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Many colleges and universities of all types face an array of challenges and pressures: flattening/declining enrollments, stagnating revenues at a time of continually rising costs, employee turnover, growing accountability to ensure student success, and more. In response to those pressures, business as usual will not suffice.

Download this free special report to explore specific ways different types of institutions are responding to some of higher education's most pressing challenges.

How two-year institutions are strategically responding to large enrollment drops.

Actions that regional public universities are taking to handle funding woes.

Strategies that private nonprofit colleges are utilizing to stand out at a time of constrained resources.

For more information you can watch the accompanying webinar here.

How are institutions addressing the industry's latest challenges?

Adaptation Across the Higher Ed Landscape

Adaptation Across the Higher Ed Landscape - Jenzabar

A new survey of higher education leaders developed by University Business and Jenzabar found that many colleges and universities are urgently in need of digital transformation, which is vital to improving student experiences, optimizing decision-making, and ensuring overall institutional sustainability. More than 200 higher education leaders participated in the survey, with a variety of job titles and from a wide diversity of sizes and types of institutions around the country. 

Some of the findings in the survey include:

29% said undergoing modernization and/or digital transformation is incredibly urgent.

54% said improving student recruitment, enrollment, and retention are the most important outcomes for IT systems like the SIS and ERP.

27% said enhanced agility and scalability was the most valuable benefit of leveraging cloud-based systems.

Higher education leaders are urgently in need of digital transformation, but not every institution is pursuing modernization for the same reason. What's the priority?

Survey Infographic: College and University Leaders Agree That Higher Ed Needs Digital Transformation

A new survey of higher education leaders developed by University Business and Jenzabar found that many colleges and universities are urgently in need of digital transformation.

College and University Leaders Agree That Higher Ed Needs Digital Transformation - Jenzabar and University Business

College and University Leaders Agree That Higher Ed Needs Digital Transformation

In this exclusive interview with EDUCAUSE, Les Zimmerman, Jenzabar's Vice President of Product Development, shares his perspectives on the EDUCAUSE 2023 Top 10 IT Issues and what he considers the biggest challenges facing institutions today. This report also highlights opportunities for higher education and how decision-makers can plan ahead to achieve their long-term objectives.  

Which IT issues will have the biggest impact on institutions and what can decision-makers do to prepare?

Jenzabar's Perspective on the EDUCAUSE 2023 Top 10 IT Issues

Jenzabar's Vice President of Product Development, shares his perspectives on the EDUCAUSE 2023 Top 10 IT Issues

In its survey of CIOs and CTOs, Inside Higher Ed found that there are many technological challenges facing institutions in the United States – with many campuses perceiving and approaching these challenges differently. One key challenge technology leaders appear to be wrestling with has to do with how their IT departments are perceived by senior administrators as well as the IT team itself.

In this Decision Guide, Inside Higher Ed spoke with David Weil, CIO of Ithaca College, and Joseph Moreau, former Vice Chancellor of Technology at Foothill-De Anza Community College and now senior consultant at Higher Digital, Inc. The guide highlights their unique insights into how institutions can elevate the role of the IT department and tackle their many technology-related challenges, including how IT can influence student experiences and how teams can build stronger relationships across campus.

Higher education technology veterans highlight how institutions can use IT to their advantage.

Decision Guide: Helping CIOs To Achieve Strategic Partner Status

Helping CIOs To Achieve Strategic Partner Status - Jenzabar

In a survey of chief information and technology officers, Inside Higher Ed found a correlation between successful technology adoption, digital transformation initiatives, and IT staff retention and institutions that treat the technology unit on their campus as a strategic partner instead of a utility.

Below is a brief snapshot of some of the survey's findings.

Roughly two-thirds of CIOs believe that their institution has not set specific digital transformation goals.

More than half of CIOs agree that senior administrators treat the central technology unit more like a utility than a strategic partner.

Better salaries and more flexible remote work policies at other organizations are among the top reasons institutions are struggling to retain or hire technology employees.

For more detailed insight into these and other findings, download your copy of the 2022 Survey of Campus Chief Technology/Information Officers today.

Digital transformation, technology adoption, and talent retention: What happens when IT leaders are part of the president's cabinet?

2022 Survey of Campus Chief Technology/Information Officers

2022 Survey of Campus Chief Technology/Information Officers - Jenzabar

In our newest online survey of roughly 150 college administrators nationwide, we found that schools struggling financially due to declining enrollments are innovating, investing in technology, and deploying new tactics, such as partnering with local businesses to provide in-demand skills and workforce training, adding more certificate programs, providing non-credit courses, and offering stackable degrees. 

Some of the key findings of the survey include:

Nearly half (45%) of respondents said enrollment had decreased in the past year.

More than half (53%) of respondents were partnering with local businesses to provide in-demand skills training or workforce training.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents expect to increase their technology spending in the 2023-2024 school year.

For more detailed insight into how your peers are innovating to tackle the enrollment crisis, download your copy of the report today!

Survey reveals institutions are offering more flexible learning pathways and investing in technology as student priorities change amid the enrollment crisis.

Innovating to Create a More Flexible Path for Higher Education

Innovating to Create a More Flexible Path for Higher Education - Jenzabar Survey

Jenzabar 2022 Survey - Innovating to Create a More Flexible Path for Higher Education

In a survey of more than 400 administrators from small and mid-sized four-year colleges, The Chronicle of Higher Education and Jenzabar sought insight into how institutions are responding and adapting to today's changing landscape. How are decision-makers on campus addressing the ongoing enrollment crisis? How are colleges and universities expanding their revenue streams or improving their competitiveness as student demographics and demands change?

Read the report to uncover answers and insight into the following questions and more.

How are peer institutions transforming to meet new learning expectations?

What role is modernized technology playing in the digital campus?

Is your vision for the future built on an agile and achievable strategy?

What can your institution do to improve resiliency?

With the pandemic's impact on enrollment and revenue still weighing heavily, what should institutions do to weather the storm and build a resilient, long-term strategy?

Navigating Uncertainty and Building Resilient Colleges

Navigating Uncertainty and Building Resilient Colleges - Jenzabar

Institutions have been looking to cloud computing and other innovative technologies to keep pace with the changing higher education environment for some time. But what does that mean? Which specific cloud solutions do colleges and universities need in order to ensure a secure, viable future for themselves and their students? What IT systems will help them engage with learners inside and outside the classroom?

In this interview with EDUCAUSE, Jeff Elliot, Director of Product Management at Jenzabar, shares his perspectives on the top technologies that will influence campus operations, student engagement, and student success over the next five years.

Which technologies will your campus need to drive student success in a digital future? 

Solutions for Your 5-Year Plan: EDUCAUSE Corporate Conversations with Jeff Elliott 

Watch the video to discover which technologies your campus will need in the next few years to drive student success in a digital future.

Solutions for Your 5-Year Plan: EDUCAUSE Corporate Conversations with Jeff Elliott - Jenzabar

Solutions for Your 5-Year Plan: EDUCAUSE Corporate Conversations With Jeff Elliott 

In September 2021, University Business and Jenzabar partnered on a survey of higher education leaders to identify which communications channels are used at their institutions and to describe their communications strategies and challenges. More than 220 higher education leaders participated, including presidents and vice presidents, marketing and communications leaders, provosts, deans, and more, from institutions of all types and sizes.

What are the most common channels used to engage and communicate with students?

What are colleges' and universities' plans for integrated communications strategies?

What are the biggest communications pain points facing higher education today? 

Among the myriad options for communications in higher education, which strategies are institutions implementing and why?

University Business: Survey Identifies the Ups and Downs of College Communications

University Business: Survey Identifies Most Common Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement in College and University Communications

As institutions adjust to today's learning environments in the of the pandemic, enrollment numbers do not appear to be promising, as numbers for the 2020 fall semester were down by more than 3 percent compared to 2019. Enrollment figures for freshmen were particularly troubling, as the turnout for this group has declined by more than 13 percent. In this Roundtable Report by The Chronicle of Higher Education, experts with diverse perspectives from higher education institutions dive into new tactics and concerns that colleges and universities face as they tackle the enrollment crisis head-on.

Download this Roundtable Report for insight into some of the following questions.  

Where are college leaders focusing their investments to cover short-term enrollment gaps?

How are institutions balancing tight budgets with the need to offer financial aid?

Has collaboration across different campus departments improved in today's learning environments?

How will the lessons learned over the course of the pandemic shape enrollment for years to come?

As institutions look for new ways to attract students and drive tuition-based revenue, how are they blending traditional approaches with more modern methods?

Investments to Increase Enrollment: How Colleges Are Rethinking Ways to Attract Students and Boost the Bottom Line

Investments to Increase Enrollment: How Colleges Are Rethinking Ways to Attract Students and Boost the Bottom Line - Jenzabar

In this sponsored article published on The Chronicle of Higher Education, Jenzabar reached out to experts in the financial aid services industry to share their thoughts on the current higher education landscape as well as its future. Although financial aid offices are currently struggling to remain connected and engaged with students and their families amid the pandemic and surge in online learning and remote working, many officials are optimistic that today's challenge-ridden environment is simultaneously presenting unique opportunities for growth.  

Read the article to gain a better understanding of the higher education landscape and how financial aid offices can:

Improve financial aid processes by identifying speed bumps and blind spots before they introduce significant challenges.

Use innovative technologies and services to meet institutional and financial aid department objectives.

Enhance engagement with prospective and existing students using accurate, up-to-date information.

With better tools and processes, overburdened financial aid offices can improve efficiency, recruitment, and retention.

Expert Q&A: The Optimistic State of Higher Education Financial Aid

Expert Q&A: The Optimistic State of Higher Education Financial Aid - Jenzabar

Inside Higher Ed's 11th annual survey is an attempted census of higher education presidents using the data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) database. The survey was designed to highlight how higher education institutions view the current and prospective challenges facing their industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the new normal that will arise in its wake.

Download the survey to uncover its findings, including:

Presidents' confidence in their institutions' financial stability. 

The overall level of concern related to COVID-19.

How COVID-19 has changed the higher education environment.

The prospective opportunities for change during the pandemic. 

Actions to increase revenue or reduce costs.

How institutions are addressing issues around race.

Uncover how college and university presidents and chancellors view pressing issues facing higher education.

2021 Survey of College and University Presidents

Download the 11th annual Survey of College and University Presidents.

2021 Survey of College and University Presidents  - Inside Higher Ed and Jenzabar

Amid the unprecedented campus closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, University Business and Jenzabar partnered to develop and deploy a survey of nearly 700 higher education leaders in January 2021 that explored how the pandemic has impacted their institutions’ use of technology. The survey revealed that the pandemic has catapulted many digital transformation programs forward, acting as a catalyst for change and opportunity. 

This infographic highlights key takeaways from the survey. It covers topics such as:

The engagement level of digital transformation before, during, and after COVID.

New technologies that institutions are investing in due to changes initiated by COVID. 

How institutions are adapting and evolving to make way for the new normal in a post-COVID world. 

Dive into a survey of campus leaders that highlights how the pandemic is reshaping higher education.

Survey: COVID-19 is Driving Digital Transformation in Higher Ed

COVID-19 is Driving Digital Transformation in Higher Ed - Jenzabar and University Business

The sudden shift to digital learning will have a lasting effect on academia, an area in which digital transformation rollouts have traditionally been somewhat slow. Today, the trend toward online courses and learning opportunities has accelerated far beyond any point that could have been imagined. Thankfully, Jenzabar and IBM are helping institutions navigate the waters of online learning through the cloud.

Watch this video with Dominick Stirpe of IBM's Cloud Channel Development Team and Gus Ortiz, Director of Cloud and Managed Services at Jenzabar, to learn more about how and why higher education institutions are moving to the cloud. This video highlights the challenges higher education has been facing during the COVID-19 pandemic, why Jenzabar being an IBM partner is highly advantageous for institutions, how Jenzabar has been guiding institutions to the cloud, as well as fresh perspectives on what may come next for colleges and universities around the world.

The cloud as a platform for innovation is a key part of helping higher education institutions improve adaptability and responsiveness.

Accelerating the Move to Online Learning at Colleges and Universities With Jenzabar and IBM Cloud

Watch this video to learn more about how and why higher education institutions are moving to the cloud.

Accelerating the Move to Online Learning at Colleges and Universities With Jenzabar and IBM Cloud  - Jenzabar

In this exclusive interview with EDUCAUSE, Jeff Elliott, Jenzabar's Director of Product Management, shares his perspectives on what he considers the biggest challenges facing higher education today, how technology leaders can address those challenges, and how Jenzabar is assisting higher education IT to take on the challenges of operating during a pandemic.

Some of the biggest challenges facing institutions include declining enrollment, an increase in students who are questioning the value and return on a higher education investment, balancing student expectations with modern technology, and navigating remote learning and involvement in other school activities. What can institutions do to address these challenges to ensure their survival and success?

What can institutions do to combat declining enrollments, changing perceptions of higher education, and growing demand for new technology on campus?

EDUCAUSE Corporate Conversations With Jeff Elliott From Jenzabar

In this exclusive interview with EDUCAUSE, Jeff Elliott, Jenzabar's Director of Product Management, shares his perspectives on what he considers the biggest challenges being faced in higher education today, how technology leaders can address those challenges, and how Jenzabar is assisting higher ed IT to take on the challenges of operating during a pandemic.

Corporate Conversations With Jeff Elliott - Jenzabar

With an influx in government regulations over the past decade, many financial aid personnel are feeling under-resourced, overextended, and over-stressed. Complying with regulations and mandated audits is complex and requires numerous departments to work together. If institutions are unprepared, an audit can be even more daunting. 

Download this College and University Magazine report authored by Ed Colestock, Jenzabar Product Manager, to learn some tips for preparing for a financial aid audit. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Learn more about the audit process and the differences between audit types

Organize, review, and become familiar with internal documentation

Discover what tools are available to assist you and your team in the process

Learn how to turn your financial aid audit from intimidating to beneficial.

Tips for Preparing for a Financial Aid Audit

Download this College and University Magazine report authored by Ed Colestock, Jenzabar Product Manager, to learn some tips for preparing for a financial aid audit.

Tips for Preparing for a Financial Aid Audit  - Jenzabar

Hybrid learning models are predicted to last until at least 2021, with the optimistic timeframe for a COVID-19 vaccine at least a year away. But in many cases, the switch to hybrid online learning has transformed the higher education industry in a way that it will never be the same. As a result, institutions must be more agile and responsive to serve the needs and expectations of their students and staff. How is your institution preparing for hybrid and online learning? 

Download this report written by Jeff Elliott, Director of Product Management at Jenzabar, to read more about the transforming higher education learning landscape. The story covers topics like:

How to provide support for remote workers (staff and faculty)

How to engage students outside of the virtual classroom

What investing in cloud-based infrastructure means for institutions

Download your copy of the Education IT Reporter today.

Hybrid learning models will forever change the higher education landscape. Are you prepared?

Are You Ready for a Fully Hybrid Model? Not Just Classes, But Everything 

Download this report written by Jeff Elliott, Director of Product Management at Jenzabar, to read more about the transforming higher education learning landscape and find out if you are prepared.

Are You Ready for a Fully Hybrid Model? Not Just Classes, But Everything  - Jenzabar

Although higher education institutions are aware of the potential benefits associated with using predictive analytics to improve enrollment and retention, many colleges and universities have been slow to follow the business sector’s use of the analytics technologies. In other unfortunate cases, institutions invest in predictive analytics without fully understanding its function or purpose. The truth is that data analytics technologies should not be seen as a panacea; to make effective use of a predictive analytics offering requires good data, trained personnel, and new processes. 

This report by The Chronicle of Higher Education highlights the world of predictive analytics, bringing together feedback from real-world case studies and best practices designed to help institutions prepare for and implement data analytics solutions successfully.

Some of the themes outlined in this report include:

How is predictive analytics typically used in higher education environments?

What barriers exist for colleges that want to adopt analytics but have yet to do so? 

What types of questions can a predictive analytics solution answer?

What are the best use cases for predictive analytics in higher education?

Leverage predictive analytics to support students and deliver more personalized experiences.

The Evolving State of Predictive Analytics

Discover how predictive analytics can help institutions support students and deliver more personalized experiences.

The Evolving State of Predictive Analytics - Jenzabar

Jenzabar partnered with University Business on a survey of roughly 175 higher education leaders from institutions of varying sizes and types to discover their predictions, strategies, and challenges with 2020 and beyond. The survey largely focused on how data analytics, enrollment, and student success factors into their strategic priorities. The survey findings are outlined in an infographic.

Has your institution made improving student success and completion rates a strategic priority for the near future?

University Business: Survey Explores 2020 Trends and Priorities in Higher Education

Jenzabar partnered with University Business to develop and deploy a survey of higher education leaders.

Despite collecting large volumes of information on students, many colleges and universities have never really leveraged that data to improve engagement and success. Even for the institutions that were analyzing data, the insights gathered through that process often never made it to the front lines or to people who could use the information to interact with students better. Now, thanks to the evolution of data analytics, higher education institutions have new resources that can make turning complex student data into actionable insight a reality.

This report by The Chronicle of Higher Education discusses the opportunities presented to higher education institutions through the use of data analytics. Download this report to dive deeper into:

When and how to collect the right student data 

How to use student data strategically to improve engagement

How to identify and overcome common challenges with using student data 

Discover why highly engaged students are more likely to succeed.

Using Data to Understand Student Behavior

This report by The Chronicle of Higher Education discusses the opportunities presented to higher education institutions through the use of data analytics.

Using Data to Understand Student Behavior - Jenzabar

Higher education institutions are prime candidates for data analytics technologies thanks to the huge volumes of data they have been collecting over the years. Unfortunately, many institutions have yet to assess and make use of the data at their disposal, which means troves of data that should have produced financial and operational opportunities have turned into technical hindrances. 

When put to good use, institutions can leverage data to engage with students on more personal levels, provide more intimate support to nurture graduation pathways, and even evaluate and improve their academic program offerings.

Download your copy of this Education Technology report to learn more about:

Innovative approaches to improving student success through the use of data analytics

The evolving use cases for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in driving student engagement

How to leverage program economics to evaluate academic programs holistically

Download your copy of this report today and be better equipped to use data and make decisions that can positively impact student experiences, engagement, and success.

Find out how institutions can use the mountains of data at their disposal to improve student engagement and success.

The Role of Analytics in Enabling Student Success

Higher education faces a host of financial challenges. Public investment in colleges and universities is shaky. Tuition revenue is softening. And the costs of labor and facilities continue to rise. 

Download this report and read more about:

How financial uncertainty has changed the role of campus leaders and how they set their goals.

The Chronicle of Higher Education: Beyond Budgets

How financial uncertainty has changed the role of campus leaders and how they set their goals