There’s an opportunity to see how data can inform decisions — not make them — and reduce friction in our processes to improve student outcomes and experiences. It’s becoming easier to talk about these things as we all work together and have the same visibility across the enterprise. They can each positively impact the outcome of higher ed’s mission.
That’s not a technology problem; it’s a visibility problem. And CIOs, by the nature of the role, have visibility across the entire institution in a way almost no one else does.
DISCOVER: Learn about planning, systems and more for a unified data strategy.
Three Things a Unified Data Strategy Unlocks for Higher Education
Throughout universities, there are what I would call “pockets of excellence.” Some people refer to them as silos, but I don’t. I think of them as ways in which people who are incredibly bright and have very specific purposes are doing great things. What CIOs get is a chance to actually incorporate the great ideas in one area that translate well into another area, and the glue behind most of that is data.
Here’s a framing I keep coming back to: Universities are data-rich but information-poor. When I talk with presidents, provosts and boards about why data strategy matters, I come back to three pillars: velocity, cost and resiliency.
Velocity: Unified data helps campus teams move faster
Velocity means being able to move faster with less friction. When data is consistent and accessible, basic questions get answered without weeks of manual reconciliation. Advisers can see which students need support before a situation becomes a crisis. Admissions can respond to shifts in the market in real time. Velocity isn’t about rushing; it’s about removing unnecessary drag.
Cost: Data strategy makes CIOs strategic partners
Cost is about doing more with what you have or doing things differently with what you have. A coherent data strategy surfaces redundant systems, overlapping tools, and inefficient processes quietly consuming budget and staff time. It also helps the CIO shift the conversation from “we’re a cost center” to “we’re a strategic partner in financial sustainability,” which matters when you’re sitting across from a CFO who wants to see ROI.
EXPLORE: Proven change management strategies support successful data governance.
Resiliency: Strong data governance builds institutional resilience
Resiliency is the one that gets underestimated. To me, resiliency means two things: the ability to recover and the ability to pivot. When data is unified and well governed, the institution can change direction quickly — whether that’s due to geopolitical pressure, a financial shock or something nobody saw coming. Fragmented data backs you into a corner. Unified data gives you options.
That gap between data collected and data that actually informs decisions is where the CIO’s biggest opportunity lives right now.
