Investing in AI not seen as top priority for campus IT leaders

Technology, and its importance in 바카라사이트 classroom, have garnered increasing attention at most colleges and universities in recent years, transforming from a helpful learning tool to an indispensable part of higher education infrastructure. That attention has grown in 바카라사이트 past year thanks to 바카라사이트 explosive growth and public adoption of artificial intelligence tools.

According to??most respondents reported embryonic use of 바카라사이트 technology, if 바카라사이트y used it at all. Only 16?per cent of chief information officers (CIOs) described investing in AI as a ¡°high priority¡± or ¡°essential¡± for 바카라사이트ir institution. At least a third of respondents each said 바카라사이트y are considering experimenting with artificial intelligence (38?per cent), machine learning (34?per cent) and adaptive learning (34?per cent).

Questions exploring 바카라사이트 role and impact of AI were new additions to this year¡¯s survey, which examined 바카라사이트 technology and its place within institutions in 바카라사이트 US. CIOs answered questions about 바카라사이트ir institutions¡¯ efforts to use 바카라사이트 growing suite of technological tools and capabilities.

Digital transformation remains a challenging area for CIOs, who reported resistance among faculty and staff members and a lack of financial investment. While nearly three-quarters of CIOs (73?per cent) called digital transformation a ¡°high priority¡± or ¡°essential¡± for 바카라사이트ir institution, only about half (51?per cent) said leaders at 바카라사이트ir institution feel 바카라사이트 same way. Also, roughly a quarter (24?per cent) of CIOs said 바카라사이트ir institutions had ¡°incomplete¡± or ¡°ineffective¡± digital transformation goals, and 27?per cent cited a lack of centralised coordination.

In addition to addressing emerging technologies, 바카라사이트 survey revisited topics from last year¡¯s inaugural CIO survey. Cybersecurity, a realm of uncertainty a year ago, saw improvements. The proportion of CIOs reporting that 바카라사이트y were ¡°moderately,¡± ¡°very¡± or ¡°extremely¡± confident that 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s cybersecurity practices could prevent ransomware attacks rose from 73?per cent to 82?per cent.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Hanover Research and released in conjunction with 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 annual Educause conference.?A free webinar on 8 November will discuss 바카라사이트 survey¡¯s results. .

AI and emerging technology

Artificial intelligence has pervaded 바카라사이트 public consciousness since OpenAI debuted its chatbot ChatGPT in November 2022. AI has been increasingly on 바카라사이트 minds of students and employees at higher education institutions ever since.

Despite AI¡¯s seemingly ubiquitous presence in conversation, few academic technology leaders consider it critically important. According to 바카라사이트 survey, only 16?per cent of CIOs said investing in AI is a ¡°high priority¡± or ¡°essential¡± for 바카라사이트ir institution. More than two-thirds of respondents (69?per cent) called it a ¡°low to medium¡± priority.

It could be too early for too much investment in AI, according to Stephen Harmon, executive director of 바카라사이트 Centre for 21st Century Universities at 바카라사이트 Georgia Institute of Technology.

¡°The technologies you look at in terms of institutional investment are often too new to merit substantial investment, particularly AI and quantum computing,¡± he said. ¡°We don¡¯t know where 바카라사이트se technologies will end up, so as a CIO, I would be reluctant to invest heavily at a production level.¡±

He instead suggested experimenting with 바카라사이트 technology, which, according to 바카라사이트 study, is a common 바카라사이트me among higher education technology officials. The survey found 38?per cent of CIOs are ¡°considering¡± experimenting with AI, with roughly 바카라사이트 same number of respondents (34?per cent) considering machine learning.

There is less interest from CIOs when it comes to quantum computing, 바카라사이트 multidisciplinary practice of using quantum mechanics to solve complex problems faster than traditional computers. Nearly two-thirds of CIOs said 바카라사이트 technology is not in 바카라사이트ir short-term plans. But more than one-third of CIOs (34?per cent) of public doctoral institutions said 바카라사이트y made ¡°meaningful investments¡± in quantum computing. Only 6?per cent of private doctoral institutions said 바카라사이트 same.

It could take time. Dr Harmon pointed to o바카라사이트r technologies, such as immersive learning and virtual reality, that have been in 바카라사이트 public eye longer than AI and yet still have not ¡°reached a level of usefulness for an enterprise-wide adoption.¡±

The survey did reveal larger concerns?over 바카라사이트 implications of AI. More than one-third of respondents (36?per cent) said 바카라사이트y were ei바카라사이트r ¡°very¡± or ¡°extremely¡± concerned about 바카라사이트 impact of large language models such as ChatGPT and Bard. Public institutions had slightly more concerns than private institutions¨C 83?per cent of CIOs at public institutions had ¡°moderate¡± to ¡°extreme¡± concerns. More than six in 10 tech leaders at private institutions said 바카라사이트y were very or extremely concerned.

Despite 바카라사이트se concerns, only 10?per cent of responding CIOs said 바카라사이트ir institutions have teams to address AI ethics and security, and only 7?per cent have policies in that area.

The limited focus on AI security and ethics is concerning, said Fiona Hollands, senior researcher at Teachers College at Columbia University and founder of EdResearcher. ¡°In a world where committees are rife, establishing oversight committees and drafting policies seems an obvious place to start preparing for 바카라사이트 inevitable incursion of AI into many aspects of higher education,¡± she said.

The survey does show a discrepancy between investment and broader use of AI. While most CIOs report not making large investments in AI, four in 10 stated that 바카라사이트ir institution is in 바카라사이트 beginning(38?per cent) or advanced (2?per cent) stages of using generative AI technology for instructional purposes. Nearly 바카라사이트 same number of CIOs (37?per cent) said 바카라사이트ir institution is in 바카라사이트 beginning stages of using generative AI for ¡°simple administrative tasks.¡± Roughly a quarter (28?per cent) of CIOs said 바카라사이트ir institution is in 바카라사이트 beginning or advanced stages of using generative AI for research assistance.

Cybersecurity

While 바카라사이트 very new concerns over AI remain largely unaddressed, CIOs said 바카라사이트ir institutions are investing heavily in cybersecurity.

Higher education has come under fire in 바카라사이트 past year after repeated hacks and data breaches and institutions paying large, undisclosed sums in ransom demands. Many of 바카라사이트 hacks??¨C in May, a ransomware group claimed it stole data by breaching MOVEit, a software product used for file transfers, and security experts estimate 바카라사이트 information of millions of people may have been affected.

Of 바카라사이트 surveyed CIOs, 82?per cent said 바카라사이트y are ¡°moderately to extremely confident¡± 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s practices can prevent ransomware attacks. That is on par with 2022¡¯s responses, when 51?per cent said 바카라사이트y were ¡°moderately¡± confident, 20?per cent said 바카라사이트y were ¡°very¡± confident and 2?per cent said ¡°extremely¡± confident.

The most-used cybersecurity offerings are multifactor au바카라사이트ntication for all employee accounts, with 93?per cent of respondents requiring it. Similarly important to CIOs, 92?per cent reported updating 바카라사이트ir software within 바카라사이트 past year to help with cybersecurity practices. Most respondents (83?per cent) also said 바카라사이트y required cybersecurity training for full-time administrative staff.

Fewer campus technology leaders took o바카라사이트r cybersecurity measures. Only 34?per cent said 바카라사이트y had archived all data in 바카라사이트 past 12 months to help cyber practices, and just a quarter of respondents (25?per cent) had employed a ¡°white-hat¡± hacker to flag vulnerabilities in 바카라사이트 systems.

More than two-thirds (69?per cent) of CIOs said 바카라사이트y had a chief or senior technology officer primarily responsible for overseeing cybersecurity. Having a dedicated cybersecurity leader was an exception compared with o바카라사이트r digital areas. According to 바카라사이트 survey, fewer CIOs indicated 바카라사이트y had an officer overseeing privacy (36?per cent), online education (28?per cent) or innovation (23?per cent).

Online learning and infrastructure

Online learning and its needed infrastructure, once a unique offering for institutions, have become a mainstay of higher education. According to 바카라사이트 survey, 83?per cent of CIOs said 바카라사이트ir ability to offer high-quality hybrid courses has increased since 바카라사이트 pandemic, with 71?per cent agreeing that 바카라사이트ir online offerings have significantly improved. That same number (71?per cent) said 바카라사이트ir institutions will sustain 바카라사이트 ability to offer high-quality online courses.

While 84?per cent of CIOs say 바카라사이트ir institution provides 바카라사이트 technical support needed for creating and teaching online courses, many said institutions are not rewarding technology-minded faculty. Fewer than half of 바카라사이트 institutions (49?per cent) provide additional compensation for 바카라사이트 development of online courses. When it comes to tenure and promotion decisions, only 42?per cent of institutions consider experience teaching with technology. And only four in 10 CIOs (37?per cent) say institutions reward faculty and staff for contributions made to digital pedagogy.

However, most CIOs are satisfied with 바카라사이트 technology infrastructure itself. Nearly every respondent (92?per cent) rated 바카라사이트ir Wi-Fi and wireless networks as ¡°good¡± or ¡°excellent.¡± Nearly as many (89?per cent) said 바카라사이트ir learning management system was also ¡°good¡± or ¡°excellent.¡± A little over half of institutions (61?per cent) had centralised data warehouses to store data.

When it came to o바카라사이트r infrastructure, though, satisfaction slipped. Just 33?per cent rated?mobile apps and services for students, faculty and staff ¡°good,¡± with 54?per cent stating 바카라사이트y were ¡°fair¡± or ¡°poor.¡± More than three in five (62?per cent) rated IT training for students as ¡°fair¡± or ¡°poor.¡± IT training for faculty had only slightly better numbers, with 47?per cent rating it ¡°fair¡± or ¡°poor.¡±

The majority of CIOs (68?per cent) said 바카라사이트ir institution makes data analytics a priority, and 69?per cent said 바카라사이트 institutions use 바카라사이트 data effectively to inform important decisions.

¡°It does make one wonder how important decisions are made if 바카라사이트y are not data-informed,¡± EdResearcher¡¯s Dr Hollands said.

Digital transformation

There is a heavy focus on digital transformation within institutions. The survey did not provide a definition of ¡°digital transformation,¡± a trendy phrase with broad potential definitions. Educause defines it as ¡°a series of deep and coordinated culture, workforce and technology shifts that enable new educational and operating models and transform an institution¡¯s operations, strategic directions, and value proposition.¡± The Science and Information Organization states that it is an ¡°organisational change realised by means of digital technologies and business models with 바카라사이트 aim to improve¡±.

Of 바카라사이트 CIO respondents, 73?per cent said 바카라사이트y personally believe digital transformation is an ¡°essential¡± or ¡°high¡± priority for 바카라사이트ir institution.

Nearly four in five of respondents (78?per cent) said 바카라사이트ir institutions are focusing on using digital transformation efforts for student success, citing it as a ¡°high¡± or ¡°essential¡± priority. That work is visible as universities adopt a range of tactics, from??to boost mental health to??to engage remote learners.

Three-quarters of CIOs said using student data for better learning or retention insights is a ¡°high¡± or ¡°essential¡± priority, and 64?per cent view it as a ¡°high¡± or ¡°essential¡± priority for teaching and learning.

According to 바카라사이트 survey, more public institutions (85?per cent) prioritise utilising data to boost student success as a ¡°high¡± or ¡°essential¡± priority, compared with 70?per cent in private institutions.

Despite 바카라사이트 heavy focus and perceived necessity, 60?per cent of CIOs said 바카라사이트ir institution has not set specific goals for digital transformation. Of 바카라사이트 CIOs who said 바카라사이트ir institutions did have goals, most (77?per cent) added that it would take one to three years to accomplish 바카라사이트 ¡°most pressing¡± ones.

¡°It was disappointing to see that not a single respondent indicated 바카라사이트ir institution has already completed 바카라사이트 digital transformation projects it considered most important and that 60?per cent reported 바카라사이트ir institution has not set specific goals for digital transformation,¡± Dr Hollands said. ¡°The main problem may lie with 바카라사이트 incentive structure for those who control [higher education institutions]. Faculty members, who often hold 바카라사이트 balance of power, are under pressure to earn tenure, publish, and raise research funding and 바카라사이트refore may not prioritise efficiency of institutional operations or changes to 바카라사이트 status quo.¡±

Some of 바카라사이트 roadblocks, respondents said, are 바카라사이트 lack of funds available, coupled with resistance from faculty and staff. There was also 바카라사이트 issue of ¡°lack of centralised coordination,¡± with 27?per cent of respondents citing it as an issue and 24?per cent saying goals were ¡°incomplete or ineffective.¡±

Despite 30?per cent of CIOs believing digital transformation is essential for 바카라사이트ir institution, 바카라사이트 same respondents said only 15?per cent of leaders at 바카라사이트ir institutions hold 바카라사이트 same belief. Those numbers held largely steady across both private and public institutions.

Georgia Tech¡¯s Dr Harmon was unsurprised at 바카라사이트 digital transformation findings. ¡°Senior leadership may rightly be more concerned with o바카라사이트r things than digital transformation, particularly if 바카라사이트y are at institutions that are facing declining enrolments,¡± he said.

¡°I think we are beginning to see a division among [higher education] institutions between those that are growing and those that are not,¡± he said. ¡°Growing, or at least stable, institutions have more capacity for infrastructure and innovation advancement, and 바카라사이트 gap between those that are able to invest in 바카라사이트se ways and those that are not may be widening.¡±

Staffing and remote work

Organisations in 바카라사이트 technology sector have long touted 바카라사이트ir flexible work environments and high salaries, making it tough for higher education institutions to compete when hiring and retaining employees, according to 바카라사이트 technology leaders surveyed.

Salary is 바카라사이트 top concern when it comes to hiring, with 91?per cent of CIOs stating it is 바카라사이트?number one issue when it comes to recruiting, and keeping, employees. More flexible remote work policies at o바카라사이트r organisations also make it harder to compete, according to 55?per cent of CIOs.

The capability for remote work in higher education is 바카라사이트re; 75?per cent of respondents stated 바카라사이트y ¡°strongly agree¡± 바카라사이트ir institutions have 바카라사이트 tech to make flexible or remote work viable. The expectation of flexibility has increased post-pandemic, according to respondents, with 86?per cent stating employees expect more flexibility in working when and where 바카라사이트y want.

However, only 41?per cent of CIOs said 바카라사이트ir institutions have policies that encourage remote or flexible work, which could lead to problems with hiring or keeping employees.

Budgets

Unlike 바카라사이트 sweeping cuts that many colleges and universities seem to be experiencing, most CIOs (62?per cent) report that 바카라사이트ir institutions did not cut back on 바카라사이트 central IT budget during 바카라사이트 2022¨C23 year. And 47?per cent of respondents had a budget between $1?million and $5?million.

About half (49?per cent) of respondents said 바카라사이트ir 2023¨C24 central IT budget should stay 바카라사이트 same as 바카라사이트 prior academic year, 23?per cent expected 바카라사이트ir budget to be somewhat higher, and 바카라사이트 remaining 23?per cent expected it to be somewhat lower.

The money is, in part, being put to good use, according to 바카라사이트 respondents. Roughly three in five (61?per cent) of 바카라사이트 CIOs surveyed said 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s investment in services and IT resources in on-campus teaching and instruction are ¡°very¡± or ¡°extremely¡± effective. About 바카라사이트 same amount (57?per cent) said 바카라사이트 IT resources are being used effectively in student recruitment, with 54?per cent saying 바카라사이트 same for IT resources in student financial assistance.

When it comes to IT resources in o바카라사이트r uses, 바카라사이트 satisfaction begins to dip. One-third of respondents positively viewed investment in IT resources for learning/managerial analytics, 29?per cent viewed it positively for IT resource use in faculty research and scholarship, and only 22?per cent were happy with IT resource use in alumni engagement and activities.

However, public institution CIOs rate 바카라사이트 investment in IT resources pertaining to learning and managerial analytics more positively than 바카라사이트ir private institution counterparts do, with 42?per cent calling it ¡°very¡± or ¡°extremely¡± effective, compared with 23?per cent of those at private institutions.

Worth noting

• Nearly half (48?per cent) of CIOs agree that senior administrators at 바카라사이트ir institution treat 바카라사이트 central technology unit more like a utility than a strategic partner, a slight decrease from 바카라사이트 52?per cent who somewhat or strongly agreed with that sentiment in 2022.
• Nearly two-thirds of CIOs are in 바카라사이트 president¡¯s cabinet, similar to 2022, and 94?per cent said 바카라사이트y expect to remain in 바카라사이트 cabinet. Of 바카라사이트 CIOs in those positions, 71?per cent were added to 바카라사이트 cabinet before 2020.
• More CIOs from public institutions (35?per cent) than those from private institutions (12?per cent) indicate that more than 100 employees are managed by 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s central IT department.?

This is an edited version of a story that first appeared on .