What do you see as the biggest revenue-related challenge facing campus stores today? "Declining textbook sales have affected most campus stores, but online competition isn't the only reason. Other factors are decreasing enrollments, open resources, rentals and use of social media by students to swap or sell materials. Stores have responded with expanded services, more […]
The days when a trip to campus automatically included a stop at the bookstore are long gone—but these stores are facing the challenge from online retailers head-on. Students, like all consumers, have their choice of where to shop—and online giants tempt them with massive selections, super deals and services such as free, fast shipping. With […]
What are the most prominent lingering concerns that campus IT administrators have about moving more data into the cloud? "Many clients do not know how to properly vet or qualify a commercial datacenter. Cloud hosting is much more than a cloud server. What additional security measures do they need? What certifications does the datacenter have? […]
For Gonzaga University, like many organizations, the move to the cloud was born out of need. One of this small institution's claims to fame is its stellar men's basketball team. As the 2017 NCAA Tournament approached, Information Technology Services staff at the Washington university knew on-premise web servers couldn't handle the upcoming traffic load, says Darren […]
Colleges and universities have long been the place for examining the most complicated societal issues of the day. But the ability of these institutions to play host to civil dialogue is under fire. Free-speech rights are paramount, yet the rise of "microaggressions" or overt hate speech cannot be tolerated. As a result, administrators face a […]
Campuses are often hotbeds of political opinion, but students aren't always easily able to express their views in the polls. A greater understanding of this is reflected in a recent court ruling in Florida. It lifts a ban, in place since 2014, on early voting centers at the state's colleges and universities. While this decision […]
Although "intrusive advising" is rising on the list of higher ed buzzwords, this approach is likely more than a passing trend. As colleges strive for greater levels of student success, some are finding this strategy can bring higher retention rates and, in turn, help the bottom line. Intrusive advising isn't just a rebranding of traditional […]
Job candidates have questions they never ask during interviews. Is this an ethical school? Will I agree with its direction? Will I like my colleagues? Some recruiters tightly script the interview process, leaving no wiggle room for anything else, which makes some candidates wonder about a school's transparency. Everyone wants transparency in the workplace, which creates […]
Hire the construction team early to allow students to learn during both the planning and building phases. Choose partners who embrace hands-on learning for students, and welcome faculty collaboration and student tours. Write an education agreement between the institution and the general contractor that identifies expectations on both sides, spelling out the purpose and goals for […]
Hampshire College students used math, microbiology and hydrology classes to test the quality of the water going in and out of the wetlands constructed as a part of a building project at the western Massachusetts campus. A Purdue University intern blogged, tweeted and emailed to apprise the Indiana campus' community of the progress on a […]
