2008-2009 Highlights

Defining Focus Based on Members' Needs

• Member discussions continue to drive our strategic directions. In addition to updates on EDUCAUSE activities, we continue to seek input on issues such as the economic downturn and our corporate strategy. View recent member updates.
• The number of web seminars, including EDUCAUSE Live!, ELI Web Seminars, and Teaching and Learning Challenges Solutions in Action, were increased as a direct result of member requests, including development of a series on the economic issues. You will see new online opportunities later this year and next.
• Member feedback indicated that innovations such as the new lightning rounds and point/counterpoint sessions, informal learning spaces, and green initiatives were positive improvements to annual conference in 2008. Many of these improvements will be repeated at EDUCAUSE 2009, as well as new innovations such as EDUCAUSE Central, a community hub featuring opportunities for interaction with community leaders, conference participants, and staff.
• In response to member suggestions, the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative’s popular 7 Things You Should Know About... series was expanded to cover topics of interest to the wider higher education IT community. The first brief was on peer-to-peer file sharing.
• A new Resource Center was created to address members’ desire for better, simplified access to and improved functionality surrounding publications, presentations, podcasts, and blogs.

Creating and Disseminating Knowledge

• More than 20 conferences, including the annual conference, regional conferences, and special topic events, provided venues for member presentations, networking, and input on important issues.
• The EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR) published research studies on IT governance in higher education messaging, leading the IT workforce in higher education, and messaging and communication, as well as the 2008 ECAR study of undergraduate students and IT.
• The Tower and the Cloud was published in print and electronic formats. The book explored how openness, network standards, a services orientation, and virtualization are likely to affect higher education.
• We are organizing publications, conferences programs, web seminars, podcasts, and ideas around the four cornerstones of EDUCAUSE programming: teaching and learning, managing the enterprise, e-research and e-scholarship, and the evolving role of IT and leadership.
• Content development and event programming focused on three key issues for 2009 (economic downturn, IT greening/sustainability, and openness). Members continue to provide input on the top issues to focus on in 2010.
• Themes of EDUCAUSE Review issues included openness, virtual worlds, and learning spaces, which aligned with and drew from efforts in programs and events.
• Much of what was suggested in our “Blueprint for Big Broadband” is becoming a reality, thanks to broad coalitions and member advocacy.
• The seventh annual Core Data Service data survey was completed by more than 920 colleges and universities. The updated database service was launched in May.

Proactively Surfacing Emerging Trends

• EDUCAUSE is providing up-to-date information on the economic downturn, such as ongoing analysis of the impact the economic stimulus package will have on higher education.
• Web seminars, presentations, and information resources were developed to help members comply with new rules under FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and the Red Flags Rule that requires the creation of an identify theft protection program.
• The Security Task Force leadership testified before the Commission on Cyber Security for the 44th Presidency whose final report will provide the foundation for a new comprehensive national strategy for cybersecurity.
• The annual Horizon Report, a collaborative effort between the New Media Consortium (NMC) and ELI, was released at the ELI Annual Meeting. Each year, the report describes six areas of emerging technology likely to have a significant impact on teaching, learning, or creative expression in higher education.

Experimenting

• EDUCAUSE Quarterly (EQ) moved to an online format with rich content, greater opportunity for participation, and even higher quality, all while adopting a more environmentally sustainable approach. The first online issue featured a learning spaces theme.
• The EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) spearheaded the launch of the Top Teaching and Learning Challenges project. This effort continues with a hosted web seminar series (Solutions in Action) for the entire EDUCAUSE community.
• EDUCAUSE is piloting a project with three other international IT associations to describe the “future of higher education.”
• With a growing number of members participating in social networking, EDUCAUSE is piloting the use of microblogging to facilitate conference community “backchannel” discussion, as well as to disseminate general news and resources through Twitter.