The Connected Campus: A Secure, AI-Ready Digital Ecosystem for Higher Education
Higher education is moving beyond basic connectivity toward a fully integrated, AI‑ready digital ecosystem known as the connected campus. The model combines Wi‑Fi 7, cloud‑native microservices, zero‑trust and SASE security, and edge‑enabled IoT to deliver seamless learning, research, and operational experiences. AI‑driven telemetry continuously optimizes network performance while identity‑centric controls protect sensitive student and research data. Institutions that adopt a holistic roadmap can scale AI workloads, improve safety, and sustain innovative teaching environments.
Case Western Reserve University Deploys Google Gemini
Case Western Reserve University rolled out Google Gemini across its campus in April 2025, offering a secure, no‑cost AI tool for faculty, staff, and students. The university paired the free Gemini for Education with paid Google AI Pro for Education...
Q&A: Old Dominion University Redefines AI Literacy Through MonarchSphere
Old Dominion University, in partnership with Google Public Sector, launched MonarchSphere, an AI incubator that embeds AI literacy across disciplines through real‑world use cases. The initiative bridges the gap between classroom theory and applied AI by connecting students, faculty, and...
Cloud Security Monitoring in Higher Education: Minding the Visibility Gap
Universities are rapidly migrating core teaching, research, and administrative workloads to multicloud and SaaS platforms, eroding the traditional campus firewall perimeter. Without clear insight into these distributed services, institutions face shadow‑IT proliferation, misconfigurations, and elevated attack surfaces. Experts from SANS,...
What IT and Academic Leaders Need to Know About Collegiate Esports
A new Voice of Intercollegiate Esports (VOICE) study provides the first large‑scale data on how collegiate esports programs affect student outcomes. Participants posted average GPAs above 3.3 and a 94.8% intent to graduate, with graduation rates hitting 85.9%, well above...
Applying AI Risk Frameworks in Higher Education: What IT Leaders Need to Know
Higher education IT leaders are adopting AI with cautious optimism, recognizing its potential to transform student services, research, and campus operations. However, many institutions lack clear visibility into where AI models run and what data they access, creating blind‑spot risks....
AI Tools to Reduce College Dropout Rates
Colleges are deploying artificial intelligence to curb a 30% college‑dropout rate by identifying at‑risk students early and delivering personalized support. Florida International University uses DataRobot’s machine‑learning suite to score each student’s retention probability, flagging anyone below a 70% threshold. Georgia...
Shadow Data in Higher Education: Governing Unsanctioned Data Before It Becomes a FERPA Problem
Higher education institutions are grappling with "shadow data"—information stored or shared outside sanctioned systems such as personal laptops, departmental drives, or unsanctioned cloud services. This hidden data layer threatens student privacy, weakens data quality, and creates compliance exposure under FERPA....
Determining the Roles Required for Effective AI Governance in Higher Ed
Universities are racing to formalize AI governance as generative tools permeate admissions, instruction, research, and operations. Institutions such as Austin Community College and Cornell have created interdisciplinary committees and senior roles—like a vice provost for AI strategy—to define policies, vet...
Campus Technology Is a Valuable Partner to Human Counterparts
Campus technology is evolving from a background utility to an active collaborator for students, faculty, and IT staff. AI-driven mentors and virtual‑reality simulations now provide real‑time feedback, while AI teaching assistants deliver 24/7 support, freeing instructors for higher‑value tasks. Modern...
Understanding Your Microsoft 365 Education Ecosystem for Smarter Campus IT Decisions
Higher education institutions are grappling with complex Microsoft 365 Education license environments, often mixing A1, A5, trial, and legacy tiers. Without clear visibility, schools incur overlapping costs and under‑utilize existing entitlements. CDW’s product manager Leticia Juarez emphasizes that rigorous assessments can reveal hidden...
AI Teaching Assistants Provide Extra Support for Faculty and Students
Fort Hays State University piloted an AI teaching assistant that ingests course syllabi and assignments to answer student queries and give formative feedback. Faculty report a lighter workload while students value 24/7, course‑specific support. Parallel pilots at the University of...
How VR and AI Improve Soft Skills Development
A recent poll shows nearly half of executives believe new graduates lack essential soft skills, prompting universities to adopt immersive technologies. At UNCG, a VR game paired with an AI mentor trains cybersecurity students to conduct audit interviews with non‑technical...
Active Learning Classrooms Foster Collaboration Among Students
Universities nationwide are replacing traditional lectures with active‑learning classrooms that emphasize student interaction and technology‑enhanced collaboration. Cornell University’s Center for Teaching Innovation, which began in 2012, now reaches more than 10,000 students each year, while roughly eight in ten higher‑education...
An Overview of AI Governance in Education
Universities are rapidly formalizing AI governance, with AI‑related acceptable‑use policies climbing from 23% to 39% of institutions between 2024 and 2025. Leaders such as Palo Alto Networks’ Fadi Fadhil and EDUCAUSE’s Jenay Robert stress cross‑functional steering committees, clear data‑ownership rules,...
Q&A: How Utah Valley University Is Using AI to Help Students Succeed
Utah Valley University’s Ask Wilson AI assistant, built by the Kahlert Applied AI Institute, is embedded in Canvas and answers course‑specific questions, links to lecture recordings, and offers 24/7 coaching. After a pilot in fall 2023, it now serves 2,000 students across...
Why IT Service Management Is Vital for Digital Transformation
Higher education is confronting student‑driven demand for seamless, AI‑enhanced digital experiences, making IT service management (ITSM) a strategic necessity. Legacy systems and fragmented processes hinder on‑demand services such as Wi‑Fi, digital resources, and 24/7 help desks. Modern, AI‑powered ITSM platforms...