Higher Digital

🎙️ New Episode of TRANSFORMED is live!

Join us as we sit down with Dr. Michael Davis, President of Fairmont State University, to explore his journey as a first-time president and how he’s shaping the future of his institution. From building trust to embracing their unique “Artisan University” identity, Dr. Davis shares powerful lessons every higher ed leader can learn from.

Here’s what you’ll take away:
👉 Start with Culture: Real change begins by fostering connection and alignment across the institution.
👉 Focus on Relationships: Dr. Davis reminds us that small gestures of care can have a big impact.
👉 Think Differently: Learn how Fairmont State is embracing its strengths to create a more personal, student-focused experience.

Whether you’re navigating your own strategic vision or simply curious about innovative approaches in higher ed, from a “craft brewery” kind of place, this episode delivers ideas and stories of their success.

💬 Listen now and tell us what resonates most with you! https://hubs.ly/Q036wXSz0



Tune in to TRANSFORMED wherever you get your podcasts for the latest from thought leaders across higher ed institutions.

Exerting Patience When Refreshing an Institution’s Vision | Higher Digital With a craft brewery approach, Dr. Davis, president of Fairmont State University, shares the value of patience over pressure for results.

Happy to share this article with lessons learned from the recent EDUCAUSE Partnership Summit at the 2024 Annual Conference.

At the invitation of the EDUCAUSE team, our esteemed colleague and trusted expert in higher education leadership circles, Joseph Moreau, worked with others on the Corporate Engagement Advisory Committee to develop and execute the first summit. The article summarizes output of the summit.

https://hubs.ly/Q03624WW0

With a focus on common goals, including sustainability, innovation, co-creation, and efficiency, the authors (Joe and Kevin Kelly, of Phil Hill & Associates) highlight the elements of strong partnerships, issues institutions can address with industry partners, and ways different partners, that is, solutions providers, can collaborate to serve higher ed as a whole.

At Higher Digital, we appreciate these opportunities to be an active player delivering expertise and solutions to challenges facing higher education!

Redefining Partnership: Lessons Learned from the First EDUCAUSE Partner Summit By adopting a more intentional approach to partnerships and working together strategically, higher education institutions and industry partners can un

🎙️New Podcast Episode! 🎙️

What does it take to create a student-ready campus in today’s digital world? Dr. Vin Del Casino, Provost at San José State University, joins us on TRANSFORMED to discuss how institutions can take ownership of student success, embrace AI and digital tools, and build a future-focused learning environment.

🔹 The shift from “at-risk students” to institutional accountability
🔹 How AI, digital literacy, and applied learning are shaping the future
🔹 Why belonging and connection matter more than ever

Don’t miss this insightful conversation!

🎧 Listen now: https://hubs.ly/Q034Dh_J0



Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Tune in to TRANSFORMED wherever you get your podcasts for the latest from thought leaders across higher ed institutions.

Creating Student Success in a Digital Now | Higher Digital Provost, Dr. Vin Del Casino, explains the mindset behind San José State owning the student experience, rather than the student doing so.

🚀 Welcome to the Team, Kari Branjord! 🎉

We are excited to announce that Kari Branjord has joined Higher Digital as Vice President to lead our Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Practice!

With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, including leadership roles at Ellucian and large public institutions, Kari has a proven track record of driving innovation, enhancing student success, and transforming institutional strategies.

Kari is passionate about using data to drive progress and decision-making, while working with higher ed leaders to achieve their institutional goals. We are thrilled to have her on board!

📢 Learn more about Kari’s professional journey and vision: https://hubs.ly/Q034qHHm0

Higher Digital Welcomes Transformational Leader Kari Branjord as Vice President to Lead the Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Practice Kari Branjord, trusted advisor to higher ed, joins Higher Digital to help drive strategic, data-driven decisions for transformation and student success.

🎉 Happy New Year! 🎉

We’re kicking off 2025 with an exciting new episode of Higher Digital’s TRANSFORMED podcast! In this episode, we welcome Jon Allen, CIO and CISO at Baylor University, sharing the story of Baylor’s incredible journey to R1 research status and Power Four athletics.

✨ What’s inside this episode:
✅ The steps Baylor took to transform into a top-tier research institution while staying true to its faith-based mission.
✅ Lessons learned from tackling an ERP transition during a global pandemic.
✅ How infrastructure, trust, and vision played a key role in achieving strategic goals.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the future of higher education and looking for actionable strategies to drive transformation in 2025.

🎧 Start your year with inspiration—listen to the episode now on the Higher Digital website: https://hubs.ly/Q032JJ4n0



Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Tune in to TRANSFORMED wherever you get your podcasts for the latest from thought leaders across higher ed institutions.

Transforming to an R1 Institution | Higher Digital Joe Allen, CIO and CISO at Baylor University, shares practical tips on reaching R1 status by asking hard questions and making change work.

How a UK institution unlocked the power of digital transformation:

The University of Southampton partnered with Higher Digital to modernize and simplify its Student Information System (SIS)—a critical platform supporting more than 22,000 students and 5,000 staff members.

Key Takeaways from the Case Study:
✅ Reduced reliance on outdated customizations (500+ identified)
✅ Set priorities for next steps based on clear decision criteria
✅ Created a roadmap to enhance efficiency and student experiences
✅ Paved the way for a future-ready, SaaS-compliant infrastructure

Modernizing and transforming technology empowers institutions to better serve their students, reduce costs, and improve security. Southampton is setting a powerful example for innovation and strategy in action!

📖 Read the full story here: Southampton Case Study https://hubs.ly/Q032x9Q70

Case Studies Your institution, in fact any institution, can evolve through innovation, regardless of size or budget. Explore how we have helped clients tackle challenges, modernize systems, and deliver results that have both business and operational impact, through strategic consulting at institutions like yours...

Higher Ed CIOs: Is this the stuff of your nightmares??

🔍 A data breach exposing sensitive student and staff records—rooted in siloed systems, outdated tech, and insufficient security.

Shake off that nightmare and see why Higher Ed needs a resilient Master Data Management (MDM) strategy.

In our latest blog, “Building Resilience in Higher Ed: Mastering Data Access, Security, and Integration,” we dive into:
✅ How to address data silos and inefficiencies.
✅ MDM’s role in strengthening cybersecurity.
✅ Why traditional data warehousing no longer works.
✅ Actionable steps to modernize and secure your data strategy.

💡 Takeaways: Practical solutions to centralize data, future-proof systems, and improve decision-making while enhancing the student experience. (Not to mention a special offer for readers...)

📈 Ready to transform your institution’s data management?
See how higher education technology experts tackle these issues and how you can set your institution up for reduced risk.

👉 Read it here: https://hubs.ly/Q031tWvD0

Building Resilience in Higher Ed: Mastering Data Access, Security, and Integration Find actionable steps to address data challenges in higher education environments, including a master data management complimentary audit.

🎙️ Don't Miss This!

We’re excited to bring you the latest episode of TRANSFORMED, featuring Steve Munson, Chief Information Officer at American University!

Steve shares his inspiring story of leading not one but TWO major system transformations at the same time—implementing Workday ERP and Salesforce Education Cloud for admissions. Learn how American University's "Challenge Accepted" culture, strong leadership, and strategic alignment have helped them tackle these ambitious goals while fostering innovation and adaptability.

Learn how Steve approached:
✅ Building a culture ready for change
✅ Strategies for managing risk in large-scale projects
✅ Communicating clear priorities and leadership alignment to drive success

🎧 Listen now and get inspired by Steve’s journey: https://hubs.ly/Q0303YL70

Let us know your thoughts in the comments!



Tune in to TRANSFORMED wherever you get your podcasts for the latest from thought leaders across higher ed institutions.

Maximizing an Institution’s Capacity for Change | Higher Digital Steven Munson, CIO at American University, shares key factors for successful institutional change, proven through 2 major initiatives.

After the recent launch of our Strategic Portfolio Management system, (SEA)results, our president and chief technology officer, Gottlieb has crafted a White Paper that walks through how this system can be applied. Higher education leaders can envision how to reclaim control of their entire project portfolio

(SEA)results Strategic Portfolio Management System White Paper Request the white paper, (SEA)results Strategic Portfolio Management System, from Higher Digital

🌟 What’s the role of ethics in AI? Find out in our latest TRANSFORMED podcast episode!

We’re thrilled to share an engaging conversation between TRANSFORMED host, Joe Gottlieb, and Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, President of the Catholic University of America. 🎧

Dr. Kilpatrick reveals how Catholic University is preparing students for an AI-driven future with its innovative Ethical AI Degree Program, launching Fall 2025. Topics include:
✨ Why ethics is essential in AI development
✨ How the program blends technology, philosophy, and ethics
✨ The impact of AI on various professional fields

This thought-provoking episode will inspire anyone passionate about the future of higher education, technology, and leadership. 🌐

🎙️ Don’t miss it—listen now: https://hubs.ly/Q02-wkTd0



Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear what you think! 👇

Tune in to TRANSFORMED wherever you get your podcasts for the latest from thought leaders across higher education.

Obligations and Opportunities for Ethical AI | Higher Digital Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, President of The Catholic University of America, shares the thinking behind a new degree offering in Ethical AI.

Big week! We are thrilled to partner with The Higher Education Systems & Services Consortium (HESS) to present a pair of webinars on the BIG topic of:

Building a Data-Driven Campus: Strategies for Effective Data Management and Governance in Higher Education.

Open to HESS members and nonmembers alike, technology leaders wrestling with how to manage mountains of data should listen in for guidance from Higher Digital teammates, Emily Rudin and Joseph Moreau, and our valued partner, Brendan Aldrich in the following two sessions:

Dec 3, 2024, 11 am EST
Building a Solid Data Foundation: Master Data Management (MDM) for Higher Education Success

Dec 5, 2024, 1 pm EST
Navigating Data Maturity: Mitigating Business Risks in Higher Education and Understanding AI Readiness

Find the registration links for each session here: https://hubs.ly/Q02-03J80

Even if you can't attend the live session during a busy week, register to access the recording at your convenience.

Webinars | Higher Digital Elevate your digital marketing knowledge with Higher Digital's informative webinars. Learn from top professionals and gain actionable tips.

We are thrilled to partner with The Higher Education Systems & Services Consortium (HESS) to present a pair of webinars on Building a Solid Data Foundation: Master Data Management (MDM) for Higher Education Success next week.

Open to HESS members and nonmembers alike, technology leaders wrestling with how to manage mountains of data, should listen in to get guidance from Higher Digital teammates, Emily Rudin and Joseph Moreau, and our valued partner, Aldrich in the following two sessions:

Dec 3, 2024, 11 am EST
Building a Data-Driven Campus: Strategies for Effective Data Management and Governance in Higher Education

Dec 5, 2024, 1 pm EST
Navigating Data Maturity: Mitigating Business Risks in Higher Education and Understanding AI Readiness

Find the registration links for each session here: https://hubs.ly/Q02Zzgsl0

Webinars | Higher Digital Elevate your digital marketing knowledge with Higher Digital's informative webinars. Learn from top professionals and gain actionable tips.