EDUCAUSE | Economic Downturn

Top Issues Facing Today's Business and Financial Officers

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:45:32 +0000

August 10, 2011, 1:00 p.m. (EDT/GMT-4)

What are the biggest challenges currently confronting chief business and financial officers at colleges and universities? How has the current economic and political climate impacted “business as usual” at higher education institutions? How can we foster communication and collaboration between finance and information officers? In this webcast, John Walda offers the perspective of the business office as he discusses topics such as: federal student aid programs and the political environment impacting them; diminished state operating support; tuition; support from endowments; and regulatory issues, as well as other top challenges. He examines strategies for addressing these issues and offers suggestions on how CFOs and CIOs can work together for the benefit of their institutions.

Podcast Interview: A. Michael Berman on Innovation and the Economic Realities of Higher Education

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:56:36 +0000

A. Michael Berman is Chief Information Officer for California State University, Channel Islands. In this interview with Colin Currie, Berman talks about creating and maintaining innovation as well as the economic realities of higher education.

Expert Discussion Session: Unexpected Outcomes from the Cost-Cutting Era

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:36:58 +0000

Many of us have had to approach recent budget years with creative ways to do more with less. We have renegotiated contracts and perhaps reduced our workforce and cut services. Budget-cutting activities have resulted in innovative thinking and creative ways to solve problems at two institutions, whose CIOs will share their experiences and some exciting outcomes from these belt-tightening measures.

The Undereducated American

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:34:33 +0000

A new study by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce confirms that over the past 30 years, the demand for college-educated workers has outpaced supply, resulting in economic output below potential and growing income inequality. The current recession and grudging recovery, however, hides the fact that we are underproducing college graduates. .... This study finds that if the U.S. is to make up for lost ground in postsecondary attainment and respond to future economic requirements, we will need to add an additional 20 million postsecondary-educated workers to the economy by 2025.

2010 Distance Education Survey

Thu, 19 May 2011 18:26:19 +0000

The Instructional Technology Council's 2010 Distance Education Survey found a nine percent increase in eLearning enrollment from fall 2009 to fall 2010.

Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:44:32 +0000

The 2010 Sloan Survey of Online Learning reveals that enrollment rose by almost one million students from a year earlier. The survey of more than 2,500 colleges and universities nationwide finds approximately 5.6 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2009, the most recent term for which figures are available.

Linking Analytics to Lifting out of Recession

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:18:13 +0000

The scope of higher education analytics has broadened, dealing with K-20 and workforce issues and
comparisons. Moreover, the stakes are higher, as well. Analytics will be critical to higher education never before. This paper provides more detail on the types of actions, supported by analytics, needed by higher education to lift out of recession and establish programmatic and financial sustainability.

E10 Session Podcast: Oil Spills, Volcanoes, and Higher Education — Leading in Strange Times

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:13:34 +0000

This session is presented by Cynthia Teniente-Matson, VP for Administration and Chief Financial Officer at California State University, Fresno.

Every sector is impacted by the economic downturn and disasters facing the global market. Focus on leadership traits used to handle the freakish natural, manmade, and fiscal disasters. Enhance your understanding of the chief business officer's perspective on the current higher education landscape and campus operations. Streaming video of this session is also available.

The Economic Downturn and the Future of Higher Education IT: Executive Appraisals

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:00:44 +0000

This ECAR occasional paper reports the results of a real-time Delphi study conducted in conjunction with the 2010 ECAR study of the impact of the economic downturn on higher education IT, Responding to Recession: IT Funding and Cost Management in Higher Education. The "main study" followed ECAR's traditional methodology, including a broadly distributed survey and telephone interviews with a subset of the survey respondents. In addition to the main study’s quantitative information, ECAR also wanted to help IT administrators leverage practices from institutions that had successfully adapted to these new conditions. Furthermore, to address the commonly voiced opinion that traditional responses to riding out a recession would not suffice under these circumstances, we wanted to take a future-oriented look at the impact of the economic downturn on higher education IT and see whether leaders in the field were in fact viewing this downturn as a game-changing moment, or just a bump in the road. We therefore chose to gather information and opinions from a group of industry leaders who could provide future-looking insights based on their experience at their own institutions and their understanding of broader industry trends. This occasional paper reports the result of the Delphi study.

Citation for this work: Voloudakis, John. The Economic Downturn and the Future of Higher Education IT: Executive Appraisals (Occasional Paper 1, 2010). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, 2010, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.

Serving Students in the Current Economic Environment

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:43:19 +0000

The issue of funding reaches far beyond one department at one school in one state system, of course. As programs in higher education evolve, it is imperative to maintain an open dialogue among faculty, IT staff, and administration.

Practical Approaches to PD in an Economic Downturn

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:44:36 +0000

As institutional budgets continue to shrink, we must maintain morale in the midst of layoffs; build organizations that work smarter and more efficiently; and retool staff for different, sometimes unexpected, job functions. Join us to explore practical approaches to meeting this professional development challenge and exchange tips with colleagues.

Responding to Recession: IT Funding and Cost Management in Higher Education—Key Findings

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:50:49 +0000

This document presents the key findings from Responding to Recession: IT Funding and Cost Management in Higher Education, the 2010 ECAR study of how the economic recession is impacting information technology (IT) organizations and operations in higher education. The study was designed to address the following questions: How have IT funding levels been affected by the recession among respondent institutions? What strategies did institutions follow to reduce their IT costs? Where have IT costs and expenditures been reduced, and how were those reductions accomplished? Are the budget reductions that have been taken sustainable, or were they the byproduct of a series of one-time actions? To what extent did institutions attempt to leverage the recession to substantially change the way IT services are delivered and managed? Were efforts at substantial change successful? How have the impacts of cuts in IT funding impacted the capacity of colleges and universities to sustain their technology and meet their institutions’ strategic technology goals? The study was conducted using a variety of research methodologies, including a literature review to further our understanding of higher education’s present and future financial outlook and the methods organizations have employed to reduce their IT costs; a quantitative web-based survey of EDUCAUSE member institutions that was completed by 319 institutions (83.4% of respondents were the institution’s chief information officer or equivalent); qualitative interviews with 20 IT leaders to deepen our understanding of survey findings in critical areas; and an online, real-time Delphi process that solicited the opinions of a panel of experts on how the recession has impacted IT organizations and the potential of technology to transform higher education’s future costs and revenues.

Citation for this work: Goldstein, Philip J. Responding to Recession: IT Funding and Cost Management in Higher Education—Key Findings (Key Findings 4, 2010). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.

Responding to Recession: IT Funding and Cost Management in Higher Education—Roadmap

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:12:15 +0000

This ECAR roadmap synthesizes the important issues and recommended actions drawn from the study Responding to Recession: IT Funding and Cost Management in Higher Education, by Philip J. Goldstein. The study is an analysis of how the economic recession is impacting information technology (IT) organizations and operations in higher education. The study makes clear that the long-term fiscal pressures institutions will face should increase their interest in using technology to address their most strategic issues. The study was conducted using a variety of research methodologies, including a literature review to further our understanding of higher education’s present and future financial outlook and the methods organizations have employed to reduce their IT costs; a quantitative web-based survey of EDUCAUSE member institutions that was completed by 319 institutions (83.4% of respondents were the institution’s chief information officer or equivalent); qualitative interviews with 20 IT leaders to deepen our understanding of survey findings in critical areas; and an online, real-time Delphi process that solicited the opinions of a panel of experts on how the recession has impacted IT organizations and the potential of technology to transform higher education’s future costs and revenues.

Citation for This Work: Goldstein, Philip J. “Responding to Recession: IT Funding and Cost Management in Higher EducationRoadmap” (Roadmap). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, June 2010, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.

Responding to Recession: IT Funding and Cost Management in Higher Education

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:14:00 +0000

This 2010 ECAR study is an analysis of how the economic recession is impacting information technology (IT) organizations and operations in higher education. The study was designed to address the following questions: How have IT funding levels been affected by the recession among respondent institutions? What strategies did institutions follow to reduce their IT costs? Where have IT costs and expenditures been reduced, and how were those reductions accomplished? Are the budget reductions that have been taken sustainable, or were they the byproduct of a series of one-time actions? To what extent did institutions attempt to leverage the recession to substantially change the way IT services are delivered and managed? Were efforts at substantial change successful? How have the impacts of cuts in IT funding impacted the capacity of colleges and universities to sustain their technology and meet their institutions’ strategic technology goals? The study was conducted using a variety of research methodologies, including a literature review to further our understanding of higher education’s present and future financial outlook and the methods organizations have employed to reduce their IT costs; a quantitative web-based survey of EDUCAUSE member institutions that was completed by 319 institutions (83.4% of respondents were the institution’s chief information officer or equivalent); qualitative interviews with 20 IT leaders to deepen our understanding of survey findings in critical areas; and an online, real-time Delphi process that solicited the opinions of a panel of experts on how the recession has impacted IT organizations and the potential of technology to transform higher education’s future costs and revenues.

Citation for this work: Goldstein, Philip J. Responding to Recession: IT Funding and Cost Management in Higher Education(Research Study 4, 2010). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, 2010, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.

Interview Podcast: Fred Estrella on the CIO's Role in Staff Morale and Professional Development

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:54:57 +0000

Fred Estrella, Chief Information Technology Officer for Northern Arizona University, discusses current and upcoming concerns for CIOs, leadership during tough economic times, and ways to encourage staff. This interview is hosted by John Bucher.

EDUCAUSE 2009 Conference Podcast Sponsors

Technology During an Economic Crisis: The Benefits of Open Source

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:55:57 +0000

Due to the recent financial crisis, campuses are facing significant challenges in funding current programs and services. Open-source software provides institutions with real savings, while delivering continuity in service, allowing campuses to not only fulfill but also expand, academic initiatives. In this session, the presenters will share SUNY Delhi's actual cost savings realized from the deployment of various open-source enterprise applications.

Using Key Performance Indicators to Protect Resources During an Economic Downturn

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:59:08 +0000

Every organization faces significant challenges in an economic downturn. Reducing IT costs is usually one of the first considerations. However, it is critical to review the organization's key performance indicators to prevent long-term and infrastructure damages with short-term gains. This is even more challenging for an organization that measures IT based on high availability (five nines) standards.

ELI Session: Doing More with Much Less – Pursuing an Innovative Teaching and Learning Agenda in a Time of Fiscal Austerity

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:22:45 +0000

Supporting an innovative program for teaching and learning is challenging even in the best of times. But when institutions face severe fiscal austerity, such support becomes a difficult task. We are all asking ourselves similar questions: Is the cloud our salvation? Should we focus on support services and scale back on providing learning infrastructure? Can institutions collaborate on resource development? In this discussion, leaders in the field will discuss their ideas, programs, and the decisions they have made and are facing.

This session is presented by:

Session: Polley McClure - Applying Positive Psychology in Challenging Times

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:14:01 +0000

In this podcast, Polley McClure, Vice President Emeritus for Cornell University, explores some ideas about how you can contribute creative solutions and maintain staff morale and productivity, even when your own energy may be sagging. For many, this past year has been the hardest ever on IT and institutional budgets—and it isn’t over yet. We’ve seen, or made, painful decisions about how to cut programs and positions. We’ve been asked to do more with less. Each of us needs to use this crisis to hone our leadership skills from wherever we are in our organizations. This session will apply the concepts of positive psychology to help us maintain a constructive outlook while cultivating colleagues’ and staffs’ productive attitudes toward themselves, each other, and the organization. Techniques such as visualization, building on strengths, and appreciative inquiry will be explored.

Doing More with Much Less: Pursuing an Innovative Teaching and Learning Agenda in a Time of Fiscal Austerity

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:40:31 +0000

Supporting an innovative program for teaching and learning is challenging even in the best of times. But when institutions face severe fiscal austerity, such support becomes a difficult task. We all face tough choices about what to emphasize and what to stop supporting. We find we must tax our creativity to the utmost to find new support strategies and resources. We are all asking ourselves similar questions: Is the cloud our salvation? Should we focus on support services and scale back on providing learning infrastructure? Can institutions collaborate on resource development? What are the core priorities that need to be retained? At this discussion, leaders in the field will discuss their ideas, programs, and the decisions they have made and are facing, and they will facilitate a brainstorming session with audience participants.

Are We Having Fun Yet? Applying Positive Psychology in Challenging Times - Sponsored by Wimba

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:46:24 +0000

This session will explore some ideas about how you can contribute creative solutions and maintain staff morale and productivity, even when your own energy may be sagging. For many, this past year has been the hardest ever on IT and institutional budgets—and it isn't over yet. We've seen, or made, painful decisions about how to cut programs and positions. We've been asked to do more with less. Each of us needs to use this crisis to hone our leadership skills from wherever we are in our organizations. This session will apply the concepts of positive psychology to help us maintain a constructive outlook while cultivating colleagues' and staffs' productive attitudes toward themselves, each other, and the organization. Techniques such as visualization, building on strengths, and appreciative inquiry will be explored.

A Systemic Model for IT Economic Sustainability

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:33:13 +0000

This ECAR research bulletin explores the options available to IT leaders in higher education to reduce costs associated with technology expenditures at their institutions. It lays out a framework for addressing cost reductions in ways that lead to recurring savings and strengthening some core capabilities while minimizing the use of temporary measures that reduce service, weaken morale, and borrow from the future.

Citation for this work: Voloudakis, John. “A Systemic Model for IT Economic Sustainability” (Research Bulletin 1, 2010). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, available from http://www.educause.edu/ecar.

Growth Amidst the Drought: Using Webcasting to Increase Enrollment in Challenging Economic Times

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:00:11 +0000

Most universities are presently facing state budget cuts, enrollment caps, new application limits and other restrictions due to the economic landscape.

Yet at the same time, the economic downturn has left students looking for cost-effective ways to continue their education, and corporations pining for alternatives to the traditional on-campus, week-long executive training.

The question: how to hold the line on expenses while providing academic programs for the people who need it most?

ASU is meeting the demand through online courses from its rapidly growing distance education, continuing education and professional development programs. Associate Director for Extended Education Octavio Heredia will share how ASU is:

– reaching more students with less time, money and effort
– using lecture capture to drive enrollment online
– meeting the training demands of Fortune 500 companies without putting execs on a plane
– achieving academic results through distance education that are competitive with on-campus performance

Operating Under New Financial Conditions: Lessons Learned from IT Organizations on the Edge

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:18:07 +0000

Coping Strategies of Public Universities During The Economic Recession of 2009

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:00:05 +0000

In August and September of 2009, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (A?P?L?U)
surveyed its 188 member universities about the financial situation on their campuses. Overall the picture
painted by survey respondents is dreary, with 85 percent of institutions reporting a decrease in state
appropriations and nearly one-half of institutions experiencing cuts of 10 percent or greater. These are the results of the survey on the impact of the financial crisis on university campuses.