Trends Affecting HigHer Education
Learn how colleges and universities are responding, and which IT solutions play a key role.
-
Shifting expectations
of Gen Z
-
Cyber attacks
on the rise
-
Rapid IT
advancements
-
Automation drives a need
for workforce reskilling
-
Declining
funding
-
Continuity of
service
-
Declining
enrollment
Shifting expectations
of Gen Z
of Gen Z
Cyber attacks
on the rise
Rapid IT
advancements
Automation drives a need
for workforce reskilling
Declining
funding
Continuity of
service
Declining
enrollment
Explore this interactive infographic to see the major trends and developments affecting higher education today. Continue clicking to learn how colleges and universities are responding, and which IT solutions play
a key role.
Shifting expectations of Gen Z
Declining enrollment
Declining funding
Rapid IT advancements
Automation drives a need for workforce reskilling
Continuity of service
Cyber attacks on the rise
Automation drives a need for workforce reskilling
Rapid IT advancements
Declining funding
Cyber attacks on the rise
Continuity of service
Shifting expectations of Gen Z
Declining enrollment
Shifting expectations of Gen Z
Declining enrollment
Declining funding
Rapid IT advancements
Automation drives a need for workforce reskilling
Continuity of service
Cyber attacks on the rise
Shifting expectations of Gen Z
Declining enrollment
Declining funding
Rapid IT advancements
Automation drives a need for workforce reskilling
Continuity of service
Cyber attacks on the rise
Back to top
Shifting expectations
of Gen Z
Today’s students have different expectations than prior generations. Having grown up in a world of smart phone apps, Gen Z expects mobile access to information and services from wherever they are.
They also prefer watching content through online streaming instead of traditional TV.
Implications for colleges
Implications for colleges
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Colleges are looking
to improve the
student experience
Improving the student experience on campus is a key recruitment and retention strategy — and technology-driven services are at the heart of this approach. Campus IT leaders must consider the expectations of Gen Z students and design highly personalized, mobile-friendly interactive services powered by smart campus infrastructure.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Streaming video
Students would rather stream live or on-demand content to any device than watch traditional TV. Colleges can improve their students’ entertainment experience with a streaming video service designed specifically for higher education.
Reliable, high-speed networks
All of these priorities depend on having a secure, reliable and high-speed network infrastructure to support them. Campus IT leaders need to take a hard look at their network infrastructure to ensure it can support their investments in other areas.
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Back to top
Declining
enrollment
College enrollment is shrinking, and it’s poised to get worse later this decade based on fewer numbers of U.S. births and increasing costs. There are also concerns the COVID-19 pandemic will cause
more students to stay closer to home or opt for distance learning instead. Institutions will have to innovate to attract new student populations, such as adults who need workforce skills.
Implications for colleges
Implications for colleges
Colleges are looking to improve the student experience
Colleges are innovating to create new revenue streams
Colleges are trying to realize more value from IT
Colleges are looking
to improve the
student experience
Improving the student experience on campus is a key recruitment and retention strategy — and technology-driven services are at the heart of this approach. Campus IT leaders must consider the expectations of Gen Z students and design highly personalized, mobile-friendly interactive services powered by smart campus infrastructure.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Streaming video
Students would rather stream live or on-demand content to any device than watch traditional TV. Colleges can improve their students’ entertainment experience with a streaming video service designed specifically for higher education.
Reliable, high-speed networks
All of these priorities depend on having a secure, reliable and high-speed network infrastructure to support them. Campus IT leaders need to take a hard look at their network infrastructure to ensure it can support their investments in other areas.
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Colleges are
innovating to create
new revenue streams
While improving the student experience is important, this alone won’t be enough to meet enrollment goals — campus leaders will need to think creatively to attract new students. Recruiting adult learners and other nontraditional students with online workforce development programs will play a key role in these plans.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Reliable, high-speed networks
All of these priorities depend on having a secure, reliable and high-speed network infrastructure to support them. Campus IT leaders need to take a hard look at their network infrastructure to ensure it can support their investments in other areas.
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Colleges are
trying to realize
more value from IT
Campus leaders are under enormous pressure to spend every dollar carefully and realize both value and ROI from their IT investments.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Managed services
Managed services are another way colleges can get more value from their IT investments. Managed WiFi, SD-WAN and router services can simplify the workloads of IT staff and enable institutions to scale their network capacity easily as needed — while ensuring they always have access to the latest technology.
Back to top
Declining
funding
State funding for higher education hasn’t fully recovered from the 2008 recession and could become an even greater challenge as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Colleges and universities must look
to develop new funding sources, while focusing on cost management and digital transformation.
Implications for colleges
Implications for colleges
Colleges are looking to improve the student experience
Colleges are innovating to create new revenue streams
Colleges are trying to realize more value from IT
Colleges are looking
to improve the
student experience
Improving the student experience on campus is a key recruitment and retention strategy — and technology-driven services are at the heart of this approach. Campus IT leaders must consider the expectations of Gen Z students and design highly personalized, mobile-friendly interactive services powered by smart campus infrastructure.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Streaming video
Students would rather stream live or on-demand content to any device than watch traditional TV. Colleges can improve their students’ entertainment experience with a streaming video service designed specifically for higher education.
Reliable, high-speed networks
All of these priorities depend on having a secure, reliable and high-speed network infrastructure to support them. Campus IT leaders need to take a hard look at their network infrastructure to ensure it can support their investments in other areas.
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Colleges are
innovating to create
new revenue streams
While improving the student experience is important, this alone won’t be enough to meet enrollment goals — campus leaders will need to think creatively to attract new students. Recruiting adult learners and other nontraditional students with online workforce development programs will play a key role in these plans.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Reliable, high-speed networks
All of these priorities depend on having a secure, reliable and high-speed network infrastructure to support them. Campus IT leaders need to take a hard look at their network infrastructure to ensure it can support their investments in other areas.
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Colleges are
trying to realize
more value from IT
Campus leaders are under enormous pressure to spend every dollar carefully and realize both value and ROI from their IT investments.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Managed services
Managed services are another way colleges can get more value from their IT investments. Managed WiFi, SD-WAN and router services can simplify the workloads of IT staff and enable institutions to scale their network capacity easily as needed — while ensuring they always have access to the latest technology.
Back to top
Rapid IT
advancements
Developments in AI and big data analytics allow colleges to leverage emerging technologies to improve services. IT leaders must integrate and support new technologies in ways that advance their
institution’s mission. That includes developing an enterprise architecture that keeps pace with strategic change.
Implications for colleges
Implications for colleges
Colleges are looking to improve the student experience
Colleges are innovating to create new revenue streams
Colleges are trying to realize more value from IT
Colleges are looking
to improve the
student experience
Improving the student experience on campus is a key recruitment and retention strategy — and technology-driven services are at the heart of this approach. Campus IT leaders must consider the expectations of Gen Z students and design highly personalized, mobile-friendly interactive services powered by smart campus infrastructure.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Streaming video
Students would rather stream live or on-demand content to any device than watch traditional TV. Colleges can improve their students’ entertainment experience with a streaming video service designed specifically for higher education.
Reliable, high-speed networks
All of these priorities depend on having a secure, reliable and high-speed network infrastructure to support them. Campus IT leaders need to take a hard look at their network infrastructure to ensure it can support their investments in other areas.
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Colleges are
innovating to create
new revenue streams
While improving the student experience is important, this alone won’t be enough to meet enrollment goals — campus leaders will need to think creatively to attract new students. Recruiting adult learners and other nontraditional students with online workforce development programs will play a key role in these plans.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Reliable, high-speed networks
All of these priorities depend on having a secure, reliable and high-speed network infrastructure to support them. Campus IT leaders need to take a hard look at their network infrastructure to ensure it can support their investments in other areas.
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Colleges are
trying to realize
more value from IT
Campus leaders are under enormous pressure to spend every dollar carefully and realize both value and ROI from their IT investments.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Cloud services
Migrating large business, financial and student information systems to the cloud is one way IT leaders hope to realize more value from technology. In the 2019 Campus Computing Survey, an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of campus IT leaders acknowledge the cloud “will play an increasingly important role” in their IT strategy — and 57 percent say cloud migration is an important part of their plan “to help reduce IT costs.”22
Managed services
Managed services are another way colleges can get more value from their IT investments. Managed WiFi, SD-WAN and router services can simplify the workloads of IT staff and enable institutions to scale their network capacity easily as needed — while ensuring they always have access to the latest technology.
Back to top
Automation drives a need for workforce reskilling
Advancements in AI and automation are expected to displace millions of workers in this decade, forcing many to learn new skills. Colleges and universities have a key opportunity to help fill this
need by contributing to a culture of transformation and student success.
Implications for colleges
Implications for colleges
Expansion of
online/remote learning
Online learning is an important strategy for increasing enrollment by catering to adult learners and other nontraditional students. It’s also central to ensuring continuity of service in the event of
an emergency. In expanding online learning programs, campus IT leaders must carefully evaluate their network infrastructure and security needs.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Reliable, high-speed networks
All of these priorities depend on having a secure, reliable and high-speed network infrastructure to support them. Campus IT leaders need to take a hard look at their network infrastructure to ensure it can support their investments in other areas.
Cybersecurity solutions
Colleges can guard against malicious attacks and prevent unauthorized access to campus systems and data with a firewall and unified threat management (UTM), distributed denial of service threat identification and mitigation service, among other solutions.
Back to top
Continuity
of service
The 2020 coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for contingency plans allowing students to learn and participate remotely if campuses are forced to shut down. IT infrastructure must enable
students to connect securely to online courses and services to avoid a disruption in their education. Colleges and universities must also look at equitable access to education and the ability to provide technology, support
and polices for diverse users and hybrid education.
of institutions plan to operate via a hybrid model during the fall 2020 semester16
percentage of campus leaders who are extremely or very confident they can give students who remain remote a high-quality learning experience17
of campuses are adding video conferences and 46% are adding live social media events to support prospective students in the admissions process18
Implications for colleges
Implications for colleges
Expansion of
online/remote learning
Online learning is an important strategy for increasing enrollment by catering to adult learners and other nontraditional students. It’s also central to ensuring continuity of service in the event of
an emergency. In expanding online learning programs, campus IT leaders must carefully evaluate their network infrastructure and security needs.
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Reliable, high-speed networks
All of these priorities depend on having a secure, reliable and high-speed network infrastructure to support them. Campus IT leaders need to take a hard look at their network infrastructure to ensure it can support their investments in other areas.
Cybersecurity solutions
Colleges can guard against malicious attacks and prevent unauthorized access to campus systems and data with a firewall and unified threat management (UTM), distributed denial of service threat identification and mitigation service, among other solutions.
Back to top
Cyber attacks
on the rise
Campus IT leaders rate network security as their top priority, and for good reason: The number of reported data breaches at colleges and universities has risen sharply in recent years. But the data
suggest colleges have a long way to go to fully secure networks and ensure continuity of service in the event of a cyber attack. As colleges and universities evolve after the COVID-19 pandemic, developing a cybersecurity
operations strategy will be key.
percentage of organizations that have had their IT operations “significantly disrupted” by a cyber attack in the past two years19
of organizations say the volume of cybersecurity incidents has increased in the past 12 months20
percentage of campus IT leaders who say data security is “very important” — but only 34 percent rate theirs as “excellent”21
Solutions from Spectrum Enterprise
Cybersecurity solutions
Colleges can guard against malicious attacks and prevent unauthorized access to campus systems and data with a firewall and unified threat management (UTM), distributed denial of service threat identification and mitigation service, among other solutions.
Solutions for colleges
A trusted partner
Spectrum Enterprise delivers solutions that can help with these IT priorities. A trusted provider of internet, network, voice, TV/video and security services to hundreds of colleges and universities nationwide,
Spectrum Enterprise has dedicated education experts who can help campus IT leaders meet these key challenges and more.
For instance, our Fiber Internet Access, Ethernet Services and Managed SD-WAN offerings allow institutions
to quickly scale up their network capacity to meet emerging needs. Our Managed Security and DDoS Protection services safeguard networks and users from malicious attacks, and our Cloud Connect service helps institutions migrate
mission-critical applications to the cloud with private connections to cloud service providers.
To learn more about these and other IT solutions for higher education, visit
enterprise.spectrum.com/highered
Sources:
1. “Gen Z Report,” Criteo, 2018, https://www.criteo.com/news/press-releases/2018/06/criteos-gen-z-report-unveils-the-habits-of-the-new-generation-of-shoppers/.
2. Ibid.
3. “How Gen Z Is Watching TV & Video Right Now, in 5 Stats,” YPulse, Aug. 5, 2019, https://www.ypulse.com/article/2019/08/05/how-gen-z-is-watching-tv-video-right-now-in-5-stats/.
4. Michael T. Nietzel, “College Enrollment Declines Again. It’s Down More Than 2 Million Students in This Decade,” Forbes, Dec. 16, 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2019/12/16/college-enrollment-declines-again-its-down-more-than-two-million-students-in-this-decade/.
5. Ibid.
6. Jill Barshay, “College Students Predicted to Fall by More Than 15% After the Year 2025,” The Hechinger Report, Sept. 10, 2018, https://hechingerreport.org/college-students-predicted-to-fall-by-more-than-15-after-the-year-2025/.
7. Michael Mitchell, Michael Leachman and Matt Saenz, “State Higher Education Funding Cuts Have Pushed Costs to Students, Worsened Inequality,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Oct. 24, 2019, https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/state-higher-education-funding-cuts-have-pushed-costs-to-students.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Jill Barshay and Sasha Aslanian, “Colleges are Using Big Data to Track Students in an Effort to Boost Graduation Rates, but It Comes at a Cost,” The Hechinger Report, Aug. 6, 2019, https://hechingerreport.org/predictive-analytics-boosting-college-graduation-rates-also-invade-privacy-and-reinforce-racial-inequities/.
11. Kimberly Hefling, “The ‘Moneyball’ Solution for Higher Education,” Politico, Jan. 16, 2019, https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2019/01/16/tracking-student-data-graduation-000868.
12. Ibid.
13. James Manyikaand Kevin Sneader, “AI, Automation, and the Future of Work: Ten Things to Solve for,” McKinsey Global Institute, June 2018, https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/ai-automation-and-the-future-of-work-ten-things-to-solve-for.
14. Ibid.
15. Dennis Pierce, “What the Future Will Look Like for Work, Colleges,” Community College Daily, March 3, 2020, https://www.ccdaily.com/2020/03/what-the-future-will-look-like-for-work-colleges/.
16. “Higher Education Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19),” National Conference of State Legislatures, July 27, 2020, https://www.ncsl.org/research/education/higher-education-responses-to-coronavirus-covid-19.aspx.
17. Doug Lederman, “The Role of Learning in Colleges' Decisions About Fall,” Inside Higher Ed, July 1, 2020, https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2020/07/01/presidents-give-their-colleges-mixed-grades-remote-learning-how.
18. “Higher Education Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19),” National Conference of State Legislatures, July 27, 2020, https://www.ncsl.org/research/education/higher-education-responses-to-coronavirus-covid-19.aspx.
19. “The Cyber Resilient Organization,” Ponemon Institute, June 2019, https://www.ibm.com/account/reg/us-en/signup?formid=urx-37792.
20. Ibid.
21. Kenneth C. Green, “The 2019 Campus Computing Survey,” Oct. 15, 2019, https://www.campuscomputing.net/content/2019/10/15/the-2019-campus-computing-survey.
22. Ibid.
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