The Learning Lab experience is supported by both asynchronous and synchronous components. Each part includes a set of resources, an asynchronous discussion, and an interactive live session, all of which culminate in the development of a project to apply learning to local and specific contexts in support of the learning objectives.
Schedule
Part 1: Rethinking Vendor Reviews
January 12, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 p.m.ET
Higher education leaders face growing pressure to evaluate third-party tools for security, privacy, and accessibility. In this session, you’ll reframe vendor reviews from a compliance task into a strategic leadership responsibility. We’ll explore what’s at stake and why reviews matter for institutional trust and resilience.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify common risk categories (security, privacy, accessibility) and their impact on institutional strategy.
- Explain how vendor reviews support both compliance and long-term institutional strategic goals.
Part 2: Tools You Can Trust
January 15, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 p.m.ET
Frameworks and checklists turn vendor reviews from guesswork into repeatable practice. In this session, you’ll explore tools like the HECVAT, accessibility checklists, and contract review guides to produce assessments and recommendations that are thorough, defensible, and leadership-ready.
Learning Outcomes:
- Utilize tools such as HECVAT and accessibility checklists to evaluate third-party tools and services.
- Identify key contract “red flags” and explain how they affect institutional risk and decision-making.
Part 3: What Works (and What Doesn’t) in the Real World
January 21, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 p.m.ET
Effective vendor review processes are seamless, provide added value, and advise stakeholders on risks and opportunities. In this session, you’ll examine real-world case studies to see why some partnerships thrive and others falter. Through scenario-based exercises, you’ll learn to identify success factors, avoid common pitfalls, and define measurable outcomes that resonate with leadership.
Learning Outcomes:
- Analyze real-world examples of vendor reviews to distinguish effective practices from ineffective ones.
- Define measurable success criteria for vendor partnerships that align with institutional priorities and leadership expectations.
- Techniques for mitigating risk, contract language, and performance tracking.
Part 4: Designing a Process That Sticks
January 28, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 p.m.ET
In this session, you’ll bring together everything you’ve learned to draft a practical, scalable vendor review process for your institution. You’ll focus on creating a workflow that balances risk, strategy, and partnership, and includes metrics that resonate with leadership.
Learning Outcomes:
- Design a draft vendor review workflow that is practical, repeatable, and scalable.
- Incorporate leader-facing metrics and communication strategies to strengthen institutional buy-in.
- Identify strategies to sustain and evolve the process over time.
Lab Project/Assignments
In this final project, you’ll assemble and refine the work you’ve completed throughout the lab into a comprehensive Vendor Review Framework for your institution. Using your stakeholder map, tool/checklist application, and success metrics from earlier parts, you’ll draft a scalable review workflow and reflect on how your framework supports leadership, cross-campus collaboration, and confident vendor decisions. By the end, you’ll produce a Campus Briefing Document that consolidates your insights and deliverables—ready to share with leadership and serve as a roadmap for ongoing vendor reviews.