Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

Developing a Tech Mindset at the Leadership Table

Nov 26, 2024

Join Dave Weil, an IT and analytics leader from Ithaca College, and Nicole Parsons Pollard, Provost at Georgia State University, as they dive into the importance of integrating technology into higher education. They explore the disconnect between tech and academic teams and share strategies to harness data analytics for student success. The conversation also highlights the need for collaboration in decision-making, improving perceptions of higher ed, and navigating complex partnerships. It's a vital dialogue on the future of tech in academia!

44:24

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Episode guests

Nicole Parsons Pollard

Dave Weil

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Greater collaboration between academic and technology teams is essential for enhancing the student experience and achieving institutional goals.

Data-driven strategies can significantly improve student retention and success rates while addressing the disconnect between tech and academic departments.

Deep dives

The Role of Technology in Higher Education

Technology is increasingly viewed as a crucial aspect of higher education rather than merely a supporting function. Despite its significance, technology leaders often lack representation in key decision-making processes, which typically involve the president, provost, and CFO. This episode emphasizes the need for greater collaboration between academic and technology teams to enhance the student experience and institutional effectiveness. The guests highlight the importance of technology in shaping educational outcomes and suggest that involving technology officers could lead to more holistic decision-making.

Intro

2min

Integrating Technology in Higher Ed

10min

Harnessing Data Analytics for Student Success

4min

Navigating Data in Higher Education

8min

Navigating Higher Ed Partnerships

6min

Collaboration and Financial Strategy in Higher Education

2min

Building Bridges: Collaboration in Education Technology

5min

Reevaluating Higher Education's Value

7min

Technology is an increasingly important element of everything that colleges do, yet it remains a distinct and separate function at too many schools. Jeff visited the Educause Conference, focused on tech in higher ed, to chat with college leaders about how they are leveraging IT on their campuses. They discuss best practices in bridging the tech-academic divide, the role of data in decision making, how IT departments can support efforts to improve the value proposition of higher ed, and more. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

5:49 - IT Then and Now

9:02 - The Disconnect Between Tech and Academic Teams

11:56 - Using Data Strategically

16:01 - Data-Driven v. Data-Informed Decision Making

24:02 - Public-Private Partnerships

31:50 - Communicating Across the Tech and Academic Sides

34:57 - Getting Started in Online Education

37:16 - Improving Perceptions of Higher Ed

42:31 - The Future of Tech in Higher Ed

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