Sara Harrison
Assoc VP,
University of Cincinnati
Acting Like a System without Being One: How Ohio Is Tackling the Software Cost Crisis
Thursday, October 01, 2026 | 10:45AM–11:30AM MT
Session Type:
Breakout Session
Delivery Format:
Panel Session
Software costs in higher education are rising rapidly due to vendor consolidation, sole- source claims, premium pricing models, and bundled products that lock institutions into accelerating renewal cycles. These pressures are particularly acute for public universities that negotiate independently and lack the leverage of formal statewide systems. In Ohio, the Inter University Council of Ohio (IUC) offers a different path. While not a system, IUC public universities increasingly operate like one through voluntary collaboration, shared procurement strategies, and coordinated decision- making. In response to the growing software cost crisis, the IUC convened a multi-campus Software Strategy Work Group of CIOs and procurement leaders to examine root causes and design a consortium wide strategy. This session will introduce the resulting framework, including strengthened governance and decision structures; pre-RFP commitments and spend band pricing models; standardized negotiation and supplier management practices; statewide tools for visibility into software spend and renewals; and methods for capturing non-price value, such as training, certifications, internships, and workforce partnerships. Participants will learn how a voluntary consortium can act as a unified buyer, restoring supplier leverage and improving outcomes across campuses while preserving institutional autonomy.
