Introducing D. Christopher Brooks, PhD, Tambellini Analyst
My first writing assignment for the Tambellini Group is to introduce myself to the member community. I wanted to avoid writing a standard, linear narrative about my credentials, professional experience, accomplishments, and interests. Those things are documented on LinkedIn and Twitter. My colleague, Laura Gogia, suggested that I have some fun with the assignment. So, […]
From NASA to Academe: Serving the Mission as CIO
“Whether it’s at NASA or a university system level job, a CIO wants to be able to expand the scope of our technology and systems to impact the largest number of people.” In this month’s Top of Mind Podcast, host Elizabeth Farrell is joined by the Vice President of Information Technology Services and Chief Information […]
Why Is Change So Hard for Higher Education?
I have heard this question for decades. Why can’t higher ed modernize, become more efficient, or run more like a business? It is important to recognize that some of the reasons why change is so difficult in this industry are inherent to higher education’s mission and collaborative and collegial structure. Since the mid-1980s, institutions have […]
Higher Education CIOs Support Student Success by Easing System Navigation
COVID-19 accelerated and emphasized the need for change, but the movement towards a more holistic and humanizing understanding of student success has been in the works for a long time. By now, most higher education CIOs know that expectations for student success in their institutions are evolving. What was once the purview of faculty, advisors, […]
Keeping it Personal: Technology and the Student Experience
The definition of student experience is an ever-changing one. As technology advances, students’ expectations shift to newly introduced possibilities. Inevitably, this affects student experience. However, what’s important to consider is whether implementing a solution just because it’s available is worthwhile to your institution. In this episode, new show host Elizabeth Farrell talks to Dr. Melissa […]
Modernizing CRMs for Student Success
The COVID-19 Pandemic expedited the timeline for technological modernizations at many institutions. As the fall Just like on-campus students, remote learners expect a quality student experience from their higher ed institution. Providing a quality experience coincides with modernizing and simplifying virtual services, yet the work toward this can not be done until institutions understand what […]
Student System Features Higher Ed CIOs Should Be Considering
As campuses prepare to welcome students back for the fall 2021 term, meeting student needs is more important than ever. COVID-19 highlighted the need for a strong student system with robust features to support all facets of student life, not just record keeping. Tambellini Analyst Dr. Laura Gogia recently shared some student success insights that […]
The Formation of Thesis
When Unit4 was acquired in March of this year, little was said about the Student products that were left behind with Advent International, Unit4’s previous owner. What is the impact of this separation? First, let’s look back. As COVID-19 began to impact the industry, the Unit4 Student team (including development and support) began to separate […]
How Higher Ed CIOs Can Support Student Success Initiatives
Although many higher education institutions have for years sought to improve student success (increasingly known as student experience), the visible struggle of many students during COVID-19 renewed the urgency around institutions getting it right—right now. More schools are professionalizing advising, creating new student success divisions, and restructuring student and academic affairs to streamline oversight and […]
How Higher Education IT Leaders Contribute to Humanized Learning
For the last year, humanized learning has been top of mind at many higher education institutions. As I’ve written previously, it is not a new concept. The teaching and learning literature is brimming with resources, ranging from philosophical treatises to practical guides. Historically and currently, most educators and campus leaders use humanized learning to describe […]
