...

As a young man, Joe Moreau (https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephmoreau/) dreamed of a career in the arts. But an early job in media production at a small university planted the seed for his love of higher education. After a rewarding journey as a Chief...

Higher ed institutions rose to the challenge of accelerating innovation during the pandemic. And schools like Chemeketa Community College (https://www.chemeketa.edu/) in Salem, Oregon, are riding that momentum to give working adults a boost in their ca...

Predicting the future is never easy. However we can make some educated guesses on what the Higher Education space will see and have to do to stay competitive in 2023. I’m joined today by Lige Hensley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ligehensley/), Founde...

We’re on the road again with the Higher Edge Mobile Podcasting Rig! This week, we’re headed to sunny California and the floor of the California Association of Institutional Research “CAIR” Conference 2022 in La Jolla, California. We caught up with some great folks from across the IR space and got their thoughts on the conference and their collaborations... and gained insight into some of the great sessions and projects in progress at their institutions. A huge thank you to all our guest...

Pete Williams’ journey as an Information Communication Sciences post-grad took him through multiple tech-heavy industries, but he knew his heart would bring him back to higher education. Now, as the Chief Information Officer for Butler University, Pete is spearheading innovation through servant leadership. He shares what he’s learned managing Butler’s venture fund to gas pedal innovation and how he helps give others the Higher Edge through mentoring. Join us as we discuss: Navigating c...

Technology and new platforms are one of the most exciting parts of any convention, and Educause 2022 was no different. In our second episode of coverage, direct from the Educause show floor, we take a stroll down Startup Alley, and meet a fantastic cast of talented characters that each have a platform you should know about for your institution. From engaging students more deeply to eliminating grading biases — these are just some of the glimpses of the future of Higher Ed we’ll hear about ...

Did you miss out on Educause 2022? Fear not! We saddled up our mobile podcast rig and took it to the floor of the show where we went in search of some of the greatest partnerships in higher education. Join us as we bring you a trio of success stories, direct from the floor of the conference. We’ll hear from: Ken Connelly and Zach Meyers about how Breakpoint Labs has helped the University of Northern Iowa better secure their campus both physically and digitally (2:12) Troy Burnett an...

Learning management systems (LMS) are important vehicles for data delivery and instruction in higher education. But can also be expensive software platforms that may not give institutions the flexibility and value to highlight their uniqueness. Phill Miller , Managing Director at Open LMS , shares how vendors monitor and cultivate open-source platforms to help give academic institutions the Higher Edge. Join us as we discuss: What is open source in the world of the LMS? (2:48) The appe...

Historically, institutional development in higher education has always revolved primarily around meeting fundraising goals. But modern Development and Advancement Services teams at colleges and universities around the country are inverting the traditional fundraising pyramid. Teresa Goddard , Director of Development Services at Depauw University , shares how focusing on and strengthening the relationships between the institution, prospective donors,and the community in which they serve is tra...

With data becoming increasingly important to people in many roles, the Chief Data Officer has become an exciting new position that’s replicating quickly throughout higher education. The CDO is tasked with empowering institutions by providing key insights and critical context that help make sense of this vast array of information. Olivia Kew-Fickus (https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-kew-fickus-53aa3023/), Chief Data Officer and Executive Director, Data & Strategic Analytics at Vanderbilt U...

The National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) is a mission-driven organization that drives collaboration amongst institutions to support students across the country. As a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization, the NSC plays a key role in supporting these institutions that enroll over 97% of higher education students and more than 70% the nation’s high-school students. Roberta Hyland (https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberta-hyland-7825bb5/), Chief Data Officer at National Student Clearinghouse,...

There are so many organizations that work to support higher education that *aren't* colleges and universities, such as RTI International, and the work they do to help empower data-informed decisions for students. From the Department of Education's College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ ) to preparing for the College Transparency Act (https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/839) currently going through the U.S. Congress, their work actively supports students a...

The demand for better analytics solutions is peaking at a time when many institutions are struggling to keep up. What role do collaboration and on-the-ground experience play in accelerating higher education analytics? Eric Spear (https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-spear-84158b100/), President of Precision Campus (https://precisioncampus.com/), tells us about his journey from working in higher education to founding a growing reporting and analytics company dedicated to advancing institutional...

An alarming number of students are not reaching a critical step in their journey toward a bachelor's degree — transferring their community college work to 4-year universities and colleges in order to continue their education. When students can’t reach these goals, it undermines their ability to succeed after investing in themselves and their education. It feels like a fruitless task. Darla Cooper, Executive Director of The RP Group, joins us to share what she and her research team discover...

With the rise of big data, traditional higher education research has been undergoing an accelerated evolution. Accessibility of information enables everyone to engage and share diverse perspectives freely. Scientific breakthroughs seem to be happening at lightning speed. It begs the question: What qualifies as innovation today? Aeron Zentner (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aeronzentner), Dean of Institutional Effectiveness: Research, Analytics, Accessibility, Accreditation, Planning, & Grants...

Big data has been a global hot-button issue for several years, which has led to a major focus on higher ed privacy. Lack of transparency and ugly intentions can leave students open to abuse of their autonomy. But a passionate group of professionals is leading the charge in protecting our students from hostile actors. Pegah Parsi, Chief Privacy Officer at the University of California - San Diego, joined us to share her thoughts on privacy in the higher ed space and why its security matters....

Everyone learns differently, but simply asking the right questions can open doors to innovation and growth. David Potash, President of Wilbur Wright College, City Colleges of Chicago, stresses that real questions are critical to the human educational experience. We can learn from each other by giving people in the higher ed community spaces to collaborate and make better decisions together. After all, the only bad question is the one that goes unasked. Join us as we discuss: - The im...