NETGEAR recently opened its NETGEAR Academy to manufacturing partners, creating a free, industry-wide education platform rather than a single-vendor training site. Partners such as Crestron, Q-SYS, Dante by Audinate, Sennheiser, Lightware, SDVoE, AVB Academy, and Powersoft are now contributing their own certified courses alongside NETGEAR's training. We sat down with Gus Marcondes, global training manager at NETGEAR Enterprise, to ask him some pointed questions about the program.

AVN: How is this training different than what manufacturers would offer on their own?

Marcondes: What makes the NETGEAR Academy different is that we’re not just teaching our own products. We’re helping people see the whole system. Each manufacturer usually focuses on their specific solutions, which makes sense, but real projects don’t work that way. In the field, switches, endpoints, and protocols all need to coexist. That’s why we’ve opened our platform to include training content from our partners.

By bringing all these courses together, we are giving students a smooth, unified learning experience where they can understand how the entire ecosystem fits. The goal is to make networking feel less intimidating and more connected to what professionals actually do every day.

AVN: You noted that the training is geared toward Pro AV and broadcast. How is the content geared toward each audience?

Marcondes: For Pro AV professionals, our focus is to help them grow from basic networking skills to full AV-over-IP design and deployment.

We cover topics from simple VLAN configurations to multicast design, clocking, and troubleshooting. At the advanced level, students design a complete network project based on customer requirements. Each project is personally reviewed by our instructors, and every student receives individual feedback. It’s an online course, but there’s always a real human behind the screen.

For the broadcast community, the focus is on IP media standards like ST 2110 and IPMX. We help engineers understand the network layer that supports video, audio, and timing, because that’s where the future of broadcast is heading.

We also show how open standards are connecting both worlds: high-end broadcast and simpler AV distribution, into one scalable IP foundation.

And since the lines between IT, AV, and broadcast are disappearing fast, we’ve added courses on Cloud, Pro WiFi, and Cybersecurity to help everyone build the confidence to manage connected environments.

Below are the topics covered in the partner trainings, with more to come:

AVB Academy: Training around Audio Video Bridging standards for synchronized, low-latency AV over Ethernet.

Crestron: Courses focused on control systems, room solutions, and AV integration with Crestron ecosystems.

Dante by Audinate: Certification and how-to content for Dante audio networking, routing, and deployment.

Lightware: Switchers, signal management, and AV-over-IP workflows with Lightware solutions.

Powersoft: Amplification, audio system design, and tuning using Powersoft platforms.

Q-SYS: Training on Q-SYS platform design, control, and DSP for integrated AV environments.

SDVoE: Education on Software Defined Video over Ethernet for uncompressed, low-latency video distribution.

Sennheiser: Pro audio, wireless systems, and microphone solutions training.

AVN: Please discuss the benefits for end users and integrators.

Marcondes: For end-users, it's all about removing barriers to professional development. The Academy is completely free, on-demand, and designed to make complex topics simple. Whether you're just starting out or already experienced, you can learn at your own pace from practical, real-world examples. What's particularly valuable is the AVIXA accreditation. Professionals can earn AVIXA RUs at no cost, which addresses a real pain point around continuing education expenses.

The curriculum is comprehensive and constantly evolving, with regular content updates that keep pace with industry changes. You're learning from experts who bring field experience directly into the training.

For integrators, the Academy gives their teams a structured way to grow their skills, earn recognized certifications, and demonstrate to customers that they truly understand AV-over-IP systems. The certifications provide tangible credentials that differentiate them in competitive bids. For our official partners, these certifications are directly tied to the NETGEAR Partner Portal, where higher certification levels unlock stronger incentives, co-marketing opportunities, greater visibility in our partner directory, priority technical support, and deeper engagement with our team.

Our third-party manufacturer training section is growing quickly, with eight manufacturers already participating. This is particularly exciting because it demonstrates that education isn't a competitive advantage to be hoarded; it's a rising tide that lifts all boats. When manufacturers collaborate on education, we're collectively raising the technical bar for the entire industry. Partners who invest time in the Academy are building a holistic understanding of how different technologies work together in modern AV installations, which ultimately makes them more valuable consultants to their customers.

Get your free copy of SCN's Integration Guide to Education.

An Investment in Better Storytelling

Detroit Country Day School, a Pre-K-12 school, has made an investment in better storytelling with high-end virtual and podcast studios. The two spaces are inspiring teachers to think outside the box and use production as a key tool for creativity and higher learning.

At Issue

Industry experts from Atlona, JB&A, LG, Planar, Sennheiser, Sharp, Shure, and WyreStorm explore the Pro AV technologies that are essential for today’s smart classrooms.

Download the Integration Guide to Education.

Read the November issue of Systems Contractor News.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN! This Thursday, Nov. 7, beginning at noon ET, AV Technology, Systems Contractor News, and Tech & Learning are hosting this one-day virtual conference alongside event partners the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF). The event is sponsored by Crestron, Extron, and Horizon AVL.

[REGISTER NOW]

Designed for esports decision-makers from K-12 and higher education, as well as Pro AV/IT professionals, these engaging and informative sessions explore key trends, program design and planning, tech requirements, audience engagement tips, and more. This event will provide in-depth insight into the benefits of esports to students and schools and how you can implement a program.

What you'll learn:

• How to develop a high-quality esports program
• How your peers are introducing esports into their schools
• What are the elements of esports and technology ecosystem you need for a successful program

For a full breakdown of the agenda and speakers, click here. We look forward to seeing you Thursday, so register today.

Get your free copy of the Integration Guide to Education. 

The Future Is Present

The UNC School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has two HyFlex classrooms that enable instructors to connect with students both on site and remotely. Learn how Kontek designed and deployed the technology to deliver a solid educational experience for all participants.

At Issue

Industry Experts discuss how to equipment classrooms with modern Pro AV tools without overwhelming instructors with technology.

Product Showcase

Check out the latest education AV solutions from Absen, ADI Global Distribution, Atlona, Full Compass, Hall Technologies, Sennheiser, Vaddio, and Yamaha UC.

Download the 2023 Integration Guide to Education.

Read the May issue of Systems Contractor News.

Get your free copy of the 2023 Integration Guide to Esports.

A Career Path Investment

Designed by Horizon AVL, the new Esports Arena at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro mixes competition with academics and socialization. Learn how the system was designed to avoid latency for players while creating a fun and inviting atmosphere for spectators.

At Issue

Industry experts outline some of the toughest technological challenges for an on-campus esports program.

Product Showcase

Check out the latest esports solutions from Black Box and IHSE USA.

Download the 2023 Integration Guide to Esports.

Read the April issue of Systems Contractor News.

Here's a wild number for you: 97% of adolescents play at least one hour of video games per day. As a 47-year-old, I remember a time when there wasn't an hour's worth of video games to play.

My age and recollection of a youth spent outdoors shooting each other with water guns instead of controllers that have more than a joystick and one red button is neither here nor there. 

What is important is that according to a recent report from eSchool News, esports is one of the five biggest trends to watch in 2023. This is something we here at AV Network have been preaching for some time. Ashley “AJ” Jones, director of membership sales and services for the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), was the keynote speaker at our 2022 AV/IT Summit, our own Cindy Davis and Mark J. Pescatore hosted "The Esports and Education Virtual Conference 2022," and Pescatore later pondered if it was time to get serious about playing with cars.

It's nice to see something that we have invested so heavily in is coming to the forefront of education. In fact, there is an entire esports school in Japan... but that's a story for another time.

Check out what eSchool News has to say about the five biggest educations trends for 2023 here. 

Introducing the Planar EduCare Program. The program from Planar is specially designed to address the challenges learning institutions face most frequently such as budget constraints and a lack of technical support and training. Available to K-12 schools, colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, the new program offers benefits that bolster customers’ investment, keeping displays viable for years to come. This includes exclusive pricing, technical pre-sales support, priority post-sales technical support, and access to private training courses via Planar Academy.

The new program is backed by Planar’s decades of experience deploying innovative display technology for customers in education. This spans installations in lecture halls, meeting rooms, student centers, rooftop terraces, athletic and performing arts facilities, and more. With the Planar EduCare Program, customers get first-hand access to Planar technical expertise, ensuring schools get the highly trained technology and product knowledge they need to identify the best display solutions for their project needs.

[AVT One-on-One: Planar Talks Displays]

“From large, attention-grabbing video walls to interactive displays and desktop monitors, education facilities have been turning to Planar’s award-winning display innovations to power next-level teaching, learning and recruitment experiences for decades,” said executive vice president Adam Schmidt. “Planar has long designed and developed solutions to help meet customers’ individual needs and Planar EduCare strengthens this commitment. This program allows us to deliver one-on-one attention to customers in education, one of our most successful markets, to create incredibly personalized projects and experiences that will inspire other organizations for years to come.”

Planar EduCare is available with all Planar display technology products. Registered program customers will receive the following:

• Exclusive Pricing: With special pricing discounts on every Planar display solution, Planar EduCare helps budgets stretch finances further.
• Technical Pre-Sales Support: Even before purchase, Planar EduCare customers receive first-hand access to Planar technical expertise. These highly trained product experts assist education institutions in designing one-of-a-kind video wall configurations or other installations that address their needs and deliver impact.
• Priority Support: Planar display solutions thrive in the most demanding applications. In the event technical support is needed, Planar EduCare customers can rest assured that dedicated technical support resources are available for strong and continuous operation.
• Planar Academy Training: Private training from Planar Academy instructors is aimed at helping universities and schools get the most out of their display investment as well as discover new and innovative ways to use the technology. Instruction covers everything from video wall content development and color adjustment to the basics of virtual production. 

“From rooftop terraces, classrooms and huddle spaces to auditoriums and executive boardrooms for the Dean, Clemson University continues to work with Planar and incorporate the industry leader’s state-of-the-art display solutions into our facilities to deliver immersive and unmatched educational experiences for students and staff,” said Paul Borick, project manager for capital projects at Clemson University. “With the new Planar EduCare Program, learning institutions will benefit from the support and product proficiency they need to make their dreams a reality.”

[The Mountains Are Calling, and Planar Meets You There...14,000 Feet High]

Planar was named a Tech & Learning Awards of Excellence Best of 2022 winner. The dedicated resource to help K-20 administrators and educators use technology to enhance the student experience and drive innovative learning recognized the Planar MGP Series as one of the very best products in EdTech from 2022.The program celebrates educational technology that has excelled in supporting teachers, students and educational professionals in the classroom, for professional development or general management of education resources and learning. Tech & Learning’s panel of expert judges selected the Planar MGP Series for its ease of use, value, versatility and utility, awarding the product in the category of higher education.

The Planar MGP Series makes fine pitch LED an accessible alternative to formerly projection or tiled LCD environments such as classrooms, lecture halls and student centers as well as retail settings, houses of worship and other digital signage applications. The series is available in 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, and 2.5-millimeter pixel pitches and features a 27-inch diagonal, 16:9 cabinet that is designed to support full front-service, wall-mounted installation.

Sponsored content from Canon

Whether it’s in the classroom or on the field of play, higher education is in the midst of a significant evolution in how students, professors, athletes and fans interact and stay in touch.

Prompted by prolonged campus-wide shutdowns due to the pandemic, remote learning became a more prominent feature in the virtual halls of academia. On the football field, basketball court and other collegiate fields of competition, new economic realities stemming from the pandemic pushed many institutions to look for ways to maximize their video production budgets.

Canon pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras have answered the call in classrooms and at sporting events, helping colleges and universities respond to and overcome limitations, enabling common-sense steps likely to remain relevant even as the pandemic recedes. 

Sports Production

For example, Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, S.C., deployed Canon CR-N500 PTZ cameras for coverage of the 2021-22 Hercules Tires Big South Basketball Championships.

“We want our productions to be like you are watching ESPN every single night in the Big South Conference so our fans can really enjoy the product, enjoy the games and the content,” said conference commissioner Kyle Kallander.

However, neither the university nor the conference have an ESPN-sized production budget. The Canon PTZs made it simple to add exciting shots—like fan reactions and coaches and players on the benches—with pre-set shot setups and controlled from the production trailer as opposed to camera operators positioned in the rather cramped confines of Buccaneer Fieldhouse.

“That’s just priceless at our level because staffing is an issue. Equipment is an issue. Why? Because budget is an issue. So, to be able to have that kind of expansion—to make a small production group feel like a major production team—is a big deal,” said Mark Bryant, director of broadcast services at the conference.

Thanks to its robust feature set and competitive price point, the Canon CR-N500 PTZ camera is quickly becoming a favorite among collegiate sports producers. Engineered with a high-performance 1-inch CMOS sensor capable of 4K UHD resolution, the camera captures images on par with those of other high-end field production cameras, with less noise in low-light situations. The larger sensor also exhibits a shallow depth of field at large apertures, producing a beautiful bokeh and blurred backgrounds in images, while Canon’s DAF tracks and keeps subjects in sharp focus. Its 15x optical zoom (20x digital) with one of the widest in class 73-degree angles-of-view, and optical stabilization also help bring a new level of flexibility and performance to the PTZ class of cameras.

Support for PoE+ simplifies placement of the CR-N500 in sports venues, reducing the number of cable runs required. Its support for both IP and SDI-based productions ensures shots are easily integrated into newer IP-centric and traditional video workflows.

The CR-N500 also offers a fast and precise auto focus system, which includes face detection and tracking, —attractive solutions in sports production applications. Support for pre-set shot recall, remote control via the Canon RC-IP100 and from certain Ross Video and NewTek video production switchers, as well as use of premium servo motors to ensure ultra-smooth pans, tilts and zooms make the camera simple to integrate into professional production workflows.

In The Classroom

The heightened emphasis on remote learning during the pandemic may be reducing as students get back to the classroom. Still, the lockdowns underscored the role remote learning and PTZ Cameras can play in education going forward, greatly expanding the learning opportunities for students too distant or unable to attend in person.

One challenge, however, has been the inability to replicate the organic back and forth between students and teachers in a real classroom. Canon addressed this with the launch of its Activate My Line of Sight (AMLOS) technology, a hybrid collaboration solution that combines advanced PTZ camera functions and software to enable remote students to see what’s happening in a classroom with clarity. AMLOS even proves angle-corrected views of white boards making it as simple and clear to see what a professor is writing as it would be sitting in desks in a classroom. The AMLOS solution is capable of working with the Canon CR-N500 PTZ camera as well as the CR-N300, which shares some of the same features and offers a longer zoom range at a lower price point, making it an attractive option when budget is the highest priority.

Solutions like AMLOS, and PTZ cameras in the classroom and in collegiate sports production played critical roles in helping colleges and universities maintain operations during the pandemic and have found a permanent home in collegiate life, helping institutions better meet the needs of their students, professors, fans, donors and boosters.

As Big South Conference commissioner Kallander put it, Canon PTZ cameras are helping conference schools put their “best foot forward.”

About Canon

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets.

LG Business Solutions is reaffirming its commitment to serving the dynamic U.S. education market at the 2023 Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC), where the company will spotlight a full range of education-focused solutions, headlined by the new LG CreateBoard (model TR3DK), a purpose-built solution to address a variety of needs for in-person, remote and blended learning. 

LG’s full line of ed tech solutions will be on display in FETC Booth 3531 from Jan. 23-26, 2023, in New Orleans. At FETC 2023, LG will also unveil its expanded training programs through the LG Academy, with a new course set to launch specifically for LG CreateBoard line in the first quarter. The CreateBoard course will be followed by additional comprehensive training resources released in coordination with a third-party provider. 

[AV in Education–More Than Monitors, Cameras and Mics]

The new LG CreateBoard is among the most specialized education solutions available, offering an up-to 40-point multi-touch interactive display that enables live annotations of digital files and provides tools for content creation, sharing and management. The full LG CreateBoard line includes updated 65, 75, and 86-inch models, plus the all-new 55-inch model, ensuring students can view what the teacher is presenting regardless of seat location or room size. The new 55-inch model delivers all the CreateBoard’s powerful functions in a compact package for smaller classrooms, meeting rooms and offices. 

The value of the CreateBoard goes far beyond the hardware with two powerful LG CreateBoard Studio software solutions providing meaningful benefits for educators and students. The first, called LG CreateBoard Lab, enables school districts and educators to streamline workflows including content creation, document importing, lesson building and more, all with pre-designed, subject-based templates available. 

“Our goal is to help advance education standards and practices with technology that creates flexible learning environments, enhances access to collaboration and online information, enables interactive lessons and maximizes the learning potential of today’s tech-capable students,” said Victoria Sanville, education account lead at LG Business Solutions USA. “In addition to providing solutions to support in-person, remote and hybrid learning needs, LG CreateBoard helps educators adapt to fluid circumstances and maintain the consistent ability to capture students’ attention.”

To maximize in-class capabilities and flexibility to design interactive lessons, LG also provides a wireless casting solution, LG CreateBoard Share, pre-installed that allows any student device to connect to the CreateBoard natively without requiring software updates or installations. Multiple LG CreateBoard can also be wirelessly connected to provide a multi-display classroom, which allows multiple students to stream to different boards and expands options for in-class instruction. Educators can add document cameras, microphones, conferencing cameras and other peripherals to expand the capabilities of each LG CreateBoard solution.

[Who's Ready for Hybrid?]

Additionally, schools that sign up for the complimentary LG ConnectedCare DMS (device management service) can centralize control of an entire school’s or district’s CreateBoard ecosystem to make important announcements, share reminders for fire/lockdown drills, shut down specific boards when necessary, and initiate firmware updates across the entire network.

Also, on display at the show will be a diverse array of LG technologies to outfit every area of the school grounds, including cloud-based computers and laptops, mobile all-in-one videoconferencing displays, gaming monitors, interactive displays, large DVLED displays, projectors, tablets and more. Each technology in LG’s booth will reinforce that tech-forward learning environments are simple, affordable and powerful. 

“LG has an innovative solution for virtually every classroom technology need,” Sanville said. “Our range of projectors, laptops, displays and all-in-one solutions make it possible for any size room to be utilized for instruction – showing how LG is developing new solutions to untether the teacher and diversify the learning environment options for students.” 

[AV Network's top stories, product news, and expert insights] 

In addition to the new LG CreateBoard line up, visitors to LG’s booth can learn about the following products and their classroom benefits directly from company experts:

• 136-inch LG LED All-in-One Display (LAEC015)
• 43-inch LG One:Quick Flex display with mobile cart (43HTWJ & ST-43HF)
• 43-inch 24/7 LCD monitor (43UH5J-H)
• 43-inch Wireless monitor with WAP (43UR640)
• 86-inch Stretch digital signage display (86BH5F-M)
• 26-inch LG UltraWide desktop monitor (26BQ500)
• LG ProBeam Projectors (BU70QGA, BF40QS & PF510Qc)
• 14-inch LG gram Laptop (14T90Q-K.APG5U1)
• 24-inch All-In-One Thin Client (24CN650N-6N.AUB)
• 24-inch Webcam/Mic Monitor (24BP750C-B.AUB)
• 24-inch LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor (24GQ50B-B.AUBQ)

"The University of Florida is offering artificial intelligence courses to its faculty and staff for free as part of a years-long push to establish itself as an AI leader."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

As the school works to embrace artificial intelligence, the University of Florida is making sure faculty and staff are up to speed, providing free courses on AI. "Being able to know that you are knowledgeable about a specific area that university is taking on and building across every single college is so important because then you can come to the table with knowledge or at least understanding the vocabulary and not feel intimidated," notes provost fellow Regina Rodriguez.

Texas A&M University’s Instructional Media Services team has been working through goals to keep students engaged consistently throughout the school year with limited disruptions to classes. While outfitting a new building on campus, the team wanted to develop a learning environment that would not only attract students, but also faculty. To create a one-of-a-kind immersive learning environment, Texas A&M turned to Panasonic’s team of visual experts to conceptualize and bring to life a cohesive learning environment for all.

Panasonic helps students and faculty stay engaged 100% of the time

Through the new building’s smaller huddle spaces and share pods to large, arena-style classrooms, the university wanted to create an environment to keep classes going 100% of the time as any loss of time in class can be detrimental to the learning experience.

[Head to the Cloud: Panasonic Expands KAIROS Platform for Remote Production]

For the new Innovative Learning Classroom Building (ILCB), the university aimed to bring forth a complete, networked-AV ecosystem to help nurture a heightened user experience no matter where students and faculty are tuning in—from in the classroom, overflow spaces or in a remote location off campus. As a result, they began the search for flexible, easy to use solutions that supported the new spaces’ ability to accommodate not only classes, but also a wide variety of university or third party-led events. And while finding the right technology was a clear priority for the university, the Instructional Media Services team also needed to find a vendor they could trust and easily communicate with quickly to fill any support requests.

Panasonic filled that need.

Panasonic projectors provide a unified technological experience

From using Panasonic’s PT-FRZ50U 1-Chip DLP Laser Projectors in smaller classrooms for crisp visuals throughout a lesson to deploying Panasonic’s PT-RZ12KU 3-Chip DLP Large Venue Laser Projectors to create wide viewing angles to foster a truly immersive learning environment in the university’s top-of-the-line 600-seat arena-style lecture hall, Panasonic provided one unified technological experience for the entire campus.

[Panasonic Helps Southwestern Oklahoma State Configure First-Ever Esports Arena]

“Our classrooms are being used now for anything and everything. So, we’ve had to think beyond the realm of what a traditional classroom for learning purposes needs to be outfitted with to really making Texas A&M’s spaces multi-purpose for a wide breadth of events,” said Ty Navarrete, IT manager II, instructional media services, division of enrollment & academic services, Texas A&M. “With that, we needed flexible, easy to use and visually brilliant technology to fit our diverse needs as well as our goal of bringing this new building into the future with networked AV technology.”

Flexible, engaging educational experiences

Prior to switching over to Panasonic’s projection technology, the university did not have a standard vendor and was also reliant on projectors utilizing lamp-based technology. Having projection solutions from a variety of vendors, matched with using outdated lamp-based technology meant maintaining the university’s IT infrastructure took a lot of time on an unpredictable and costly schedule. When collaborating with Panasonic to deploy laser projection technology throughout campus, the Instructional Media Services team acquired a proactive and predictable maintenance schedule largely in part of the ability to rely on Panasonic’s consistency, reliability and dependable laser technology. Since switching to Panasonic’s projection technology throughout the campus, the Texas A&M team has also decreased classroom downtime due to technology failures.

“With large classes, any loss of time past ten minutes is a big hit to any class we offer. With the new laser technology in place, downtime is far less of a concern now, which is particularly beneficial as we aim to get students back in an uninterrupted learning environment,” Carlos Lucio, assistant director, instructional media services, division of enrollment and academic services, Texas A&M. “With Panasonic’s projection technology now consistently deployed throughout campus, we’ve experienced far fewer failures across the board, which has led to huge improvements in maintaining and accelerating our entire IT program.”

[SCN Hybrid World: Workplace Products and Expert Tips]

With service and maintenance now a predictable aspect of the Texas A&M team’s routine, the team was able to put a greater focus on innovating classroom design and campus networks. Specifically, in the arena-style lecture hall, the Texas A&M team collaborated with Panasonic on a projection configuration to fit the classroom’s curved screens to enhance viewing angles. Using Panasonic’s Geometry Manager Pro Software, the team ensured visuals were clear and uninterrupted across the multiple displays.

In addition to flexible technology, the team also looked for a new collaborator that was easily accessible and easy to cultivate a productive and amicable relationship with. On top of enhancing maintenance, reducing downtime, and deploying better visuals, communication with the vendor was a key factor for the university.

“Since the projection screens in the arena are curved—it was great working with Panasonic to customize our solution to fit our exact needs in this venue,” said Lucio. “It definitely took time and valued collaboration efforts to get this right, but once we set this projection up, we haven’t had any issues since.”

"College and university purchases of student information systems nearly doubled last year, according to research published Tuesday by the Tambellini Group research firm. The 98% increase in 2021 was the largest jump for the student systems market in more than a decade and included the largest number of individual purchases since 2013."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

Spending on higher-ed student information systems increased 98% in 2021, nearly doubling, the Tambellini Group reports. "For quite some time, institutions have been very interested in student systems that enable them to provide streamlined services and automated technology to modernize the student experience, but they were previously hesitant to make selections because of past delays from vendors in delivering needed functionality," notes founder Vicki Tambellini.

"The California State University system’s chief information officer and chief information security officer are going on a 1,860-mile roadtrip this Memorial Day weekend to explore all 23 campuses."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

Over Memorial Day weekend, the Cal State's chief information security officer, Ed Hudson, and its chief information officer, Michael Berman, embarked on an ambitious roadtrip to visit each and every one of the systems 23 campuses in just 3 days. The trip covered "1,800 miles so it’s more than halfway across the country,” Berman said.

"The virtual classroom company Class plans to buy Blackboard Collaborate this year from parent company Anthology, the companies announced Thursday."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

Class has set its sights on purchasing Blackboard Collaborate. “We want to really take all of those best practices, best pieces of functionality, deep type of integration, and as this industry moves forward, be able to bring them together into a single product that will benefit clients across the board,” said Michael Chasen, CEO and founder of Class, who also happens to be a co-founder of Blackboard.

"I love hearing educators gush over the latest clickable, shiny whirl of e-learning technology. Sometimes, they even glow with a new sense of the possible — perhaps witnessing what designer Roberto Verganti calls an 'innovation of meaning.' While I celebrate the exuberance in their screen-shared reviews, as an ed tech teacher I often pivot back to less commonly asked, but still critical, questions — which, often enough, are all about equity. "—Source: Campus Technology

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

When leveraging edtech for online courses, it is imperative for equity and inclusion to help shape the experience. Rather than "potentially reinforcing the sage-on-the-stage 'banking' models of instruction," institutions should foreground "'unbanking' technologies: those designed to give all students and educators an equitable sense of voice and agency," writes Reed Dickson.

"At a time when college enrollment is declining, one college is seeing an uptick in enrollment. Western Governors University, a nonprofit, private and completely online university based in Utah, reported enrollment growth, higher retention rates and record-setting monthly graduations during the pandemic."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

At Western Governors University, 69% of the students come from an underserved community, and technology has been key in keeping learners connected to their studies. "We try to learn from our students as much as we can, not only from their transcripts but also from how they are consuming our services," notes David Morales, WGU's CIO and senior vice president of technology.

"As technologies continue to change and threat landscapes evolve, and the U.S. economy struggles to fill more than half a million vacant cybersecurity jobs nationwide, colleges and universities need to rethink the way they educate future talent, speakers said Wednesday at a conference in Washington."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

With cyberworkforce pros in high demand, institutions that want to help fill the gap should consider alternative pathways, experts say. University of West Florida’s Center for Cybersecurity Director Eman El-Sheikh notes that the demand is so high that "No matter how many students we get into cyber degrees, it’s not going to be enough."

"As technologies continue to change and threat landscapes evolve, and the U.S. economy struggles to fill more than half a million vacant cybersecurity jobs nationwide, colleges and universities need to rethink the way they educate future talent, speakers said Wednesday at a conference in Washington."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

With cyberworkforce pros in high demand, institutions that want to help fill the gap should consider alternative pathways, experts say. University of West Florida’s Center for Cybersecurity Director Eman El-Sheikh notes that the demand is so high that "No matter how many students we get into cyber degrees, it’s not going to be enough."

"Once upon a time, cyber insurance companies were likely to insure almost any organization, regardless of its existing cybersecurity protocols. Now, it’s much more difficult for colleges and universities to get coverage."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

Cyberinsurance can provide important safeguards for institutions that can secure coverage. To keep premiums in check, it's important to stay on top of campus systems and insure compliance with government regulations, which "shows you’re committed to keeping students and faculty safe...that’s what cyberinsurers want to see," writes J.P. Pressley.

"The technology features at the new headquarters of Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management look like a edtech obsessive’s wish list: collaborative digital touch-tables, a full virtual-reality studio and a digital globe hanging from the ceiling, controlled by touch gestures from a nearby screen."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

The new Thunderbird School of Global Management facilities at Arizona State University is being heralded as  the "most technologically advanced building of any leadership, management or business school in the world," sporting a wide array of high-tech features, including a virtual reality studio and a ceiling-mounted digital glove. "The biggest goals we had was just to make sure it was very forward-thinking and flexible for what they needed to accomplish and then anything in the foreseeable future we could come up with, we could make work," notes Nathaniel Holland, a tech consultant on the project team.

"The University of Michigan is just wrapping up a major connectivity upgrade, including the implementation of new Wi-Fi access points across academic, administrative and residence hall buildings."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

Connectivity has gotten a major upgrade at the University of Michigan, with thousands of new Wi-Fi access points on campus. "People are getting download speeds of upward of 300 to 400 megabits per second, which allows us reduce the number of wired ports that we have across the campus and reduce the number of switches in all of our closets," notes CIO Ravi Pendse, adding that "almost 80,000 wired ports" had been "removed or reduced."

"Lincoln College, a small liberal-arts school in rural Illinois, is set to shut down after 157 years amid a string of financial difficulties that were compounded last December by a ransomware attack that seized up numerous administrative systems, including the admissions department."—Source: EdScoop

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This story shows how truly devastating a ransomware attack can be for small higher ed institutions. In the wake of a December ransomware attack that disrupted campus operations and “thwarted admissions activities,” Lincoln College says it needs “a transformational donation or partnership" to keep operating next semester.

"Instructure has announced the acquisition of Concentric Sky, maker of the Badgr digital credentialing platform."—Source: Campus Technology

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

Instructure's latest acquisition shows that the company is working to help institutions craft alternative pathways. "With Badgr, the Concentric Sky team has developed the gold standard for verifiable, skill-aligned micro-credentials, fast becoming the currency between learning outcomes and employment opportunities," notes Instructure CEO Steve Daly, adding that the acquisiton will help "continue to expand the Instructure Learning Platform to support the evolving needs of all types of educational institutions and the diverse student populations they serve."

"A 36-foot-long, nearly seven-foot-tall video wall in the student center at North Carolina’s Fayetteville State University is highlighting students who’ve landed paid internships and jobs — and the employers that hired them."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

Fayetteville State University is tapping a new video wall to spotlight students who have scored paid internships. The effort aims to help the historically Black university reach its goal of connecting 740 students with paid opportunities, and the school's chancellor notes that the video wall aims to encourage students to register with the career services office.

"As the pandemic affected higher education and forced universities to think creatively about keeping students engaged from afar, immersive learning continued to gain traction as a virtual tool to bring previously inaccessible concepts, locations and objects directly to students using technology."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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Immersive technology promises to boost hands-learning opportunities in higher ed, but offering extended reality in hybrid environments requires the right tech. "Providing the right devices and sufficient bandwidth and successfully integrating them into remote or hybrid learning environments can all help universities move forward with these emerging technologies," writes EdTech Magazine's  Amy McIntosh.

"Community colleges across California stand to gain an additional $100 million in cybersecurity funding this year, and $25 million in subsequent years, under the state budget proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom."—Source: EdScoop

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As cyberattacks aimed at community colleges continue to ramp up, California is considering a budget that would earmark funds for items such as risk assessment, software, and cybersecurity hiring. While the proposed budget would be a $100 million influx this year, followed by $25 million per year in years to come, the California Legislative Analyst’s Office argued that the allocations should take into account an institutions current level of cyberpreparedness, “with less prepared colleges receiving somewhat more funding than more prepared colleges of the same size.”

"Back in January, ed tech company Cengage released a report on the Great Resignation occurring throughout the United States. During that month, 4.3 million quit their jobs. The next month, another 4.4 million left their positions. The reasons varied, but more than three-quarters of respondents to Cengage’s survey said they wanted to make more money and felt burned out. They also said they felt like they weren’t growing in their positions."

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Cengage CEO Michael Hansen says higher ed can do more to help bridge gaps in the workforce. “Our current labor shortage is in part due to a need to skill more workers in in-demand industries, but also because of archaic hiring practices, broad degree requirements and a need for more support for alternative career pathways, like apprenticeships,” notes Hansen, adding “amid the Great Resignation—or as I like to refer to it, the Great Reassessment—workers are enrolling in courses and online training to reskill into other industries and may not have a traditional college degree to quantify their breadth of knowledge, competencies or experiences.”

"One of the rising cybersecurity threats higher education business leaders face is preventing talent from burning out or leaving for the private sector, said Kim Milford, executive director of the Research and Education Networks Information Sharing and Analysis Center. "—Source: EdScoop

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Cybersecurity can be a stressful job, which can make retaining campus staff difficult, but working to mitigate burnout can help. "Looking at new ways to focus on well-being, focus on community in a new world has been a bit of a challenge but I do feel we’ve been making great progress there," notes Kim Milford of the Research and Education Networks Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

"While many colleges and universities turned to digital course materials to serve the needs of remote learners during the pandemic, faculty usage of e-textbooks and other digital content has decreased now that classes have resumed in-person instruction, according to the latest "Faculty Watch" survey from the National Association of College Stores. In 2021, 54% of faculty respondents used e-books for their courses, down from 62% in 2020, and 64% used digital content in the learning management system, down from 84% in 2020. What's more, faculty members' comfort level using digital content has also gone down: In 2021, just 46% reported feeling very or extremely comfortable with using digital content, compared to 60% in 2020."—Source: Campus Technology

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This may come as a surprise after the pandemic necessitated the use of digital materials two years ago, but faculty use of digital materials for courses is on the decline, per a recent Faculty Watch survey. In addition to this usage trend, faculty also report feeling less comfortable with digital content.

"The COVID-19 pandemic changed the ways colleges and universities operate. Instructors pivoted to virtual environments and university staff were sent home to work. While this work-from-home model was not previously the norm in higher ed, today, flexible schedules are becoming more common. But as more employees work from home, more potential security risks are at play."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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With more and more higher-ed employees working from home, security risks are on the rise. EdTech Magazine's Amy McIntosh shares steps institutions should take to keep campus networks secure in the age of remote work, including crafting solid policies and embracing zero-trust access.

"Just in time for its 10-year anniversary, the Open Textbook Library's collection of open education resources has surpassed 1,000 titles. Launched in 2012, the Library is an online catalog of openly licensed materials hosted by the Open Education Network (OEN), a membership community based at the University of Minnesota's Center for Open Education."—Source: Campus Technology

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

The Open Textbook Library has a lot to celebrate -- after a decade of operations, the Library has more than 1,000 titles available via the Open Education Network. OEN Executive Director and Open Textbook Library founder David Ernst notes, "At this 10-year milestone mark, we're thrilled with the Library's success and see it as a reflection of the community's generosity with their time, expertise and resources."

"A project that uses virtual reality headsets to train people in new careers is yielding promising results, the Arkansas Office of Skills Development announced Thursday."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

Virtual reality has proven to be an effective job training tool for the Arkansas Office of Skills Development, which has tapped VR headsets for career training. “It’s very costly to purchase $50,000 [fabrication] machines, $50,000 robots, hundreds of thousands of dollars on welding equipment, welders, materials and so on, along with all the waste that goes along with those materials you need to train people on those devices,” notes Cody Waits, the skills office's director.

"Predicting the future may no longer be such a fantastical notion. The concept of digital twin technology is essentially what it sounds like: a virtual, real-time representation of a physical product or process."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

As institutions continue to embrace digital transformation, digital twins could one day be tapped to offer more experiential virtual learning experiences in higher education. Digital Twin Consortium's Dan Isaacs points to the promise of "experiential learning that digital twin technology brings with AR, with VR, with the ability to visualize and do it in a collaborative manner."

"Ever since the pandemic forced schools to ramp up remote learning in a hurry, we've heard about how educators rose to the challenge and quickly adopted distributed communications technologies and available tools like Zoom to keep their programs afloat. Most reports gave these efforts high praise — and why not, because they did save the day for our institutions over the past two years."—Source: Campus Technology

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While the disruptions caused by the pandemic have undoubtedly caused learning loss, that doesn't mean that we should attribute this loss to changes in completion rates. "These days, in higher education, it could be that a student leaving school for a career certification and a subsequent job actually doesn't see their own education experience — or their decision to leave school — as one of loss," says AECT's Ellen Wagner.

"'Everyone' should be involved in preparations for cyberattacks, including senior university leaders who lack technical expertise, speakers said during a virtual event Wednesday hosted by the University of California."—Source: EdScoop

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Safeguarding institutions from cyberattacks isn't just the work of IT teams -- the broader campus community, including university leaders, all play important roles. "Your IT professionals can help you quantify the risks that you’re facing, but then it’s up to the leaders and the business leaders then to weigh up what do those metrics mean," notes Rachael Nava, chief operating officer at the University of California.

"Protecting a higher education institution’s sensitive information is a high-stress job. The day-to-day responsibility of maintaining a secure technology environment is a lot for an individual to bear, and experts suggest that the pressure and expectations placed on the cybersecurity unit, and on the CISO in particular, can take a toll on their mental health."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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Safeguarding campus systems is a stressful job, which begs an important question: How can we best support the wellness of higher ed cybersecurity professionals. “We’re so good in cybersecurity at documenting and creating playbooks, creating opportunities for structure and discipline, to deal with large volumes and make everything manageable,” says Netskope's Shamla Naidoo, adding that mental health is similar and that there needs to be "a playbook for helping people and teaching them how to navigate this.”

"Grubhub is discontinuing use of its Russian-made food delivery robots at college campuses following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The announcement affects the Yandex food delivery robots launched at Ohio State University last fall and at the University of Arizona in November."—Source: EdScoop

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In the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, Grubhub says it will no longer use food-delivery robots made by Russia-based company Yandex. While Grubhub is "ending our partnership with Yandex," their statement notes Grubhub's "commitment to the universities that we partner with – and ultimately the student diners who order from the Grubhub platform – to make food ordering and delivery available on campus."

"The Campus Technology Insider podcast explores current trends and issues impacting technology leaders in higher education. Listen in as Executive Editor Rhea Kelly chats with ed tech experts and practitioners about their work, ideas and experiences."—Source: Campus Technology

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

Students want specific things from an institution's learning management system, but faculty may need support and training to learn how to tap into LMS features. This podcast episode shares how Ohio State University tackled the issue, starting with a student-created list of LMS guidelines.

"An institution’s network bandwidth affects more than the speed of a Netflix stream. It determines how many teachers and students will be able to teach and learn concurrently, without any unwanted technological disruptions. As such, reliable internet connection is more than a nice-to-have option. With the increasing prevalence of hybrid and online classes being taken by on-campus students, stable Wi-Fi is a necessity, making campus bandwidth sufficiency a high priority for colleges and universities."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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Every higher ed institution needs to provide sufficient bandwidth for its campus, but that doesn't mean that a one-size-fits-all approach is the answer. "Each school has a unique and established technological infrastructure, and any distinctive obstacles that may arise amid the endeavor to update the network will also be exclusive to this infrastructure," writes Michael Durand.

The Guitar Center Music Foundation has partnered with Elevate Oakland to build a brand-new music program at Elmhurst United Middle School, Oakland, Calif. This partnership comes at a critical time for music education programs across California. 

[Guitar Center Appoints Paul Gimenez Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging]

Research shows that children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all other studies, have enhanced critical thinking skills, and pursue higher education. Despite this, California music programs have consistently been subject to budget cuts in the last decade.

Guitar Center to Host Benefit Concert For Music Education

Elmhurst United Middle School is one of many schools across the state that experienced this firsthand. Helena Jack, the school's music director, knows how critical music education is to the development of kids and has tried for years to bring a program back to Elmhurst. She came close in 2020, but all momentum was lost when the school went remote due to the pandemic. Students went home without instruments, and it was nearly impossible to teach music classes virtually.  

"By February 2020, things were really starting to change with the mindset of students regarding music," said Jack. "They went from saying 'why do I have to do this' to 'when are we doing this and what do I have to wear to the performance?' Suddenly, COVID-19 hits and everything goes away in a week."

Guitar Center Opens Experience Center in Nashville

With students back to in-person classes and eager to make music, The Guitar Center Music Foundation and Elevate Oakland donation gives them the space and necessary musical instruments to finally have a sustainable program. Donated items include drums, violins and a state-of-the-art WhisperRoom, which allows them to record and rehearse in a soundproof booth.

[Sheila E., Warriors DJ D-Sharp to throw virtual party for Oakland high school graduates]

To celebrate the new music room, The Guitar Center Music Foundation and Elevate Oakland hosted a surprise unveiling for students on Wednesday, February 16. The event featured Sheila E., the iconic "Queen of Percussion," Oakland native and co-founder of Elevate Oakland, who spent the morning jamming with students.

"Being exposed to music early in my life had a profound impact on my development as an artist, so I am thrilled to be a part of the rebuild of Elmhurst United Middle School's music program," said Sheila E. "These students are so passionate about music, and I'm excited to see them grow into the next generation of artists." 

"Music education should be an essential part of a child's curriculum because it's an enriching experience that creates lifelong benefits - from increased social skills to higher levels of confidence and self-esteem," said Myka Miller-Jimenez, The Guitar Center Music Foundation executive director. "Guitar Center Music Foundation is committed to help support this program, and we can't wait to see the artists it inspires for years to come."

To learn more about The Guitar Center Music Foundation's work to keep music education alive and available in schools across the country, visit www.guitarcenterfoundation.org.

To learn more about supporting "The Arts and Music in Schools - Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act," a ballot initiative that, if passed by the voters of California this fall, will dramatically increase arts education funding in every preK-12 public school to the tune of roughly $800 million a year, without raising taxes, visit https://voteartsandminds.org/sign-the-petition/.

"South Carolina State University is updating 'every network closet on campus' to boost internet speeds, Chief Information Officer Travis Johnson told EdScoop."—Source: EdScoop

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Wi-Fi speeds are South Carolina State University have gotten a major upgrade -- it's now five times faster, thanks to digital infrastructure updates. "It’s about upgrading from old technology, but it’s also about if we do it right, [students] will come and they will stay," said the school's CIO Travis Johnson, adding that "IT won’t be the reason they leave."

"Bowdoin College has announced it will provide every student with a suite of Apple technology as well as access to course-specific software in an initiative it's calling the Digital Excellence Commitment. The goal: to advance learning, inspire innovative teaching, and create digital equity across the student body in the use of tools essential for success in the twenty-first century, according to a press release."—Source: Campus Technology

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Starting this fall, Bowdoin College is connecting every student with Apple products -- each student will all receive an iPad mini, an Apple Pencil,  and a MacBook Pro from the school, with the opportunity to buy the devices for $1 upon graduation. "Our Digital Excellence Commitment allows us to level the playing field so that every student has the opportunity to fully benefit from the technology that plays an essential and growing role in the learning experience at Bowdoin," notes Clayton Rose, the institution's president.

"Higher education has long embraced sports as a way to attract students and drive donations. But turning esports in particular into a lucrative alternative revenue stream is no easy task. It requires a high degree of student engagement and players being able to compete effectively."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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Tapping an esports program as a stream for institutional recruitment and revenue may seem like a daunting undertaking, but it doesn't have to be. "Even if you don’t have the budget to do all of this at once, you map out where you’re going," advises CDW's Doug Konopelko, adding "The biggest thing is to really be intentional in the planning."

Sennheiser has been selected by the technology decision makers at the IDE Business School in Ecuador to drive their hybrid education setup. With support from distributor Smart Click, the IDE Business School has installed and rolled out 16 TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC2) microphones for its in-person and virtual conferencing audio needs in its primary lecture halls. The ceiling microphones proved to be the ideal choice for the school, thanks to its best-in-breed technology for conferencing inside classrooms, lecture halls and boardrooms with many easily controllable features that make the education experience seamless for remote participants.

[Sennheiser Adds TruVoicelift to TeamConnect Ceiling 2]

Before working with experts from Sennheiser and Smart Click to find the right solution, the educational institution used classic radio frequency (RF) microphones in their classrooms. This technology caused several audio problems and was not conducive to virtual environments, taking away from students' learning experience. Daniel Susaeta, General Director of IDE, was tasked with solving for new challenges arising from the pandemic, particularly in ensuring that the university could offer a flawless educational experience to both remote and in-person students, and educators.

[Sennheiser Launches TeamConnect Intelligent Speaker for Microsoft Teams Rooms]

It was crucial for the University to find a new solution quickly to be able to shift to virtual education with limited down time. They enlisted the support of Smart Click, a business technology distributor, to help them identify the right solutions, including Sennheiser's TCC2.

"Smart Click provided the highest quality service. Their team gave us excellent demonstrations and advice on everything from audio-visual installations, acoustic treatment and even professional lighting. They helped us facilitate a complete AV setup, in conjunction with the TCC2 from Sennheiser," said Susaeta.

"What we liked the most about Sennheiser's TCC2 microphone technology is that it is practically autonomous. We don't have to worry about manually managing the connection, gain settings or volume adjustments, and the new features like TruVoiceLift help us get extremely clean audio," said Stefany Acuña, coordinator of Information and Communication Technologies at IDE Business School.

 [Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre Increases Its Wireless Audio Firepower with Sennheiser]

Hernán Domínguez, Sennheiser's Business Communication sales manager for Latin America, worked hand-in-hand with Smart Click on this project. Together, they installed 16 TeamConnect Ceiling 2 microphones across the school's main lecture halls, ensuring seamless, excellent sound for all students in and outside of the classrooms. With this, the TCC2 enables students and educators with the freedom of movement, and a completely contactless microphone solution that reduces potential hygiene risks, a crucial advantage in times of pandemic.

"After demonstrations, Sennheiser was the only choice for us. The students who were connected from home were able to listen in real-time and with incredible lifelike sound quality, making them feel as if they were in the classroom," added Susaeta.

 [For Extreme Location Recording, Vlad Finds Sennheiser Reliable in All Weathers]

As IDE Business School in Ecuador continues the school year, the educators and technical team can ensure that all students, whether they are remote or in-person, are able to get the best possible educational experience, thanks to Sennheiser's TeamConnect Ceiling 2.

"Continuing a trend of cyberattacks against educational institutions, the Seattle-area public community college Centralia College this week announced it was hit by a ransomware attack that continues to disrupt students’ educations."—Source: EdScoop

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Ransomware attacks have been targeting higher ed at an alarming rate, and Centralia College, a community college near Seattle, is the latest school to deal with the fallout from a cyberattack. "While the attack is clearly challenging and disruptive, we’re in a better place to combat it due to changes we implemented over the last two years," says Bob Mohrbacher, the college's president. 

"Virtual reality can transport students to the jungle or ancient cities, but an instructor’s presence is key to making sure they’re actually learning. That’s the supposed promise the metaverse — a blended in-person and digital environment — holds for education, according to a Brookings Institution report published Monday."—Source: EdScoop

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WHY THIS MATTERS:

As institutions explore leveraging the metaverse, a Brookings Institution report makes a case for virtual reality as a learning tool that can foster deeper engagement. "What I’d like to do is change the conception [of virtual reality] from individuals entering individual worlds, where we have pretend people," notes Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, author of the report, adding that VR means individuals "can be in the same room, working together, talking together under the guidance of an expert, and can actually be communicating with each other about what we’re seeing."

"Looking back, there are some who might say that North Central Missouri College got lucky.

Jennifer Triplett is not one of those people.

Triplett, NCMC’s CIO, led a recent initiative at the community college to modernize its IT systems. The discovery phase of the project kicked off about two years ago, just months before the pandemic hit, and the college had already paved its path to digital transformation by the time it was forced to pivot to remote learning."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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Digital transformation has been dubbed the "future of higher education," and it's playing a crucial role as institutions chart a path forward. Southern Methodist University's Jason Warner notes, "to do special things with technology, we needed to act cohesively,” adding that "digital transformation is really about people and building relationships."

"A new fellowship addressing the lack of diversity in higher education IT executives aims to provide its inaugural class with the skills and connections to advance."—Source: EdScoop

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The Next Leaders Fellowship aims to bolster support for people of color in higher ed IT teams, especially those in leadership positions. "We don’t believe we’re the only ones who can come up with some of these answers and what we’re trying to do is be as transparent and open with sharing the what’s working for us and what we’re learning as we go through it," notes Michael Cato, Bowdoin College's chief information officer.

"Colleges and universities are partnering to centralize everything from online content to administrative services.

Much of the impetus stems from the challenges of the pandemic. As learning institutions were compelled to offer more courses online, many administrators realized that by joining together, they could better serve their student populations."—Source: EdTech Magazine

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In the wake of the pandemic, centralization and partnerships are helping institutions such as the University of Idaho shore up and streamline resources. "Instead of having redundancies, institutions are trying to consolidate and share," notes James Wiley of Eduventures. 

"Last year saw alarming growth in the number of cyberattacks targeting North American universities, and the costs of ransomware attacks continued climbing as well. Now industry experts are warning that cyberinsurance premiums will skyrocket this year across all sectors as underwriters crack down on the amount of risk they'll accept — and insurers have begun requiring organizations buying policies to prove that their network security is in tip-top shape before they even get a quote, let alone active coverage."—Source: Campus Technology

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In the wake of increased higher-ed cyberattacks, cyberinsurance could be more difficult for institutions to secure this year, with both higher premiums as well as baseline requirements to minimize cyberrisk. "If you can't demonstrate your cybersecurity fitness, you won't be able to get coverage," notes Richard Seiersen from Resilience Insurance.