https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/ en https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/universities-upgrade-classrooms-av-over-ip-technology When Joe Way joined UCLA in fall 2023, he was tasked with developing a strategy to modernize classrooms with new audiovisual technology. The goal was to build flexible learning spaces that support traditional lectures, active and collaborative learning, hybrid instruction, and lecture capture. He discovered that 65% of the classrooms were equipped with AV technology that was at least 20 years old, and that projectors were often left running over nights and weekends, wasting energy and shortening equipment life. Last fall, UCLA launched a $4.3 million pilot to upgrade seven general-assignment… Thu, 14 May 2026 16:18:51 -0400 Wylie Wong https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/universities-upgrade-classrooms-av-over-ip-technology https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/why-higher-ed-it-teams-are-key-building-data-centric-institution Higher education institutions are under growing pressure to turn data into a strategic asset, but most remain constrained by fragmented systems, inconsistent definitions and limited trust in analytics. With AI adoption accelerating and demands for real-time insight increasing, IT teams are emerging as the critical drivers of a more unified, data-centric model. However, building that model requires more than new tools, depending also on aligning architecture, governance and access in ways that allow institutions to move faster without increasing risk. Identifying Silos and Blind Spots Siloed… Wed, 13 May 2026 13:38:24 -0400 Nathan Eddy https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/why-higher-ed-it-teams-are-key-building-data-centric-institution https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/canvas-breach-reframing-higher-eds-saas-risk-exposure Cybercriminal group ShinyHunters has executed one of the largest educational data breaches on record, targeting Instructure, the company behind learning management system Canvas. Instructure detected unauthorized activity on April 29. On May 2, the company reported that it had “revoked privileged credentials and access tokens associated with affected systems, deployed patches to enhance system security,” rotated certain keys and increased monitoring efforts across all platforms. On May 7, a second wave of activity occurred when some users reported seeing extortion messages when logged in to… Tue, 12 May 2026 15:30:10 -0400 Amy McIntosh https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/canvas-breach-reframing-higher-eds-saas-risk-exposure https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/implications-cyber-physical-security-convergence-higher-education The lines that once clearly separated on-campus physical security systems from cybersecurity are increasingly blurred, due to many factors, not least of which is the technology itself. The advent of Internet of Things technology, followed quickly by smart security cameras and their enabling devices, alongside a host of other networked facilities technologies such as access card readers and biometric devices, has had a significant impact on today’s college campuses. All of these tools not only increase an institution’s attack surface, they also require sophisticated management and oversight,… Mon, 11 May 2026 13:53:50 -0400 Tara E. Buck https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/implications-cyber-physical-security-convergence-higher-education https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/real-time-security-centers-keep-watchful-eye-campus-activity A warning to any would-be criminals considering doing business at Arizona State University: It’s likely that whatever you’re up to, the ASU police department is watching. That’s because, since the spring of 2023, the department has had access to live video feeds from more than 3,000 strategically placed cameras. Positioned both indoors and out across the university’s four Phoenix-area campuses, the devices provide police department analysts with unobstructed views of everything from parking lots to bike racks and building entrances. They follow the action on wall-to-wall monitors in their… Thu, 07 May 2026 15:43:50 -0400 Chris Hayhurst https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/real-time-security-centers-keep-watchful-eye-campus-activity https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/what-will-gen-alpha-expect-their-higher-ed-experience Generation Alpha — broadly defined as born from 2010 through 2024 — isn’t ready for college just yet but will be soon. Some forward-looking institutional IT teams are already considering just how these students’ expectations for connectivity and access may differ from the Gen Z cohort that’s ahead of them. While Gen Alphas were born entirely in the 21st century — the first generation for which that was possible — the oldest among them grew up in the wholly digitally connected pandemic era, when snow days turned into e-learning days instead of fun. Those students may be more likely to expect… Wed, 06 May 2026 17:06:48 -0400 Tara E. Buck https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/what-will-gen-alpha-expect-their-higher-ed-experience https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/bringing-ai-active-lesson-life-higher-education Evolving from researching artificial intelligence tools to substantive applications of AI, colleges are both boosting student engagement and supporting modern teaching in college classrooms. Across the higher education landscape, “we’re moving past AI readiness and starting to talk about how we can activate learning environments with AI,” says Micah Shippee, director of education at Samsung. Samsung’s AI-powered interactive display, for example, can give learners a shared point of focus and empower teachers with a range of capabilities to ensure student engagement. DISCOVER: Samsung's… Tue, 05 May 2026 13:53:56 -0400 Adam Stone https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/bringing-ai-active-lesson-life-higher-education https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/higher-educations-role-supporting-k-12-ai-literacy In Jonathan Haidt’s recent book, The Anxious Generation, the author summarizes a common understanding among K–12 educators: Adolescent access to smartphones has led to a generational mental health crisis. There is a great push in education to avoid a similar outcome with an even more transformative technology: artificial intelligence. A key strategy is boosting AI literacy among K–12 educators and students. Higher education plays a critical role in this mission, providing the research, training and critical understanding of how to best harness this technology for educational purposes while… Mon, 04 May 2026 16:40:09 -0400 Alexander Slagg https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/higher-educations-role-supporting-k-12-ai-literacy https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/hybrid-infrastructure-powers-university-research R1 research universities are ground zero for artificial intelligence-imposed turmoil. In the lab, AI-powered experiments create unpredictable spikes in IT demand. Across campus, students and staff push the limits of network bandwidth. In central IT, technologists struggle to keep everything humming. Here’s a quick look at how IT leaders are adapting across the R1 space. How R1 Infrastructure Is Changing Today R1-designated universities have the highest research activity in the U.S. The University of Montana, like many of its R1 peers, has an on-premises research cluster funded by the National… Fri, 01 May 2026 15:23:33 -0400 Tom Mangan https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/05/hybrid-infrastructure-powers-university-research https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/04/6-reasons-universities-are-building-media-labs-now Higher education is undergoing a significant transformation in how it prepares the next generation of media professionals. Across the country, universities are investing in state-of-the-art media labs — facilities built not around traditional classroom instruction, but around the tools, workflows and collaborative environments that define today's professional production landscape. These spaces represent a fundamental rethinking of what it means to train students for careers in film, animation, gaming and digital storytelling. UP NEXT: Modern learning environments impact student success. This… Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:17:33 -0400 Brad Grimes https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2026/04/6-reasons-universities-are-building-media-labs-now