Does your CIO report directly to the president of your institution? Read today’s issue to find out whether your institution is alone or just like your peers in your IT reporting structure. After that, we’ll spend some time looking at AI projects and the skills needed for innovation and creativity at work. Oh, we also talk about the upcoming FAFSA delay (yep, again).
After reading today’s issue, use the comments section to let us know how IT is structured at your institution.
FAFSA Delayed
From Education Department will launch FAFSA in phases | Inside Higher Ed
The Department of Education (ED) has officially announced that the 2025-2026 FAFSA will be delayed until December 1, 2024.
Our Thoughts
I guess it is better to know now than to wait for unexpected delays later this year. It is also encouraging that ED is following the recommendations of higher education organizations, indicating a willingness to listen to stakeholders and improve the system. Ultimately, everyone wants to avoid the technical issues and delays that plagued the previous year’s FAFSA rollout.
Hopefully, this advanced notification will give institutions time to plan their FAFSA support strategies, ensuring they can provide accurate advice and assistance to students. This preparation is crucial for maintaining smooth operations and minimizing disruptions during next year’s recruiting cycle.
CIO Reporting Structures
From IT Centralization Patterns and CIO Reporting: An Update | EDUCAUSE Review
Increasing financial pressures have led many colleges and universities to move toward greater centralization of their IT departments.
Our Thoughts
I always enjoy it when EDUCAUSE shares the results of research because it often provides critical insights into higher education. This research, conducted by Curt Herridge at Southern Methodist University, highlights the evolving role of CIOs and IT centralization at institutions. As technology becomes progressively more important to institutional success, it is no surprise that CIOs are increasingly seen as strategic partners, with many reporting directly to the president.
As institutions attempt to navigate financial pressures, optimize IT resources, and improve strategic planning, I foresee a clear trend in elevating the role of the CIO in higher education. Although IT centralization levels vary across institutional types, most will achieve the greatest success through increased centralization, particularly those aiming to make data-informed decisions. Herridge’s research is invaluable for anyone attempting to reconfigure their own IT strategies to better support their institutional goals, as it provides a benchmark for comparison.
Abandoning AI Projects
From Gartner Predicts Wave of Abandoned AI Projects | Campus Technology
Gartner predicts that up to a third of generative AI projects will be abandoned by the end of 2025.
Our Thoughts
Although this article is targeted toward business users, the report can still provide insights into the challenges and realities of implementing AI projects, specifically generative AI, within your institution. It highlights potential pitfalls such as poor data quality, inadequate risk controls, and escalating costs, which can lead to the abandonment of AI projects.
Understanding these challenges can help you make informed decisions, manage expectations, and strategically allocate resources. This awareness is essential for avoiding costly mistakes and maximizing the potential benefits of AI in higher education. Reports such as this are crucial as you determine the best way (if at all) to make use of AI on your campus.
Hiring for Innovation
An interview with Alex Cirillo Jr. about how he hired people to improve innovation and creativity at 3M.
Our Thoughts
Discussions like this are critically important to higher education as it combats decreasing public confidence in the value of a degree. Cirillo’s interview emphasizes that questioning drives innovation and highlights how diverse experiences and skills contribute to problem solving. These abilities are essential for graduates navigating an uncertain future.
In my twenty years at higher education institutions, every campus I have worked for firmly believed in fostering a culture of innovation and interdisciplinary thinking, designed to encourage critical thinking. This is why many institutions have a robust general education curriculum grounded in the liberal arts. It is paramount that institutions ensure graduates can demonstrate these skills and abilities as they transition from college to career.
If you want to hear more of our thoughts about this, listen to episode 5 of ForecastED, our new summer podcast series.
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