Before we dive into this week’s news, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton, affecting so many campus communities, and to let our higher education partners know that our thoughts are with you. If your institution has been impacted, we are here to support you during this challenging time. 

In this issue, we look at the most recent EDUCAUSE QuickPoll about analytics (one of our favorite topics) before diving into an article on data management best practices. Finally, we close with a look at the declining online program management (OPM) market.   

After reading today’s issue, use the comments section to let us know your thoughts about the EDUCAUSE Analytics QuickPoll. 

Campus Analytics 

From EDUCAUSE QuickPoll Results: Advancing Analytics | EDUCAUSE Review  

Institutional leaders want and plan to advance their use of analytics in many functional areas across campus, but doing so will require overcoming numerous challenges that call for new strategies and technologies.   

Our Thoughts 

Regular readers know how much I enjoy the results of the EDUCAUSE QuickPolls, and the results of this one are especially important to us at Evisions. We are passionate about data and enjoy helping institutions make the most of it to inform decision-making and enhance their campuses. It was heartening to see that institutions want to be more mature in how they engage with analytics and use their data to inform more complex decisions in areas such as student success and academic program management.  

However, the poll revealed that the same old culprits are hindering institutional progress toward reaching these goals—data silos and insufficient expertise. This is such a shame, as these issues drastically hamper institutional data strategy and prevent institutions from using their data to its fullest potential. Hopefully, the results of this study will compel institutional decision-makers to invest in data governance and staff training so that they can achieve better outcomes for their campuses.  

Managing Institutional Data 

From Best Practices for Managing Institutional Data | EdTech Magazine   

By borrowing some principles from the business world, EdTech Magazine provides guidance and best practices for managing your institutional data.    

Our Thoughts 

In higher education, we may sometimes be dismissive of ideas borrowed from the corporate world. We often forget that we are also managing complex enterprises, much like many Fortune 500 companies. As such, it’s imperative that we adopt appropriate tools to manage our data and eliminate data silos. This is particularly crucial as institutions look to leverage data for personalized learning, retention efforts, and even fundraising initiatives.  

While this article is short, it highlights the critical importance of data centralization in modern institutions. Decentralized data environments hinder collaboration, create inefficiencies, and lead to unreliable information, making it challenging to use data to inform decisions or to implement data-based projects (like analytics, as mentioned above). By adopting a centralized data management strategy, institutions can streamline operations, enhance student experiences, and ensure departments across campus align on shared goals. 

Declining OPMs 

From Has the OPM Market Already Imploded? | Inside Higher Ed   

A new report from Validated Insights indicates that higher education institutions are turning away from online program management (OPM) providers.   

Our Thoughts  

The landscape of the OPM market is certainly shifting as institutions reevaluate their strategies for their online programs. If your institution uses OPMs, now is the time to review your contracts and begin making decisions about the future of your online programs. Building internal capacity to replace your OPM, including recruitment and course development, may take time, especially given the hiring challenges many institutions are facing.   

The potential demise of traditional OPM models presents an opportunity for institutions, particularly those seeking new revenue streams. Like the agreement between Arizona State University and The University of Tennessee, institutions with existing internal online program management teams could consider offering their services regionally to other institutions. These models could be for a fixed fee or introduce new strategic partnerships between institutions. As we navigate the post-pandemic online education environment, it is essential for institutions to consider all available options when planning for the future of online education.