During the program, learners are expected to dedicate approximately three to five hours per week (synchronous and asynchronous) to have an engaged and successful learning experience. Once or twice a week, we will hold live, synchronous online meetings to discuss resources, activities, and projects in support of the five competencies.
All sessions will be from 12:00 noon–1:30 p.m. ET on the following dates:
- Tuesday, September 23
- Thursday, September 25
- Tuesday, September 30
- Thursday, October 2
Higher Ed Guide for the Corporate Community Program Competencies
Competency 1: Higher Education Organizational Structures
As a vendor or consultant, you will need to know the unique structures of various higher education institutions, their governance structures, and how this will influence and shape your work with them.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Identify how higher education institutions, including their information technology management structure, are characterized
- Examine how knowledge of institutional characteristics supports successful engagement with higher education partners
- Explore higher education accreditation and how requirements potentially impact product and service selection and priorities
Competency 2: Stakeholders and Influencers of Technology Decisions
Once you understand the type of institution you’re working with, you’ll need to understand how it works. No two institutions are exactly the same, even if they share many characteristics. To develop a successful relationship, you’ll need to understand the overall framework of roles and responsibilities, as well as stakeholders and influencers.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Identify institutional stakeholders relevant to your service and/or product
- Explain how leadership management and reporting structures affect the way technology investments are made in higher education
- Describe how stakeholders outside of IT influence technology investment decisions
- Discuss strategies to build relationships with stakeholders at higher education institutions
Competency 3: Technology Planning and Funding
Funding resources are often based on an institution’s strategic plan. A strategic plan will often provide a broad base of understanding by communicating mission, vision, and goals, as well as identifying specific initiatives and directions needed to meet success measures. As technology plays a more strategic role throughout the campus, the strategic plan also is more closely aligned with and tied to institutional planning.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Review various strategic planning efforts used across an institution and how they impact technology decisions and investments
- Describe customized approaches for securing engagements that support an institution’s strategic plan
Competency 4: The Procurement Process
Understanding how the higher education sourcing, purchasing, and ongoing supplier management process of information technology goods and services in various categories (software, SaaS, cloud computing, hardware, services, etc.) is critical to successful engagement.
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Identify the procurement process at an institution where you’d like to engage
- Recall how the procurement process in higher education affects engagement with vendors
- Explain how funding sources and models influence purchasing decisions
Competency 5: Building Partnerships with Higher Education Institutions
Now that you have all this information on higher ed's structure, stakeholders, budgeting and procurement, what are the next steps to become partners with higher ed institutions? What are some tangible takeaways you can use in your own role?
By the end of this competency, you will be able to:
- Explore methods to form partnerships with the higher education industry
- Examine EDUCAUSE resources available to assist in your outreach