About the Episode
This special live episode was recorded on the show floor at the Times Higher Ed Digital US Event held at Illinois Tech in Chicago this past May. Dr. Karen Vignare shares with Dustin her broader perspective on the wave of digital transformation happening at public institutions across the country.
Key Takeaways
- Digital Transformation is a Catalyst, Not the Goal: Institutions should use technology to drive meaningful change, not as the end solution itself.
- AI Has Dual Opportunities: AI can enhance classroom learning and improve institutional efficiency by streamlining administrative processes.
- Flexibility is Paramount: Post-pandemic, students and faculty alike demand flexible online and hybrid learning environments to balance personal and professional commitments.
- Data-Driven Insights are Critical: Higher education must embrace real-time analytics to identify and support at-risk students before it’s too late.
- Focus on Equity: Ensuring equitable access to digital tools, reliable internet, and supportive services is essential for closing student success gaps.
Episode Summary
What Does Digital Transformation Look Like in Higher Education Today?
Dr. Vignare emphasizes that digital transformation is not just about adopting new technologies but fostering a collaborative change management approach. The pandemic underscored the importance of flexibility in learning formats, with students and faculty alike benefiting from online and hybrid options. Institutions must now reevaluate their physical spaces and embrace technology to meet students' evolving needs.
However, the shift to digital must also address systemic inequities. Campuses provide crucial resources like reliable internet access, modern devices, and mental health support—services that remain difficult to replicate online. To ensure equitable student success, institutions must focus on both technological innovation and empathetic support.
How Can AI Revolutionize Higher Ed?
AI offers immense potential for both academic and administrative transformation:
- In the Classroom: Faculty can leverage AI tools to personalize instruction, automate grading, and develop students’ career-ready skills for AI-driven workplaces. However, there’s a need for strategic guidance to integrate AI effectively without losing the human touch.
- Institutional Efficiency: On the administrative side, AI can automate mundane tasks—such as faculty evaluations or form processing—freeing up time for faculty and staff to focus on relationship-building and problem-solving. Unfortunately, Dr. Vignare notes that many institutions are not yet exploring AI’s potential at the leadership level.
Why Data is the Key to Student Success
Dr. Vignare calls for a shift from postmortem analysis to real-time data usage. By digitizing more processes, institutions can use machine learning and predictive analytics to identify students at risk of dropping out and intervene early. This proactive approach is vital for addressing the troubling trend of low completion rates, particularly among students of color. Higher education must harness data not only to improve retention but also to provide personalized support that motivates and empowers students.
This Episode is Brought to You By Our Friends at Ologie
In higher education, it’s almost impossible to truly stand out. Ologie gets it. As a branding and marketing agency that focuses on education, they understand that what makes you authentic, is also what makes you distinct.
Ologie offers award-winning creative, smart strategy, innovative thinking, and expert digital marketing. Most of all, they’ll help you connect with your audiences, bring your stakeholders together, and achieve the results that matter most to you.
Want to find out more about how you can build a compelling brand or campaign? Visit ologie.com.
About the Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Our podcast network is growing by the month and we’ve got a plethora of marketing, admissions, and higher ed technology shows that are jam packed with stories, ideas, and frameworks all designed to empower you to be a better higher ed professional. Our shows feature a selection of the industry’s best as your hosts. Learn from Jeremy Tiers, Zach Busekrus, Jaime Hunt, Allison Turcio, Jamie Gleason and many more.
Learn more about The Enrollify Podcast Network at podcasts.enrollify.org. Our shows help higher ed marketers and admissions professionals find their next big idea — come and find yours!
.svg)
.svg)
