The HEat Index
HEat Index, Issue 39 – Change Management, International Enrollment, and the Potential New Education Secretary
In this week’s issue, we explore strategies for managing change fatigue and what leaders can do to navigate this growing challenge. After that, we turn our attention to shifts in international student enrollment trends, including the potential implications for institutions, before closing with a nonpartisan exploration of President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education and what it might signal for the future of higher education policy.
HEat Index, Issue 38 – FAFSA Enrollment Impacts, Skills Over Degrees, and Experiential Learning Programs
While the Department of Education is working to ensure that this year’s FAFSA runs smoothly, we...
HEat Index, Issue 37 – Using AI for Reporting, LMS & Lifelong Learning, and Remedial Education Reform
As generative AI remains a hot topic of discussion in IT professional circles and on campuses, it is more important than ever to cut through some of the hype surrounding this technology. That’s why our first featured article this week provides a realistic look at how institutions can expect to use AI for reporting and analytics. After that, we examine how learning management systems (LMS) might support lifelong learning before turning our attention to the urgent need to reform remedial education.
HEat Index, Issue 36 – Student Success, Middle Class Financial Aid, and Microcredential Growth
Student success remains a key initiative at almost every institution and is especially important in today’s higher education climate. It’s fitting, then, that this week’s issue looks at Inside Higher Ed’s inaugural survey of student success leaders to see how we’re doing. Afterward, we’ll look at innovative programs designed to ease the financial squeeze for middle-income families trying to afford tuition before closing with an article about the global rise of microcredential programs.
HEat Index, Issue 35 – First-Year Enrollment, Tuition Costs, and AI Policies
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! First-year enrollment is down. Probably not the best way to start...
HEat Index, Issue 34 – CTO Survey Results, FAFSA Updates, and Lessons from Free Community College Programs
If you’ve ever wondered what your CIO thinks about AI, this week’s issue is for you. We explore...
HEat Index, Issue 33 – An EDUCAUSE QuickPoll, Managing Data, and the Decline of OPMs
Before we dive into this week’s news, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the recent...
HEat Index, Issue 32 – Overcoming Transfer Student Challenges and a Double Dose of Microcredentials
The beginning of October means that higher education conference season is well underway in the new...
HEat Index, Issue 31 – FAFSA Investigation, Human Skills Needed, and Online Data Training
Two new reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveal the startling truth about...
HEat Index, Issue 30 – Gainful Reporting Delayed, a Student AI Guide, and Perspectives on Higher Ed Costs
Does college cost too much? That’s the question on a lot of students’ minds as they start their...
HEat Index, Issue 29 – An Analytics Playbook, 3-Year Degrees, and High School Grads’ Future Plans
The start of a new academic year is a great time to launch a new initiative, which is why I’m...
HEat Index, Issue 28 – Faculty Burnout, Student Use of AI, and Becoming Student Ready
As a new academic year has started for many institutions, we see the happy return of more higher...
HEat Index, Issue 27 – Re-enrolling Students, Transfer Pathways, and AI Education Strategies
Picture the northeastern United States. New York sits on top of Pennsylvania with New Jersey to...
HEat Index, Issue 26 – Why Students Leave, Online Learning, and Higher Ed Leadership
In this issue, we dive into three pressing issues facing institutions today, starting with an...
HEat Index, Issue 25 – FAFSA Delayed, CIO Reporting Lines, and Abandoned AI Projects
Does your CIO report directly to the president of your institution? Read today’s issue to find out...
HEat Index, Issue 24 – Value of 4-year Degrees, College Tuition, and Digital Upskilling
In this issue, we celebrate some good news for higher education institutions as a new report...
HEat Index, Issue 23 – NACUBO Themes, A Functional FAFSA, and Tuition Pricing Explained
In this issue, we look at the critical themes discussed at the recent National Association of...
HEat Index, Issue 22 – Better Data Usage, CBO Survey Results, and An AI Dilemma
With the start of the fall semester a little more than a month away, now is the perfect time to...
HEat Index, Issue 21 – Confidence in Higher Ed, the Liberal Arts, and Building a Data Culture
Welcome back! We hope you had an excellent Fourth of July. This week, we find that skepticism in...
HEat Index, Issue 20 – Financial Aid & Enrollment, Internships, and IT Modernization
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Financial aid timing affects enrollment decisions. While I doubt...
HEat Index, Issue 19 – Student Voices, Data Security, and AI in Student Success
Welcome to this week’s issue of The HEat Index, where we turn up the temperature on the latest...
HEat Index, Issue 18 – AI Action Plan, Graduate Programs, and Congressional Scrutiny
In our rapidly evolving higher education environment, institutions face numerous challenges and...
HEat Index, Issue 17 – Enrollment Opportunities and Double AI News
This week’s issue is equally split between two pressing concerns for higher education — AI and...
HEat Index, Issue 16 – Considering leadership, future jobs, and three-year degrees
As we settle into summer, EDUCAUSE wants you to consider your future in a leadership role....
HEat Index, Issue 15 – Spring enrollment increases, data & retention, and AI at ASU
Although spring enrollment showed improvement, the persistent issues with the new FAFSA could...
HEat Index, Issue 14 – Adults Pursuing Higher Ed, New AI Features, and Student Advising
You’ll probably be happy to hear that we won’t be talking FAFSA this week. Instead, we’re focusing...
HEat Index, Issue 13 – FAFSA Outreach, AI Concerns, and State Funding Increases
We're back talking about a new FAFSA effort, as well as hearing about student perspectives on AI....
HEat Index, Issue 12 – More FAFSA News, AI & Data Literacy, and Supporting Middle-Class Families
We're back talking about FAFSA, but this time we're discussing the most recent fix. We’ll also...
HEat Index, Issue 11 – New Overtime Rules, Career Guidance Needed, and More AI News
In a world increasingly influenced by AI, it's crucial for higher education professionals to stay...
HEat Index, Issue 10 – The Need for AI Strategy and Learning & Employment Records
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the landscape of higher education, it is essential...
HEat Index, Issue 9 – AI Readiness, Who Earns a Degree, and Successful Data Meetings
Don’t worry; we’re not going to discuss the FAFSA fiasco in today’s issue. Instead, I turn my...
HEat Index, Issue 8 – The FAFSA, Gainful Reporting, and We Go MAD
In this issue of our newsletter, we delve into the complexities and challenges currently facing...
HEat Index, Issue 7 – Data Visualizations and AI Institutional Journeys
In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, where technology and data have become...
HEat Index, Issue 6 – College Student Skills, User Testing in EdTech, and College Preparation
Today, we look at the continued impacts of the pandemic on student learning and preparation for...
HEat Index, Issue 5 – FAFSA Data, Unified Data Models, and the Value of College
Some institutions are finally beginning to receive FAFSA data! While we recognize there is still a...
HEat Index, Issue 4 – FAFSA Deep Dive, IT Workforce Insights, and Admissions Trends
This week, we take a deep look at what happened during the launch of the new FAFSA, which has...
HEat Index, Issue 3 – IT Governance, 2024 Trends, and the Annual Survey of College and University Presidents
In last week's issue, we highlighted articles comparing high school students’ feelings about...
HEat Index, Issue 2 – AI Guidelines, Skills-based Hiring, and High School Students Plan for College
Welcome to our second issue! In addition to a solid overview of one institution’s pathway for...
HEat Index, Issue 1: FAFSA delays, College Transparency Act, and SIS adoption
Hello there! Welcome to the first post of our new blog series, the HEat Index, providing you with...