When it comes to data analytics, there is a lot to be learned from what higher education institutions are doing with this technology. Schools are facing constant financial and competitive pressure — not unlike most businesses. They need to retain their customers, the students. This can be difficult because of competition from online educational options…

Several years ago, many college and university administrators’ eyes went wide when they read headlines about how students were bringing multiple connected devices to campus (some reports said up to seven!). Many schools beefed up their wireless networks to meet the growing demand, but some neglected to invest in “nonacademic” areas such as residence halls….

A couple of months ago, a higher education CIO I know came to me in a near panic. The university’s provost (who had never before acknowledged the CIO by name) had just walked into his office and asked why the school didn’t have a student-focused mobile app that a rival school offered. The CIO didn’t…