EdgeCon Winter 2024

Presentation Room: Crawford Hall

This session focuses on identifying and addressing obstacles to the current enrollment crisis and shrinking of higher ed throughout the enrollment funnel. Topics will cover the current climate of higher ed enrollment including the post-pandemic, enrollment cliff, increasing negative views of the value of higher ed and changing perspectives of online education. The discussion will offer data, industry leader perspectives and strategies/initiatives to offset slowing enrollment.

Presenter:
Dr. Clayton Steen, Penn State World Campus, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Online Education Strategy

Presentation Room: The Space

This session review the current state of affairs with Post-Quantum Cryptography, provide a history of how we got here, and discuss what our next steps should be.  At the end of the talk, attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the impacts of Quantum Computers to Information Security, a rational attitude on current risks (the sky isn’t falling), and a solid plan on how to prepare going forward to implement Quantum-Safe Cryptography.

Presenter:
Brian Epstein, Chief Information Security Officer, Institute for Advanced Study

Presentation Room: Crawford Hall

The challenge of declining enrollment, along with the coming demographic cliff of 2025-2037, is not news to higher education leaders; and much work has been done across the field to improve student retention and success through programs, engagement strategies, and the use of technology. However, as any CIO or Student Success leader will attest, these systems and strategies can be labor-intensive for the staff supporting them. While it’s important to connect and analyze existing data within your institution’s system, there is a largely untapped opportunity that is waiting to be leveraged – the voice of our students. This engaging discussion will highlight a data-enabled, listening-driven approach to addressing current challenges in higher education and supporting students into the future.

Presenters:
Amey Potnis, Delivery Director, Data & Analytics, Slalom
Randy Tan, US Sales Leader, Public & Social Impact, Slalom
Dan Kang, Senior Principal, Cloud Data Architecture, Slalom

Presentation Room: The Space

This session will tell the story of how, after an initial near-panic by some in the Hudson County Community College community, the College used the 4 E’s to begin our AI Journey. Patricia Clay and Matthew LeBrake will explain how they informed the entire college community, from the Board of Trustees to students, about AI and began HCCC’s AI journey with gusto. Additionally, the session will share early takeaways from HCCC’s new Professional Learning Community.

Presenters:
Patricia Clay, Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Hudson County Community College
Matthew LeBrake, Executive Director of the Center for Online Learning, Hudson County Community College

Presentation Room: Crawford Hall

This session is a must-attend for those eager to witness the groundbreaking integration of AI in higher education. It offers an insightful exploration into how custom ChatGPT applications can significantly enhance operational efficiencies across university campuses. As the educational landscape increasingly intersects with advanced technology, understanding and leveraging AI-driven solutions becomes crucial.

Participants will experience a series of engaging live demonstrations, each focusing on a distinct ChatGPT application crafted to meet specific operational needs. The lineup includes a Student Handbook ChatGPT for real-time, personalized student queries; an Institutional Data ChatGPT capable of processing complex data requests; a Financial Aid Assistance ChatGPT designed to navigate funding options; a Helpdesk ChatGPT for streamlined IT support; an Employee Support ChatGPT for internal inquiries; a Marketing ChatGPT to boost engagement; and a Strategic Planning ChatGPT to facilitate informed decision-making.

Beyond the technology showcase, this session delves into the practical applications and impacts of AI in the educational sector. It highlights how these tools not only streamline campus operations but also significantly enhance the experiences of students and staff. Following each demonstration, there will be discussions on the development, benefits, and challenges of these applications, leading to an interactive Q&A segment.

The session concludes with a visionary discussion on the future of AI in education, positioning it as a key session for educators, administrators, and IT professionals focused on embracing AI for operational excellence and innovation.

Presenters:
Robert Clougherty, Chief Information Officer, Drew University
Viktoria Popova, Director of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Accreditation, Centenary University

Presentation Room: The Space

Since ransomware attacks are opportunistic in nature, one of the reasons we see particular industries being more heavily impacted is that they often run on systems with out-of-date software that isn’t easily or regularly updated/patched. This is the type of gold mine ransomware operators are looking for – in these cases, they can take advantage of old vulnerabilities to initiate their exploits. This gives the threat actors a rapidly expanding attack surface through which they can deploy their ransomware. The bigger the scale, the bigger the payout.

Ransomware operators often also seek targets in industries where it’s critical for business operations to be able to provide certain products or services in a timely manner. The groups aim to take advantage of the pressure these organizations are under to meet deadlines and produce deliverables, hoping this will lead them to pay quickly and in full.

Presenter:
Steve Dyson, Cyber Security Threat/Intelligence Analyst, Palo Alto Networks

Presentation Room: Crawford Hall

In today’s rapidly evolving education landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing how institutions operate as they harness the power of AI and ML to deliver intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, enhance decision-making, optimize workforce management, and their student experience.

This panel-based session will delve into the latest study conducted by Workday, which examines the state of AI in the enterprise, including the benefits, challenges, and opportunities perceived by business & educational leaders. The study reveals that 93% of organizational leaders emphasize the importance of human involvement in AI decision-making processes. While 80% agree that AI and ML improve employee efficiency and decision-making, concerns persist regarding the reliability of underlying data (77%) and ethical application (29%).

The session will explore how AI and ML algorithms are leveraged to automate talent acquisition, streamline employee onboarding, and facilitate data-driven workforce planning. Participants will discover how AI-powered analytics provide valuable insights empowering campus leaders to make informed decisions and drive institutional growth.

Furthermore, the session will delve into the commitment to ethical AI practices, including data privacy, fairness, and transparency to address the importance of responsible AI implementation and the measures taken to ensure the ethical use of AI and ML technologies within their applications.

Join us to discover how AI and ML are transforming institutional functions and explore the immense potential these technologies hold for institutions striving to enhance productivity, drive innovation, and unlock new insights on their faculty, staff and students. Gain valuable insights, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and explore the future of intelligent higher-ed solutions.

Presenters:
Kathy Pham, VP Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Workday Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard University
Generative AI Taskforce, Defense Science Board

Presentation Room: The Space

This interactive presentation will focus on the strategy and structure needed to scale and tailor student support using AI-informed texting based on retention theory. Over the last six years, Ramapo College has developed texting campaigns from enrollment reminders to student success conversations by adding AI texting. In doing so, we further automated student outreach for scale, impact, and efficiency. Ramapo has used three different platforms to send its text messages and works with EdSights for its current retention-based AI-informed texting. 

During its work with EdSights, Ramapo has seen persistence rates increase across student populations. By using the behavioral science in EdSights framework, Ramapo’s text messages now show students how we care about them, want to help them succeed, and look forward to supporting them until graduation and beyond. As an example, Ramapo’s text messages to first-generation students now ask them to share advice that will help future students. Text messages to all students of payment reminders now inform staff of students who may have housing and food insecurity, allowing for more diligent outreach.

In addition to sharing strategy and examples, Ramapo’s presenters will incorporate participant participation and a worksheet for participants to take ideas back to their own campuses.  

Presenters:
Joseph Connell, Assistant Vice President of Student Success, Ramapo College
Heather Woodbridge, Enrollment Management Specialist, Ramapo College

Presentation Room: Crawford Hall

This session gives an overview of why a modern data strategy is essential to true digital transformation in higher education, and how institutions can best adopt and implement a modern data strategy. Attendees will learn what a modern data strategy is, and why it is needed. They will then learn how to initiate the development of a modern data strategy and then how to use a modernized data platform to yield insights that improve outcomes and reduce inefficiencies, including insights from AI/ML and generative AI.

Presenters:
Mark Hampton, Executive Education Advisor, AWS

Presentation Room: The Space

The role of technology leaders has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Traditionally, IT leaders were primarily responsible for maintaining the technological infrastructure and ensuring the smooth operation of systems. Now, with the emergence of digital transformation, increased cybersecurity threats, and the need for effective change management, the responsibilities of technology leaders have expanded considerably. Technology leaders are no longer confined to the role of maintaining IT infrastructure; they have become integral strategic partners in driving overall business success. Organizations that recognize and leverage the full potential of their technology leaders are better positioned to thrive in the dynamic and rapidly evolving digital landscape.

If you are looking to enhance the role of technology in your overall business strategy, join this session to unlock the full potential of technology leadership in the ever-evolving world of business and technology.

Presenter:
Lizbeth Johnson, Director of Information and Instructional Technology, Penn State Lehigh Valley

Presentation Room: Crawford Hall

Join us for an inspiring panel discussion highlighting the success story of a groundbreaking collaboration between DataKind and City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice. John Jay reported a change in senior graduation rates from 54% to a whopping 86% in just two years. This partnership, supported by Google.org, connected the power of an AI-driven tool with the talents of advisors to provide unique insights into students, and the ability to intervene on concerns before they became critical. Our panelists will explore the case study at John Jay, highlighting the impact of collaborative partnerships, the transformative potential of data science and AI, and the irreplaceable role of institutional strategy and keeping humans in the loop. Discover insights that could reshape your institution’s approach to leveraging AI for student success, and learn how collaborative efforts can foster a culture of belonging and achievement.

Panelists:
Dean Dara Byrne, Ph.D., Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York
Dana Prieto, Program Manager, CUSP, John Jay College, City University of New York
Larry Kilroy, VP, Technology, DataKind

Moderator:
John Harnisher, Ph.D., Director of Education Initiatives, DataKind