Today, understanding data is critical to institutional success. In this week’s issue, we explore the importance of data fluency and offer suggestions for building a strong data culture across campus. After that, we shift our focus to four steps institutions can take now to become more resilient in an uncertain future. We end with ideas for helping parents support their high school students in choosing the right postsecondary path. 

After reading today’s issue, share in the comments how your institution is increasing data fluency across campus. 

The Importance of Data Fluency 

From Data Fluency as a Strategic Imperative | Campus Technology

Campus Technology interviews Ellen Wagner, former executive director of the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies and PAR framework pioneer, about data and higher education.  

Our Thoughts 

Building a sustainable and meaningful data culture on your campus has never been more critical than it is today. Many of the challenges facing higher education require weaving a complex tapestry of trusted data together to inform decisions and set strategies. Building on decades of hands-on experience, Ellen Wagner reminds us that it’s not just about having or using data, but instead, knowing what you’re trying to achieve and aligning your data practices with that purpose.  

Throughout the interview, Wagner re-centers the conversation around data literacy, proficiency, and fluency. Too often, institutions make the mistake of focusing solely on data specialists while neglecting the broader enterprise. But Wagner’s framework reminds us that everyone has a role to play, from instructors crafting educational experiences to senior leaders making budget decisions. Creating a shared understanding of what data means and how it’s used is foundational to creating a truly data-informed culture. 

Being data fluent means understanding the unique institutional context for that data and how it can be used to transform teaching, learning, and student success. In our current AI moment, Wagner reminds us of the importance of that knowledge, lest we risk ceding our expert role to machines. As we experiment with predictive models, generative AI, and automated advising systems, this article is a reminder that technology should be in service to human goals and not the other way around. Higher ed doesn’t need another tool, but rather a shared commitment to the power of data.  

Preparing for the Future 

From 4 ways colleges can prepare for an uncertain future | Higher Ed Dive

Lilah Burke discusses four ways higher education leaders can prepare their institutions for the future.   

Our Thoughts 

Given our current state of persistent uncertainty and accelerating disruption, I appreciate any articles that attempt to consolidate advice from multiple sources. This piece offers a clear-eyed assessment of what’s at stake and provides practical, actionable guidance for navigating through the fog. In a sector where tradition often weighs heavily against change, Burke urges institutions to get serious about agility, transparency, and community-driven decision-making.  

One of the most compelling aspects of the article is its emphasis on scenario planning—not as a theoretical exercise, but as a means of reclaiming agency. As someone who has worked closely with institutional leaders, I’ve observed how often strategic planning defaults to linear projections based on stable assumptions. That approach is no longer sufficient. The article makes a strong case for developing decision-making capabilities that account for uncertainty: identifying inflection points, monitoring leading indicators, and making bold choices before reaching crisis mode. In doing so, it transcends financial preparedness and shifts the focus toward fostering a culture of institutional resilience.  

Additionally, the article’s emphasis on the importance of communication is critical. For leaders who believe shared governance can be suspended during turbulent times, Burke clearly illustrates that collaboration and transparency are among the few tools we have left to maintain trust and cohesion. Trust is both the glue that holds campuses together and the oil that keeps institutional machinery running. It’s what makes each campus a community and allows that community to move forward together. 

Parents Need More Info 

From Survey: Parents of Gen Z Students Want More Info on Postsecondary Pathways | Inside Higher Ed

A new survey from Jobs for the Future finds that high school students and their parents lack awareness about postsecondary education options.  

Our Thoughts  

With each new survey or report, the data increasingly show that many high school students don’t feel ready for what comes next, and many don’t even know what their options are. This is not a positive development as institutions attempt to address enrollment management challenges. Specifically, this survey from Jobs for the Future confirms what many of us have long suspected—there’s a growing disconnect between what high school students need to make informed choices about their future and the information they actually receive. 

We’ve long known that Gen Z relies heavily on their parents’ opinions when making important decisions, so it is troubling to see how many parents feel underequipped to help with post-high school decisions. When just over half of parents say they know a lot about bachelor’s degrees, and even fewer are familiar with associate degrees or other career pathways, it reveals a systemic failure in how we communicate opportunity. If we want to enroll students who are better prepared and more purpose-driven, we need to invest more intentionally in early outreach, accessible messaging about pathways, and community engagement strategies that reach families long before the admissions cycle. 

Students and their families are overwhelmed, uncertain, and under-advised, but institutions can be a critical bridge, providing much-needed advice on future opportunities. If we meet students and parents where they are by building partnerships with high schools and creating user-friendly tools for career and academic exploration, we can help make postsecondary educational opportunities more accessible.