The Higher Ed Guide for the Corporate Community Online Learning Program



Your Guide to Better Understanding and Engaging with Higher Ed

The Higher Ed Guide for the Corporate Community online learning program is designed to help those in the corporate community who are new to working with higher education clients (or those who may need a refresher) understand the unique organizational structures, decision-making and strategic planning processes, procurement practices, funding models and approaches, stakeholders and influencers of technology decisions, and more.

The program is led by vice presidents, CIOs, and other senior higher education leaders, and provides our corporate community an opportunity to better understand how to work effectively with higher ed and engage the higher ed market with confidence.

There are two formats for this program: two half-days immersion format attending live sessions synchronously with asynchronous work. We also offer self-paced programs, which offer a 100% asynchronous experience with one optional synchronous live session for Q&A with faculty.

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    Program Duration

    Immersion: 2 half-days
    Self-Paced: 2–4 weeks

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    Program Delivery

    Online (synchronously and asynchronously).

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    Time Commitment

    6-8 hours total

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    Engagement

    Led by senior higher education leaders who are faculty and subject matter experts. The live sessions of the program will be a combination of short talks, discussion, and opportunities for questions.

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Modules

Understanding an institution’s type is just the start—knowing how it makes decisions is key. Governance structures, reporting lines, and stakeholder roles vary widely across higher education. To engage effectively, you must identify relevant decision-makers, understand how leadership and organizational dynamics influence technology investments, and build strong relationships with both IT and non-IT stakeholders who shape institutional needs, priorities, and procurement decisions.

  • Determine institutional stakeholders relevant to your service and/or product based on an institution's governance structure and characteristics.
  • Apply strategies to build and strengthen relationships with higher education stakeholders who influence decisions.
  • Develop partnership and engagement strategies tailored to different institutional types and decision-making environments.

An institution’s strategic plan is a critical lens for understanding its priorities, direction, and decision-making. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into institutional strategy, technology-related decisions and investments are more closely aligned with strategic goals. By analyzing a strategic plan and understanding funding sources—including the role of consortiums—you can tailor your approach to better support institutional success and technology adoption.

  • Analyze how leadership roles, management practices, and reporting structures shape technology investment decisions in higher education.
  • Evaluate an institution’s strategic plan to identify technology-related priorities and align customized approaches to support them.
  • Explain how funding sources and consortium participation affect technology purchasing decisions and processes.

Understanding how higher education institutions source, purchase, and manage goods and services—including software, cloud solutions, consulting, infrastructure, and other strategic investments—is essential for successful and sustainable engagement. To be effective, you must grasp how procurement processes influence decision-making, align with institutional priorities and funding structures, and require tailored engagement and negotiation strategies that support strategic goals and timelines.

  • Explain how higher education procurement processes influence institutional decision-making and corporate engagement, and identify ways to research these processes across institutions.
  • Identify and apply engagement strategies that align with procurement practices, decision-making timelines, and stakeholder roles at higher education institutions.
  • Apply negotiation strategies informed by institutional priorities and constraints to reach mutually beneficial agreements.

Faculty Application

Interested in becoming a faculty member for this program? Learn more about the process here.

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