Kirsten Heiss
Managing Director,
OpenCampus
Open Source at the Productivity Plateau: Time to Reinvest, Reimagine, Rebuild
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 1:00PM–1:45PM CT | Meeting Room 101 E, Level 1
Session Type:
Breakout Session
Delivery Format:
Presentation/Panel Session
A decade ago, open source software (OSS) was a vibrant topic at EDUCAUSE, drawing interest across campus IT, faculty, and administration. Since then, the conversation has quieted—but OSS never left. In fact, it has become more foundational than ever. From the systems powering edtech infrastructure to the tools enabling open science and open educational resources, OSS is now a quiet cornerstone of innovation in higher education. This panel brings together leaders from academic Open Source Program Offices, campus administrators, student groups working with OSS, the business community, and nonprofit open source projects who are revitalizing the role of OSS on campus. We'll explore the forces driving this re-engagement: new funding priorities like the NSF's Pathways to Open Source Ecosystems, the growing visibility of (Sloan Foundation-funded) academic OSPOs, OSS in support of Open Science and teaching, increasing regulatory expectations, and the emerging need for sustainable practices to develop and maintain open digital infrastructure. Join us for a candid and forward-looking conversation about how institutions are building capacity, fostering campus engagement, and aligning open source with broader institutional missions. Whether you're a CIO, developer, or faculty advocate, this session will provide practical insights and strategic takeaways for re-centering open source in your campus's digital strategy.
