In addition to the in-person event, EDUCAUSE will be presented virtually Nov. 13-14. The online conference will feature sessions from the in-person event as well as exclusive online-only content. In-person conference registrants will automatically have access to the online conference. Interested attendees can also choose to attend the virtual event only.
General Sessions Will Cover Top Issues in Higher Ed IT and Beyond
Kicking off the conference Tues., Oct. 22, , research professor and bestselling author Brené Brown will deliver a chat on leadership and creating more courageous cultures in organizations.
On Wed., Oct. 23, Susan Grajek, EDUCAUSE’s vice president for partnerships, communities and research, will present the organization’s annual Top 10 IT Issues for 2025 report. Grajek will discuss how higher education IT leaders can focus on anticipating and shaping the future of higher education. Through data-focused initiatives and investments, higher education institutions can make informed decisions to improve efficiencies and provide a better student experience.
“The data-empowered institution helps drive a competitive advantage for their business model if they get it right,” says Joe Simone, vice president of education for CDW.
DIVE DEEPER: Take a look back at EDUCAUSE’s Top IT Issues for 2024.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, Jaron Lanier, scientist, musician, artist and author, will deliver the closing general session, diving into the topic of preserving human agency in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). He will discuss how we can use technology as tools to improve creativity and collaboration rather than eliminate them.
Don’t Miss These EDUCAUSE 2024 Presentations and Panels
The conference agenda includes hundreds of relevant and thought-provoking sessions covering the latest in higher education technology. Here are a few we think you shouldn’t miss.
- At “Building a Culture of Accountability with Automated Cloud Operations,” IT leaders from Northwestern University and Texas A&M University will share their governance strategies for cloud management.
- Esports is a way for colleges and universities to foster student engagement. San Diego State University took this approach a step further, which representatives will discuss in “Gaming the Odds in Their Favor: An Esports, Student Well-Being, and Coordinated Care Endeavor.” And at “Leveling Up: How Esports Can Transform Your Campus Experience,” a panel of experts will join Doug Konopelko, senior manager for education impact at CDW, to discuss their own campus programs.
- At “Toward a Taxonomy of Higher Education IT Infrastructure,” representatives from City University of New York’s Baruch College and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will aim to build a framework for categorizing types and delivery methods in higher ed IT infrastructure. Attendees are asked to come to the session prepared to brainstorm and discuss their own organizational methods in small groups.
- At “Prevailing and Persevering, Post Cyber Attack,” an IT leader from Kansas State University will outline how the institution was able to respond effectively to a cyberattack, demonstrating the importance of an incident response plan and overall cyber resilience.
- Effective partnerships between institutions and technology providers can be vital to moving a university’s mission forward. At “Fostering Productive Industry Partnerships,” experts from EDUCAUSE, CDW, Ellucian, Zoom and Arizona State University will explain how to select these partners and navigate these relationships.
- AI is once again a hot topic at EDUCAUSE, with several sessions focusing on its applications in higher education. These sessions include, “The AI Advantage: Leveraging Language Models for Competitive Edge in Higher Education,” “AI and Accessibility: Enhancing Support for Students with Disabilities,” and “AI Integration in Academia: Empowering the University Community.”
For higher education IT leaders, EDUCAUSE offers a wealth of educational and networking opportunities, but a strategic approach to attendance is always encouraged.
“Take a lot of notes, ask a lot of questions,” Simone says. “Take it all in and then follow up on the top two or three things you learned. Use this conference to improve your own development by learning new things.”
Keep up with EdTech: Focus on Higher Education’s coverage on our EDUCAUSE event page and via X.
