2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report®
Holistic Student Experience Edition

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report
Holistic Student Experience Edition®

THANK YOU TO OUR HOLISTIC STUDENT EXPERIENCE HORIZON REPORT SPONSORS

Kathe Pelletier, Jenay Robert, Nichole Arbino, Nicole Muscanell, Mark McCormack, Jamie Reeves, Belle
McDonald, and Susan Grajek, 2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Holistic Student Experience Edition(Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE, 2023).
© 2023 EDUCAUSE
This report is licensed under the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
ISBN: 78-1-933046-19-8
EDUCAUSE Horizon Report is a registered trademark of EDUCAUSE.

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Read additional materials on the 2023 Horizon Report | Holistic
Student Experience Edition research hub:https://www.educause.edu/horizon-report-holistic-student-experience-2023

EDUCAUSE is a higher education technology association and the largest community of IT leaders and professionals committed toadvancing higher education. Technology, IT roles and responsibilities, and higher education are dynamically changing. Formed in 1998,
EDUCAUSE supports those who lead, manage, and use information technology to anticipate and adapt to these changes, advancing
strategic IT decision-making at every level within higher education. EDUCAUSE is a global nonprofit organization whose members
include US and international higher education institutions, corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and K–12 institutions. With acommunity of more than 100,000 individuals at member organizations located around the world, EDUCAUSE encourages diversity inperspective, opinion, and representation. For more information, please visit educause.edu.

CONTENTS
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Trends: Scanning the Horizon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Social Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Technological Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Economic Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Environmental Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Political Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Key Technologies & Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Artificial Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Accessible and Inclusive Tools and Processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Supporting Student Connection and Belonging with Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Expanded Mental Health Support for Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Unified Data Models for Learning Analytics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Building Data Literacy for Understanding and Using Student Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Scenarios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Constraint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Collapse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Expert Panel Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I

ncreasingly, higher education stakeholders are recognizing the value—and the imperative—of empowering students to bring
their whole selves to college and, to that end, are providing holistic programming and learning opportunities. Fostering student
connection and belonging through multiple modalities and providing proactive and wide-ranging mental health resources

while attending to issues of accessibility and inclusion are increasingly common on campuses. The artificial intelligence (AI) storm
hasn’t slowed down much since the fall of 2022, raising questions about opportunities and risk, as well as highlighting the need for
ethical guidelines. In part due to the surge in AI use, but also due to the increasing use of technology for all types of student support,
greater amounts student data are being collected, prompting the need for sophisticated data models and expanded data literacies.
Holding this balance between “student as human” and “student as data” becomes even more complex amid the polarizing politicalenvironment and the forces raising questions about the very sustainability of higher education.
For this Horizon Report edition focusing on supporting the holistic student experience in higher education, panelist discussions
reflected these themes and mindset. This report summarizes the results of those discussions and offers a grounded perspective on
multiple possibilities for where our future may be headed. This project was anchored in a modified Delphi methodology that seeks toelevate the collective perspectives and knowledge of a diverse group of experts, and the panelists’ activities were facilitated using
tools adapted from the Institute for the Future.

TrendsAs a first activity, we asked the Horizon panelists to provide
input on the macro trends they believe are going to shape
the future of holistic student success in higher education andto provide observable evidence for those trends. To ensure
an expansive view of the larger trends serving as context
for institutions of higher education, panelists provided input
across five trend categories: social, technological, economic,
environmental, and political. After several rounds of voting, theEconomic• Concerns about the cost of higher education continue togrow.
• More affordable postsecondary education options arebeing offered.
• Higher education continues to face budget cuts.

Environmental• The market for eco-friendly products and renewableenergy is growing.

panelists selected the following trends as the most important:• Food insecurity and population displacement are

Social• The need for climate literacy is growing.

• Awareness of mental health challenges and their impacts
is increasing.
• University enrollments are decreasing in the UnitedStates.
• Student interest in online and hybrid learning is growing.

Technological• AI technologies are becoming more sophisticated andreadily available.
• More data are being collected about students.
• Machine learning is increasingly being used to analyze

increasing due to climate change.

Political• Political polarization is increasing in the United States.
• Politicians are becoming more involved with education
curricula.
• Concerns are growing about the impact of AI on privacy.
Following the identification of trends, panelists were then asked
to provide additional details substantiating each trend, as wellas anticipated impacts each trend might have on the future of
the holistic student experience.

student data.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

4Key Technologies and Practices

Scenarios

Horizon panelists were asked to describe the key technologies

Scanning the trends section and the technologies and practices

and practices they believe will have a significant impact on thesection, we can begin to gather and arrange the information we

future of the holistic student experience in higher education,

have into logical patterns that can help us envision a number ofwith a focus on those that are most likely to either acceleratescenarios for the future, scenarios for which we could start toor mitigate the trends identified as most important. After

prepare today. In this report, we paint portraits of four possible

voting by the panel, the following six items rose to the top of afuture scenarios for the holistic student experience in higher

long list of technologies and practices:education:• Artificial intelligence• Growth: Unrestricted growth of AI technologies• Accessible and inclusive tools and practices

proliferates in every area of life, across the globe. Higher• Supporting student connection and belonging witheducators quickly respond to the need for reskilling thetechnology

current and future workforce, but they struggle to combat• Expanded mental health support for students

the escalating mental health crisis and food and housing• Unified data models for learning analytics

insecurity.

• Building data literacy for understanding and using
student data

• Constraint: The future of higher education isthreatened by financial uncertainty and social unrest.

Having identified the most important technologies andInstitutions prioritize a “student as consumer” model

practices, panelists were then asked to identify—for eachto stay afloat. As individual stakeholders express

key technology and practice—which trends might be thedissatisfaction with higher education’s new image,

most impacted, in what ways stakeholders might leverageleaders struggle to unite their institutions in working

the technology or practice to support the holistic student

toward survival.

experience, potential risks higher education stakeholders
might face when implementing that particular technology
or practice, and finally, the potential impact of that item on
diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Collapse: A series of natural disasters renders
coastal regions all over the world uninhabitable. Massive
reorganizations in population and resources eliminate
the existence of a middle class, force families to focus on
meeting basic needs, and reduce the viability of formal
higher education.
• Transformation: The world embraces artificial
intelligence as the greatest technological developmentof the 21st century. With a focus on safe and ethicalpractices, higher education adopts AI in all operational
areas. Institutions are transformed by AI tools, enjoying
great rewards, balanced by great risks.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

5

TRENDS: SCANNING THE HORIZON

I

nstitutions of higher education, and the teaching and learning practices they
adopt, are in many ways products of the larger environments of which they
are a part. Colleges and universities are always made up of people living at

a particular point in history, residing together in particular communities, andsharing a particular mixture of cultural ideas, norms, and resources. Mapping
the future of these institutions and their practices demands that we pay attention
to the larger social, economic, and other shifts taking place across our global
society that may be impacting higher education in profound ways.
To help us explore these larger forces taking shape around higher education,
we asked panelists to survey the landscape and identify the most influential
trends shaping the holistic student experience across five categories: social,technological, economic, environmental, and political. This section summarizes
the trends the panelists voted as most important in each of these categories, aswell as anticipated impacts of and evidence for each trend.
Many of the trends identified by panelists are underlying drivers putting pressure
on the future of higher education: decreasing enrollments, concerns about thecost of higher education, budget cuts, and the increasing availability of low-cost
alternatives to higher education. The impact of political polarization and the
involvement of politicians in education curricula also have the potential to impact
higher education broadly.
From a technical perspective, trends related to AI and the use of data are
discussed—the sharp increase in the availability of and interest in AI, as wellas the increase in data collected about students. Panelists noted that machinelearning is increasingly being used to analyze student data, which brings with it
growing concerns about the impact of AI on individuals’ right to privacy.
Some trends centering students’ experiences and their ability to participate inhigher education are highlighted, including the increase in awareness aroundthe challenges and impacts of mental health and the impact of climate change

SocialAwareness of mental healthchallenges and their impacts isincreasing.
University enrollments are
decreasing in the United States.
Student interest in online andhybrid learning is growing.

Technological
AI technologies are becoming
more sophisticated and readily
available.
More data are being collected
about students.
Machine learning is increasingly
being used to analyze student
data.

Economic
Concerns about the cost of higher
education continue to grow.
More affordable postsecondary
education options are being
offered.
Higher education continues to facebudget cuts.

on food insecurity and mobility. These drivers may also impact another trend
we have seen consistently since 2020: the growing interest from students inonline and hybrid learning. Related to climate change, panelists also pointed to
the growing market for renewable resources, as well as the increasing need forclimate literacy.
Taken together, these trends give higher education institutions a lot to consider interms of sustainability—economic and environmental; policy and process related
to AI; and holistic, student-centered, flexible supports and offerings.

Environmental
The market for eco-friendly
products and renewable energy is
growing.
Food insecurity and population
displacement are increasing due toclimate change.
The need for climate literacy is
growing.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

6

The summary of these trends is drawn directly from the discussions and inputs
provided by our expert panelists, in keeping with the tradition of the Delphi
methodology. Each of the trends was identified and voted on by panelists
without influence from the EDUCAUSE Horizon Report staff, aside from our

Political
Political polarization is increasingin the United States.

work organizing and synthesizing the panelists’ inputs for presentation here.

Politicians are becoming more
involved with education curricula.

Each of the trends encompasses far more complexity and variability acrossConcerns are growing about the
impact of AI on privacy.

types of institutions and regions of the world than can be adequately captured
in such a brief summary. Indeed, the expert panelists—who represent avariety of roles and institutional types within the United States, as well as
communities outside of the United States—routinely reflected on the ways inwhich trends affect institutions differently across different settings. Where
possible, we’ve tried to account for that variability, though the reader willcertainly bring additional experiences and contexts that would further broaden
these considerations.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

7

SOCIAL TRENDS

H

igher education takes place within particular social contexts, and learning experiences are shaped and colored by thepeople interacting and building relationships through those experiences. The student experience in higher education is afundamentally social practice, one that is better understood by mapping the important social trends developing within andaround it.

Awareness of mental healthchallenges and their impacts isincreasing.
Impact: Mental health challenges affect people worldwide,and college students are no exception. Students areexperiencing all-time high rates of stress, depression, anxiety,and suicidal thoughts. Mental health can affect all aspects ofthe student experience, including enrollment and retention,
learning and academic performance, participation, andengagement in the classroom and in extracurricular activities.
It also has a bearing on social relationships, including thosewith peers, faculty, and staff. Even though many students arefacing mental health challenges now more than ever, they
are also willing to seek help. Colleges and universities areexperiencing massive increases in demand for mental healthservices, in addition to requests for accommodations. Thishas caused strain for institutions, with many scrambling tosecure mental health practitioners in the midst of an ongoingshortage of mental health workers, in addition to resources
such as 24/7 hotline operators and telehealth services. Asawareness of these problems continues to grow, officials atsome institutions are thinking beyond therapy and counselingand are finding ways to adopt and embrace a culture of healthand wellness. Approaches include modifying course policies
to be more accommodating and flexible, training faculty
and staff to identify students in distress, and providing tools
and workshops on health and wellness. Moving forward,
institutions need to find ways to help students deal withthe common factors that negatively impact mental health,such as coursework/load, loneliness, financial concerns,
bullying, and the stress associated with being a member ofan underrepresented group. Colleges also need to focus onoffering timely mental health services that can be accessed via
different methods based on institutional type and also student
needs and preferences (i.e., some students prefer off-campus
services, others prefer telehealth, and still others prefer oncampus or on-site services). Fostering a culture that promotes
wellness can help reduce stigma, increase student resilience,
prevent mental health crises, and provide better overall
support for students throughout their college journey.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

Evidence: Data from the Healthy Minds Study (HMS) found thatstudent mental health issues are rapidly increasing, and it’s notjust a symptom of the pandemic. A communications professor
at Salt Lake Community College uses Zoom polls to conduct
anonymous mental health check-ins with his students. An article
from Inside Higher Ed provides resources and guidance for faculty
to support their students’ mental health.

University enrollments are decreasingin the United States.
Impact: Since 2010, undergraduate enrollments in the UnitedStates have shown a steady decline, with a sharp drop during the
pandemic. Though numbers have somewhat stabilized since thepandemic, disparities in enrollments—across institution typeand student demographics—remain. More generally, enrollment
declines are expected to continue as the traditional populationof prospective students shrinks and as more people question
the value of a college degree. Enrollment declines have thepotential to impact the student experience in both positive andnegative ways. Lower enrollments, along with more offeringsof online and hybrid courses, mean that there are and will be
fewer students on campus, which will impact class size, support
services, participation in extracurricular activities, and the ability
for students to connect with peers and with campus life overall.
Panelists offered competing predictions for the ways lower
enrollments might affect class sizes in the coming years. On the
one hand, it could reduce class sizes, which may improve student
learning experiences. However, it could alternatively lead tolarger class sizes due to shortages of faculty at some campuses.
Tuition-dependent institutions will be disproportionately impacted
by declining enrollments because they will continue to experiencebudget cuts, affecting their ability to provide the variety ofresources and services needed to support student learningand wellness, in addition to providing robust degree programs.
As enrollment declines continue, institutions will look to
nontraditional populations for recruitment, student diversity will
rise, the variety of student needs and expectations will expand,and, thus, institutions will need to be ready to support increasingly
diverse student experiences.

8

Evidence: According to a report by the ECMC Group, only
about half of Gen Z high schoolers are considering pursuing
a four-year degree, a decrease of 20% compared to 2020.
Kirkwood Community College will be closing or modifying
its Dental Technology, Energy Production, and Distribution
Technologies programs and is laying off faculty and staff due tolow enrollments.

Student interest in online and hybrid
learning is growing.
Impact: Over the past few years, student interest andenrollment in online and hybrid courses have quickly increased.
Students still highly value on-site experiences, but many havefound that online and hybrid courses offer more flexibility,
which is especially helpful for those juggling work, family, andother life responsibilities and issues. To meet growing demand,
institutions will need to develop mature and fully scaled online
and hybrid programs. To support student experiences acrossmodalities, institutions will need to garner more buy-in fromfaculty; student interest in online learning outpaces facultyinterest in online teaching. Institutions will need to adopt
and maintain appropriate technology, offer support services
to meet the needs of virtual learners, and hire specialists
with expertise in developing, implementing, and managing
online courses and programs. Faculty also need more time,training, and support (e.g., investments in centers for teaching
and learning) so they can teach effectively across modes.
Curriculum and assessment design need to be revisited,with a major focus on evidence-based recommendations andpractices regarding accessibility and which learning designs
and assessment strategies work well in online or hybrid versus
on-site environments. As more students enroll in online andhybrid courses, the college experience has the potential tochange in a number of ways. Online options might help makeeducation more attainable to students who need flexibility to
pursue education. These learning options might also improvehealth and well-being for all students by allowing for a better
work–life balance. Yet, there are also potential challenges.
Students enrolled in online or hybrid courses may find it moredifficult to engage and make meaningful connections. Equity
and accessibility issues might also be exacerbated; the digital
divide could continue to grow, with underrepresented and lowincome students being the most impacted. As colleges adopt
and continue to offer multiple learning modalities, they must
develop structures that support access and quality learning
equally across modalities.

Evidence: A faculty mentor at the Foothill-De Anza
Community College District is working with faculty to improvetheir relationships with students in online learning—humanizing
online learning should not only benefit all students but also
improve equity for students from marginalized backgrounds.
Online student orientation at Blinn College in Texas has trained
more than 40,000 students to navigate their online courses
effectively, improving student success rates, especially foreconomically disadvantaged students.

FURTHER READING
Inside Higher Ed

The Hechinger Report

Forbes“Stress Is Hurting College Students”“Another Million Adults ‘Have Stepped
Off the Path to the Middle Class’”“By the Numbers: The Rise of Online
Learning in the U.S.”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

9

TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS

T

echnology is constantly changing and growing more sophisticated. As technologies become outdated and new technologies
are introduced, institutions of higher education must consistently monitor the usefulness of tech already implemented andplan for new technologies that enable more adaptive decision-making and more flexible teaching and learning experiences.

What those technologies are, how they are deployed across the institution, and the ways in which they themselves continue to evolveis one of the ongoing and defining stories of higher education.

AI technologies are becoming moresophisticated and readily available.

More data are being collected about
students.

Impact: ChatGPT landed in higher education not with a whimper
but with a resounding roar. While AI technology has been used inhigher education for years, the introduction of newer and moresophisticated tools such as generative AI has put it back in the
spotlight, leaving many wondering what the impact will be on
the student experience. Many are already alarmed at students’use of AI to complete coursework, yet some are embracing AI
tools, noting that they also have the potential to shape the student
experience in positive ways. For example, faculty are using AI tostreamline course material generation, and some institutions aredeveloping recommendations and best practices for use in theclassroom, in addition to using AI to personalize learning, identify
learning gaps, and accommodate students with disabilities. As
AI tools become more sophisticated, detecting their use will only
become more difficult. Thus, higher education should prepare for
AI to be here to stay and nearly impossible to detect. Curriculum
and assessment design need to be reimagined. Faculty need tofind ways to adopt assessments that minimize opportunities forplagiarism, fostering creativity and critical thinking. It’s also
becoming clear that given the ubiquity of AI, many students willneed literacy in these tools to be prepared for the workforce.
With increasing adoption of these tools, institutions will face new
privacy, security, and ethical challenges. They may also see anincrease in demand for AI literacy training, larger numbers ofstudents entering majors such as computer and data science, andnew programs that focus on low- or no-code technologies as AI
takes on more coding work.

Impact: Higher education institutions are collecting more andmore data on their students. With the rapid adoption of online
and hybrid learning modes and educational technologies during
the pandemic, in addition to increased pressures surrounding
enrollments and graduation rates, there has been an increasein the amount of data being collected and a sharper focus on
using data to make informed decisions. The use of student
data has growing potential to improve the student experiencethrough identification and early intervention for learning gaps,
personalized learning, and improved learning outcomes andstudent success. Yet with more data collection and expanding
digital perimeters come more threats to student privacy.
Colleges and universities are facing more data breaches,and security, privacy, and ethics are at the forefront of
conversations at many institutions. As data collection becomes
more invasive, student concerns about privacy will likely grow,leading to feelings of distrust if transparency and agency
surrounding their data are lacking. Students will need more
visibility when it comes to their data and should have the rightto have the use of their data limited or restricted. Institutions
will need to develop stronger practices for consent and a focus
on improving data literacy for all stakeholders. Investing incampus-wide data literacy initiatives will help students makeinformed decisions regarding the collection and use of personaldata, and it will allow leadership and other stakeholders
to make appropriate decisions about how to use student
data ethically and equitably in order to improve the college
experience.

Evidence: The release of ChatGPT is leading to a surge in
new faculty hires. The University at Albany will hire 27 new
AI faculty, Purdue University will hire 50 new AI faculty, andEmory University will hire between 60 and 75 new AI faculty. The
University of Texas at Austin announced plans to launch an online
master’s degree program in artificial intelligence (MSAI), andalready more than 4,000 prospective students have requested
information about the program.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

Evidence: An associate professor of sociology at the
University of California (UC), Merced, says that colleges are notfederally required to collect data on LGBTQ+ students, whichmakes it difficult to fully understand the student experience.
Complete College America released a data management
guidebook to help faculty, staff, college leadership, andpolicymakers understand and use data to improve completion
rates, close institutional performance gaps, and facilitate
economic mobility for historically excluded students.

10Machine learning is increasingly
being used to analyze student data.
Impact: Machine learning (ML), a branch of AI that uses
data and algorithms to identify patterns and imitate humanlearning, is more frequently being used to analyze student
data, accelerating the potential for analytics to have an impact
on student learning, outcomes, and success. ML can impact
student outcomes by identifying performance and learning
gaps. These analytics are particularly important for student
outcomes because they can be used for early intervention
by identifying students who are struggling and allowing
institutions to provide targeted support, reducing dropouts.
Student performance analytics can also help institutions bettersupport marginalized students, who often lack the support theyneed to be successful. ML can also personalize the learning
experience in the classroom. Learning management systems
and other software now provide capabilities for monitoring
student engagement with content, identifying student strengths
and weaknesses, and then tailoring learning content, feedback,and activities based on those factors. ML is an attractive toolfor institutions because it is quick, relatively accurate, andgives institutions an opportunity to generate timely, actionable
data that ultimately may be used to improve student learning,
retention, and graduation rates. However, reliance on thesealgorithms could negatively impact the student experience.

If the algorithms are not used mindfully, the potential arises forthe misinterpretation or misuse of data. ML is also not free ofbias, and in some instances its use can lead to decision-making
that exacerbates inequities. Further, while students may benefit
from more personalized experiences, the quality of theseexperiences may not be as good or as accurate as those not
involving these powerful tools—for example, getting feedback
from one’s professor versus automated feedback generated
by an algorithm. Moving forward, institutions will need toleverage the use of ML to scale personalized interventions andgenerate insights about the student experience from analytics,
while also ensuring that the data are accurately being used
and by ensuring that automation does not result in unintended
consequences. An overreliance on automation could ultimately
make learning feel less personalized and humanistic, leading todisengagement and poorer student success and wellness.

Evidence: McKinsey & Company released a report thatshares promising use cases for advanced analytics in higher
education and examples of how institutions are using data to
improve accessibility and the student experience. Amazon Web
Services (AWS) Machine Learning University is launching afree AI/machine learning program to help community colleges,
minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and historically Black
colleges and universities (HBCUs).

FURTHER READING
U.S. Department of Education

EDUCAUSE

Nature“Artificial Intelligence and the Futureof Teaching and Learning: Insights
and Recommendations”“Student Data Privacy and Security:
A Call for Transparent Practices”“Using Machine Learning to Predict Student
Retention from Socio-Demographic Characteristics
and App-Based Engagement Metrics”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

11

ECONOMIC TRENDS

H

igher education is no stranger to economic challenges. Finding reliable markets and sources of revenue while keeping
costs from ballooning is always of critical importance to institutions. Yet economies and enrollment patterns fluctuate,
so institutional leaders need to be prepared for fiscal instability and uncertainty by anticipating declines in funding andadopting new ways of thinking about and planning institutional business.

Concerns about the cost of higher
education continue to grow.
Impact: Despite showing some recent signs of stabilizing,college tuition has been on the rise for decades. As statefunding for higher education remains variable (with many
institutions facing declines), costs have shifted to students
through increases in tuition and fees. Unsurprisingly,
prospective students are now placing more emphasis on ROI
when it comes to deciding whether college is right for them,and a growing number are pursuing alternatives to traditional
higher education as concerns about ROI grow. Institutions now
face pressure to control costs in order to attract and retain
students, which is a major challenge as many are facing funding
cuts and declining tuition revenue. As institutions reassess
and reprioritize their resources, they will have less money
for student services and amenities, for faculty development
and other instructional support, and for student- and facultyfacing technologies, raising concerns about their ability tomaintain the quality of the student experiences that they offer.
Institutions will need to find ways to adopt more cost-effective
support services that are easy for students to access, expand
financial aid options, and explore alternative educationalmodels to reduce the financial burden on students whilestill investing in adequate faculty development, instructional
support, and technology in order to provide a high-quality
learning experience. If the gap between the cost of higher
education and students’ ability to pay continues to grow, we
could see further declines in enrollment and equitable accessto higher education as students who are priced out of college
find themselves diverted to nondegree options.
Evidence: The majority of University of Arkansas System
institutions are proposing increases in tuition and mandatory
fees for 2023–24. The University of Houston System Board ofRegents approved a new program called “Cougar Textbook
Access Program” to make textbooks and course materials
available for undergraduate students at a fraction of the current
cost. Some colleges are looking for ways to make tuition lessexpensive; for example, in Maine, lawmakers are proposing
legislation that would cut tuition in half for students who
graduated from high school in the state.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

More affordable postsecondary
education options are being
offered.
Impact: As concerns about the cost of higher education
grow, institutions are adopting more affordable education
options such as nondegree and competency-based pathways
such as microcredentials and certifications. These options
are growing in their attractiveness due not only to theiraffordability but also to their flexibility and focus on skillsbased learning, which is important for students navigating
the workforce. As institutions implement these alternative
options for learning, they will attract and serve more diverse
groups of students and nontraditional learners, increasing
access and equity on campuses and potentially impacting
inclusion in positive ways. While opening these new pathways
may lead to additional revenue as institutions tap previously
underserved markets, they may still face the challenge of
devoting significant resources to implement and maintainthese opportunities, potentially diverting resources from otherareas that may impact the student experience, such as creditbearing programs, research, extracurricular activities, andservices. Further, with more educational options comes morevariability in the student experience and increased difficulty
navigating those experiences for both students and theinstitutions supporting these new options. Institutions that findthemselves confronting changing markets are going to have toadapt and figure out how to support a range of students fromvarying backgrounds, including full-time students pursuingfour-year degrees, those who are part-time, and those whowant to pursue very short-term training to learn a very specificskill or skills. Institutions that start to expand their offerings
may find themselves stretched thin if they aren’t strategicin their approach to ensuring a student experience that is ofequal quality and value regardless of the pathways students
choose, which includes finding ways to help students navigate
their experiences in the most meaningful and seamless ways
possible.

12

Evidence: As enrollments in traditional degree programs
decline, enrollments in alternative programs such as
apprenticeships and trade programs are increasing. Historicalevidence suggests that interest in workforce-oriented
programs stems from a tight labor market; however, if higher
education costs remain high or increase, more interest inthese programs could be spurred by cost concerns. A survey
by Coursera found that 90% of students and recent graduates
said they would be more likely to enroll in programs that havemicrocredentials or entry-level professional certificates.

Higher education continues to facebudget cuts.
Impact: Funding for higher education remains uncertain. Most
institutions faced cuts surrounding the pandemic, followed byincreases in funding in 2022 and 2023 due to state surpluses
and federal stimulus funding. However, concerns about thestability of state funding remain, and additional budget cutsmight be needed in the future, which would exacerbate issues
for institutions already in a budget deficit. Additional budget
cuts could negatively impact the student experience in many
ways. Institutions might be forced to reduce or eliminate
support services, resources, and programs that contributeto student success, well-being, and satisfaction. Staffing

levels could be impacted, and operating with reduced staff
will increase workload and may lead to increased faculty
and staff burnout and attrition. This means that students
would consequently have limited access to advisors, faculty,
counselors, and other supports. With more budget cuts, someinstitutions might need to decrease degree programs, course
offerings, and enrollment numbers to reduce operational costs.
Already, some are canceling whole degree plans or are merging
programs. Continued budget cuts will also transfer the cost of
education to students, and higher education may become evenmore of a dividing line socially and economically. In the face ofbudget cuts and declining enrollments, many institutions will
be required to pare down their resources to fit budget realities.
This presents an imperative opportunity for institutions toredefine the college experience by finding creative solutions,modalities, and models that are scalable.

Evidence: Four of the Big Ten universities—Penn State
University, Rutgers University, the University of Minnesota, andthe University of Nebraska—have significant budget deficits andwill need to make cuts moving forward. Cuts in state funding forhigher education are pushing more of the costs to students andare exacerbating existing inequalities. The U.S. Senate passed
bipartisan legislation raising the debt ceiling limit to prevent
severe budget cuts in higher education.

FURTHER READINGThe Chronicle of Higher Education

EDUCAUSE

Inside Higher Ed“Colleges Fear Cost of Doing BusinessWill Become Much Costlier”“EDUCAUSE and WCET QuickPoll Results: Current
Trends in Microcredential Design and Delivery”“House Debt Plan Would Mean
Higher Ed Spending Cuts”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

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ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS

I

nstitutions of higher education draw on finite local and global materials and resources to fuel their operations, and their facilities
leave sizable imprints on the environments around them. The need to adopt sustainable practices across the board, far too
often overlooked in higher education planning and decision-making, will be inescapable in a future more concerned with climate

stability and environmental sustainability.

The market for eco-friendly
products and renewable energy is
growing.

Food insecurity and population
displacement are increasing due toclimate change.

Impact: The market for eco-friendly products and renewableenergy resources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric
continues to grow. In the United States, renewable energy is
the fastest-growing energy source, increasing by 90% within adecade, and eco-friendly products increased their market sharelast year. Students, especially those in younger generations,increasingly care about higher education’s carbon footprint
and sustainability initiatives, and thus colleges and universities
that invest in sustainability are becoming more appealing
to prospective students. An increase in the market for ecofriendly products and renewable energy could have positive
implications for the student experience as institutions integratesustainability and climate issues into their curricula, in addition
to generating new climate research opportunities and campus
initiatives and activities for students to be involved in. This
could not only enhance students’ awareness and skills in thesegrowing industries but also help foster an environmentallyconscious campus culture and contribute to overall student
well-being, engagement, and future career prospects. Someinstitutions are already seeing the benefits of investing in
renewable energy. Institutions that implement renewableenergy have been able to save money on their energy bills andrecover costs. Meanwhile, some colleges and universities arereceiving funding and grants to conduct renewable energy
research projects, and tax incentives are available for theseprojects. Eco-friendly products and renewable energy are thus
promising areas of investment that have the potential to attract
students, bring in extra funding for research and projects, andsave money, which could then be devoted to better supporting
the student experience.

Impact: Climate change is causing more and more severe
weather conditions and disruptions across the world. Changes
in temperature and precipitation and reductions in water
availability have caused millions of people to be displaced fromtheir homes. Further, these disruptions have also impacted
agriculture, livestock, and food delivery, leaving many withlimited access to sustainable food sources. College students,
especially those from high-climate-impact areas and fromlow socioeconomic backgrounds are being more frequently
impacted by these climate-related challenges, resulting in
more disruptive college experiences. Students are relying
more on their institutions when it comes to some of theseissues. For example, many students are not eligible forsupplemental nutrition assistance because it requires them towork at least 20 hours a week, which is daunting for full-timestudents. Further, more and more students are coming from abackground of economic stress, and when climate disruptions
occur, they may not have resources to relocate. Someinstitutions are addressing these challenges by incorporatingclimate change awareness and mitigation strategies into theircurricula and campus operations, as well as by implementing
support services and resources to assist students affected byfood insecurity and displacement. This includes on-campus
food pantries, emergency housing assistance, and mental
health resources. By implementing these types of support,
institutions are helping ensure that students’ basic needs aremet so that they can then succeed academically and personallyin the face of these challenges.

Evidence: Montclair State University announced a renewableenergy agreement with ENGIE Resources LLC, under which theuniversity will purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) fromwind, solar, and hydro projects. In 2020, Penn State University
began purchasing renewable energy generated at three solar
farms in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, saving an estimated$2.5M in energy costs around the two-year mark.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

Evidence: Inside Higher Ed discusses three examples ofcollege initiatives that support students facing food insecurity.
California State University and the University of California
campuses received recurring funding to implement basic
needs centers—hubs that help students with housing and foodinsecurity, in addition to providing other support services suchas finding and paying for insurance, medical care, and publicbenefits.

14

The need for climate literacy is
growing.
Impact: Institutions are ramping up their sustainability
efforts, and many have implemented more course offerings andprograms on climate and sustainability issues. Yet a growing
need persists for climate literacy, especially across disciplines
and fields. Evidence is also mounting that young people arebeing overcome by climate anxiety, which is exacerbated by lackof or varied understandings of climate change. By developing
and implementing more climate and sustainability curricula,institutions can reduce students’ anxiety while empowering
them to make better climate decisions and lessening theirpersonal carbon emissions. It’s apparent that students willneed climate literacy beyond higher education—they will need
to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to adapt to thechanging workforce and to increasingly green environments
and initiatives. As institutions expand their climate offerings,
they need to ensure that students have the opportunity to learn

about climate across a variety of disciplines. Climate issues
are already traditionally covered in science courses, but there
is a growing need to educate individuals on broader climate
issues such as technology, health, socioeconomic, and politicalissues as they relate to climate and sustainability. To foster
educational programs, colleges and universities will need toequip faculty with adequate training and resources so they canteach climate across areas—many faculty do not have formal
training in climate issues/topics.

Evidence: According to the Hechinger Report, the climate
and renewable energy workforce is projected to grow rapidly,
stemming from new Inflation Reduction Act funding and theclimate and health bill. Yet, without significant investments
and more mature climate curricula in higher education, there
is likely to be a shortage of workers to fill those jobs. Student
anxiety about climate change and its impacts is growing;
leaders and educators can take five steps to help students
transform their anxiety into meaningful actions.

FURTHER READING
Times Higher Education

The Guardian

The Chronicle of Higher Education“How a Green Approach to Tech Can
Attract and Engage Students”“The American Climate Migration Has
Already Begun”“The Climate-Conscious College”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

15

POLITICAL TRENDS

H

igher education, for better and for worse, is always entangled in and concerned with the political climate and events of thepresent moment. In addition to determining overall higher education funding, politics is interwoven with higher education
as an object of research and study and as subject matter for courses. Because of this long-standing entanglement, politicaltrends have significant effects on higher education at a variety of levels, both positively and negatively.

Political polarization is increasing in
the United States.

Politicians are becoming more
involved with education curricula.

Impact: In the United States, the political divide continues to

Impact: Political involvement in higher education, especiallydeepen, putting higher education institutions on the front linesof culture-war battles. Individuals’ views of higher education
increasingly align with their political affiliations, and the
major parties are becoming more divided in their views on
education, including topics such as admissions, academics,
DEI, and financial issues. An increase in political polarization isalready impacting the student experience by making learning
experiences more rife with conflict and intense campus debatesand disagreements. Polarization on campuses also has thepotential to create stagnant learning environments where
exploration, growth, critical thinking, and open discussions are
discouraged and learning instead becomes centered aroundfixed mindsets reinforcing views based on political alignment.
With the rise in polarization, some students are taking a stanceand standing up for academic freedom. Yet, if polarization
continues to increase, we may see some students gravitate to
institutions that support their political views, leading to lessdiversity and more filter bubbles full of like-minded individuals
on some campuses. Institutions will face challenges when it
comes to fostering an environment that encourages respectful
dialogue, critical thinking, and inclusivity. To address this,institutions need to implement or bolster support services, suchas counseling, peer mediation, and bias response teams, while
also providing faculty with resources and training to effectively
navigate sensitive and controversial topics in the classroom. By
doing so, institutions can cultivate a campus culture that values
diverse perspectives and promotes intellectual growth.

at the state level, is increasing as the partisan divide continues
to widen. In some states, officials and legislators are proposing
and enacting bills that will lead to significant changes in curriculaand other campus activities and initiatives. An increase in the
involvement of politicians in education curricula could impact
the student experience by potentially leading to changes thatreflect political biases or agendas. This may result in lessacademic freedom, a narrowing of perspectives, and reduced
intellectual diversity, which could hinder students’ criticalthinking and analytical skills. Already, we’ve seen book bansin K–12 contexts, which could impact students by stifling theirprecollege learning experiences. Additionally, bans have been
proposed in higher education on specific content and initiatives,
including critical race theory, gender and sexuality studies,
history, and DEI efforts. These types of academic changes
have the potential to disproportionately impact students fromunderrepresented groups, causing them to feel less connected
and valued. They can also impact students in general by limiting
their development of the knowledge and skills required tosuccessfully interact with and understand those from different
backgrounds. Another potential impact is that students may
encounter uneven educational experiences depending on where
they live. Further, with more challenges to academic freedom,
institutions may see more faculty attrition as instructors loseautonomy. If more faculty migrate to institutions that respect theiracademic freedom, the student experience will be impacted interms of a variety of factors, such as class size, student-to-faculty
ratio, and opportunities for students to engage in research. To
counteract these potential effects, colleges and universities needto emphasize the importance of academic freedom, promote theinclusion of diverse viewpoints in the classroom, and ensure that
support services and resources are implemented that will foster
meaningful and open discourse.

Evidence: According to a report by Axios, “a quarter ofprospective college students say they’d shun a school in a state
whose politics or policies they abhor.” The Greater Good Science
Center launched a project focused on “Bridging Differencesin Higher Education” that identifies and spreads researchbased strategies for fostering dialogue, relationships, andunderstanding across group lines. As part of this initiative, they
developed an online course that teaches skills and principles
for intergroup contact and dialogue, and so far more than 8,200
people have enrolled.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition16

Evidence: According to an article by the Los Angeles Times,
defunding DEI programs will put students at a disadvantage
because they will be less prepared to enter changing workforcesthat are growing in diversity. Faculty in some states, including
North Carolina and Florida, are speaking out against proposals
from their governing boards and the state. These proposals
include eliminating DEI efforts, implementing guidelines for
curricula and assessments for certain courses, and removing
tenure for faculty.

Concerns are growing about the
impact of AI on privacy.
Impact: Over the past several years, the demand for AIpowered tools in higher education has quickly grown. Institutions
are adopting these tools in an effort to streamline processes andimprove student outcomes and experiences, and students are
adopting these tools for creative endeavors and to facilitate theircoursework. This increase in adoption of AI has led to growing
concerns over privacy considerations. Personal data andinformation are often not only being collected for institutional
purposes but are also being shared with third parties,
sometimes without users’ knowledge. For example, ChatGPT,
a generative AI tool which is reportedly being used by many
students, has a privacy policy that allows personal information
to be disclosed to third parties without any notice to the user.
Further, there are questions about the accuracy and potential
misuse of data—AI can give false positives and has been shownto demonstrate biases. As concerns about AI and privacy
grow, they could influence the holistic student experience byprompting colleges and universities to adopt more stringent

data privacy and security policies when using AI-driven tools
and platforms for student support services. Further, future
legislative changes could impact AI usage on campuses, suchas the implementation of privacy legislation and regulations
that protect personal data collected via AI, especially focusedon preventing instances of misuse, in addition to shifting theburden of responsibility from users to those who are collecting
the data. Even if legislation lessens the burden on the user,
the time is still ripe for institutions to develop mature digital
literacy training and programs that educate users on theintersection of AI, data analytics, privacy and security, andethics. AI tools are likely here to stay, so institutions will needto find impactful ways to educate stakeholders about privacy
risks associated with AI, implement transparent consent
processes, and establish clear guidelines and policies for the
responsible use and storage of student data. By addressing
privacy concerns, colleges and universities can ensure a safe
and secure learning environment that respects individual rights
while still leveraging the benefits of AI to enhance student
success and well-being.

Evidence: Italy’s Data Protection Authority temporarily
banned ChatGPT and launched a probe over a suspected breachof privacy rules. The Biden Administration issued the Blueprint
for an AI Bill of Rights, and the National Institute of Standards
and Technology released its AI Risk Management Framework.
Both documents aim to protect individuals and society fromAI-related risks. The U.S. Department of Education’s Officeof Educational Technology is working to develop policies andsupports focused on the effective, safe, and fair use of AIenabled educational technology.

FURTHER READING
Government Technology

Gallup

Forbes“Can Digital Resources Ease Political
Polarization in Class?”“College Students Favor Open Discussionof Race and Gender”“Exploring the Security Risks ofGenerative AI”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

17

KEY TECHNOLOGIES & PRACTICEST

he Horizon Report identifies “key technologies and practices” that are
anticipated to have a significant impact on the future of the holistic
student experience. Panelists are invited to consider technologies andpractices that have the most potential to either accelerate or mitigate the trends
identified for the report. We include both technologies and practices because
we know that while innovations and advancements in technological capability
create new opportunities, it’s often the organizational or pedagogical practices
or the development of institutional capabilities that offer the most potential aschange drivers.
With this Horizon Report edition’s focus on supporting the holistic student
experience, it is not surprising that the technologies and practices highlighted
by the panel are wide-ranging and cover lots of organizational ground. Given the
explosion of generative AI models and functionality into the marketplace andincreasing capabilities of predictive AI, artificial intelligence was voted into the
top six.

Artificial Intelligence
Accessible and Inclusive Tools
and Processes
Supporting Student Connection
and Belonging with Technology
Expanded Mental Health Support
for Students
Unified Data Models for Learning
Analytics
Building Data Literacy for
Understanding and Using Student
DataTechnologies and practices that center students were also prioritized, including
expanded mental health supports for students, accessible and inclusive
tools and processes, and supporting student connection and belonging withtechnology.
Rounding out the top six were two practices that emphasize the importanceof data systems and data literacy in supporting a holistic student experience.
Unified data models for learning analytics and building data literacy forunderstanding and using student data were voted to the top as well.
In each section, readers will find an overview of each key technology orpractice, a discussion of its relevance to the holistic student experience, anda set of resources for further reading. Examples of projects that bring eachtechnology or practice to life are also included with brief descriptions and links
to learn more.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

18

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Overview
Artificial intelligence (AI) has thepotential to impact all areas of
the holistic student experience.
Some stakeholders anticipate
that AI-powered tools could be
used to greatly improve students’experiences through a broad rangeof functions: optimizing course

Even those who envision a shining“As AI becomes ubiquitous,

future for AI in higher education

we need to remember that

ideal state, and getting there will takeit is a tool and that it can beused positively or negatively.

acknowledge that we are far from ourconcerted investments of time andmoney. Faculty, staff, and students
alike will need training and professional

We have to keep our focus ondevelopment to use AI tools safely

loads, providing personalizedcoaching and tutoring, designing

the ethics and institutional

systems need to be updated, andintegrity that have guided us

institutional data ecosystems. Further,flexible and customizable learning
paths, integrating content acrosscourses and extracurricular
activities, evaluating institutional
processes and courses, assessing

and effectively. Data governance
AI tools need to be integrated into

in the past to face this new

rapid advancements in AI present

future challenge.”

contemporary digital world. AI operates

student learning, and much more.
Proponents envision a seamlessperhaps one of the greatest risks of theon massive datasets, introducing
questions about what data are collected

AI-powered student experience—from recruit to alum—and how, how stakeholders consent to and opt out of data

integrating support services, learning experiences,collection, who can access data and data insights, and how AI

extracurricular activities, professional development, andmodels are trained. Risks attached to AI tools go far beyond

lifelong learning. With intelligent personalization, AI learning

data privacy and security or even digital access disparities.

environments could be the key to unlocking truly equitable

Because these tools are trained on data generated by current

and inclusive experiences, ensuring that every learner’s set

social, cultural, and economic systems, they can and doof needs is met. AI insights could even support students’amplify inequities and biases inherent in those systems.

sense of belonging by facilitating meaningful community

AI developers have yet to solve such failings, and this lackconnections.

of control over AI outputs has compelled higher education
leaders to proceed with great caution.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

19

Relevance for the Holistic Student Experience
Students are having a variety
of experiences with generative
AI. Even as generative AI-powered
technologies approach ubiquity, higher

technology to introduce large-scale“There is a lot to uncoverabout AI and its impact,

disruption into the workforce, especiallyfor jobs that require great technical skill
and specialized knowledge. Thus, manyand hence, integrating it

higher education leaders assert thathave a place at their institutions. The

with care and caution is

students how to use AI tools ethically andargument falls along a continuumwith two extremes: ban generative

important. However, if weat this critical juncture in the digital

AI to protect academic integrity

prevent our learners fromeducation stakeholders are debating
whether such technologies should

and personal privacy, or integrate

engaging with AI, we will be

educators have a responsibility to teachresponsibly, or they risk being left behind
revolution.

find themselves falling somewhere in

The very purpose of education
is being challenged as AI tools
are capable of replicating many
human tasks. Some educators are

the middle, acting with caution whileembracing these changes, urging

generative AI across student
experiences to keep up with the digitalage. In reality, many stakeholders

doing them a disservice.”

exploring potential opportunities. In the meantime, students

colleagues to focus on teaching students higher-order

will have differential experiences with generative AI in various

skills such as complex synthesis, analysis, interpretation,

contexts, even at the same institution.

prediction, and even creativity. In this rapidly changing
landscape, students themselves have an opportunity to takeUsing AI is anticipated to become a predominantskill for the 21st-century workforce. Though higher

a leadership role and actively engage in discussion of how

educators are debating whether and how generative AI should

within and outside higher education are raising alarms about

be used in institutions, employers seem to be clamoring

AI replacing human work. Thus, there are larger ethical andto integrate all types of AI into their current processes andeven existential questions about AI that remain unanswered.

human thinking is distinct from AI. Still, stakeholders bothproducts. AI has a greater potential than any other modern

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

20

Artificial Intelligence in Practice
OER Repository for Generative AI Class
Activities

UD StudyAiDE: Developing an AI-Powered Study
Companion for Student SuccessThrough the Private Academic Libraries Network of Indiana

UD StudyAiDE, the University of Delaware’s emerging pilot(PALNI) Innovation Grant, Butler University will build an open

project, uses OpenAI technology for the benefit of student

repository of peer-reviewed generative AI activities that focus

success. We are training a private, internal large language

on building students’ AI literacy skills or providing hands-on

model with our faculty intellectual property so our students

use of these tools. The activities created will be discipline-

can generate personalized learning experiences. This project

specific, and because of the open licensing, faculty can reuseleverages two decades of videos from our proprietary lectureor remix anything in the repository to fit their context. Initial

capture system, Canvas content, and course materials.

activities will be published in December 2023.

The generated output includes individualized study guides,

CEPTCHA: An Alternative for the CAPTCHA
Millions of people every day have to prove to a robot thatthey are not a robot by doing “robot stuff” such as identifying
images with cars or traffic signs, typing blurry words, or

practice exercises, worked examples, and more.

RadioGPT: Using AI Technology to Drive
Localism and Relevance in the Broadcast
Industry

ticking a checkbox. CAPTCHAs are boring, derogatory,

The University of Florida College of Journalism andinsulting, and inhumane. After all, we are human. Give us a

Communications (UFCJC) is using GHQ, a multiplatform

test that enables us to prove that we are human! Give us aradio station targeted at students and campus life, to create

CEPTCHA!

AI-driven personalities that will provide hourly updates on
weather, events, and news for the UF community. The content

Financial Aid Advanced Analytics

will be provided by GHQ staff and students, and the AI will

The Financial Aid Advanced Analytics helps recommend

enhance broadcasting. Research will help students and theeligible students for the various financial aid schemes

radio industry develop best practices in the effective andavailable at Singapore Management University. The system

ethical use of AI.

makes use of students’ application data to derive insights
and identify those with financial difficulties or exceptional

LearningClues

achievements. It is designed to provide key insights into the

Most online learning environments include a menagerie offinancial aid applications and apply necessary shortlistingeducational platforms, including, but not limited to, a learning

criteria for faster, more efficient and accurate financial aid

management system (LMS), an e-textbook, lecture capture,

management, processing, and short-listing.

and adaptive learning systems. The LearningClues Projectuses generative AI to mine what was presented during classsessions and automatically provides learners AI-generated
session highlights with questions to stimulate reflection andstudy guides with flashcards based on what was discussed inclass.

FURTHER READING
Tyton Partners and Every
Learner Everywhere
Time for Class 2023

Cornell Chronicle“Writing with AI Help Can ShiftYour Opinions”

SURF Communities“AI Ethics Guidelines
Landscape”

ForbesNature“How Colleges Are Using Artificial Intelligenceto Improve Enrollment and Retention”“Why AI’s Diversity Crisis Matters, and How to
Tackle It”

Stanford University, Human-Centered
Artificial Intelligence

The U.S. Department of Education Officeof Educational Technology“AI Will Transform Teaching and Learning.
Let’s Get It Right.”

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teachingand Learning

University of San Diego Online

McKinsey & Company“43 Examples of Artificial Intelligence in
Education”“What Every CEO Should Know about
Generative AI”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

21

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVETOOLS AND PROCESSES
Overview
An accessible and inclusive higher

Accessible and inclusive tools andpractices lie at the intersection ofmultiple social and technologicaltrends described in this Horizon“Accessibility is key in higher

education requires much more thaneducation and supporting thetechnology or the ability to request

providing students with assistive

holistic student experience.

accommodations. Horizon panelists

accessibility and inclusivity of higher

Making accessibility easy

inclusive tools and processes, many ofeducation, this year’s panel turnedand painless is important for

which are designed to help educators takea spotlight on the higher education
community’s growing awareness ofall stakeholders.”

inclusivity. Accessibility and inclusivity

Report. In addition to identifying
general efforts to improve thepreviously existing and new mental
health challenges for students. At thedescribed a wide range of accessible anda proactive approach to accessibility andmust not be limited to instructional
content. From student affairs and student

same time, students and other stakeholders are increasingly

life to financial aid and the parking office, the entirety of ainterested in hybrid and remote learning modalities, artificial

students’ educational experience should be accessible andintelligence, and data analytics. In this way, there are new andinclusive. For instance, educators can use software to review

amplified concerns about holistic student well-being whenwebsites and other instructional materials to identify digitalconsidering the backdrop of a digital world. The tools andaccessibility issues and even to propose solutions. Staff andprocesses the higher education community employs have theadministrators can implement flexible institutional policies

capacity to support students as never before, but they could

that support all students. Finally, all stakeholders can examine

also widen equity gaps between students in higher education

their implicit biases and create space for hearing and learning

institutions.

from other members of our community.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

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Relevance for the Holistic Student Experience
Accessibility and inclusivity arefoundational. It is not possible tohave a conversation about supporting
the holistic student experience withouteven outside) an institution—for example,“The risks lie in noteducational equity, instructional design,

implementing accessible

and technology design and development,

faculty development, privacy and security,

tools and processes.

to name just a few. Stakeholders must

experience must be accessible andAccessibility is a law,

inclusivity seamless elements of tool andinclusive. Otherwise, higher education

and being proactive andcertain foundational elements. A
truly student-centered educational

will only continue to perpetuatehistorically exclusive and harmful
practices. Accessible and inclusive

developing accessibility

work together to make accessibility andprocess design.

Prioritizing accessibility andinclusivity is resource-intensive.

tools and processes not only benefit

in course design and web

historically marginalized groups ofdesign attitude reallyrange of student needs, stakeholder

makes for a better producttools and processes. Further, stakeholders

students but can eliminate structuralbarriers, creating an effective andenriching learning environment for all
students to thrive.

than retrofitting products.”

Accessibility and inclusivity cover a wide
expertise, institutional units, and specificmust consider the full range of modalities
through which students engage with
their institutions. Making and sustaining
progress requires significant investments

Creating accessible and inclusive educational
experiences requires collaboration. Implementingof both time and money, and there is no authoritative source

accessible and inclusive tools and processes requires

or guide to “getting it right.” Instead, institutional leadersconcerted effort from faculty, staff, administrators, andmust commit to ongoing and continuous evaluation andvendors. Further, accessibility and inclusivity require

improvement, requiring buy-in and dedication across themultiple types of expertise that may be siloed across (orinstitution.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition23

Accessible and Inclusive Tools and Processes in Practice
From Virtual to Reality: Leveraging theMetaverse for Inclusive Learning Experiences ofStudents with Disabilities

Inclusive Online Learning Environments: A National
Collaboration to Support Online DEI for All

This project explores how the metaverse serves as a virtualfrom SUNY, and expert staff and faculty from Cal State Los

space, offering extensive educational opportunities forAngeles Center for Effective Teaching and Learning (Cal State LA

students with disabilities. By transcending the traditional

CETL) and the California Community Colleges, have collaborated

classroom setting, it enables immersive and realistic learningwith more than 60 institutions to develop a flexible framework

experiences that revolutionize education. By harnessingthat can be used to infuse DEI practices into any online course

the power of the metaverse, we can break barriers, provide

quality rubric.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and online education experts

inclusive learning experiences that go beyond physicallimitations, and empower students with disabilities to thrive

Grading Accessible Conformance Reports

in their educational journey.

Institutions across the world ask vendors to submit accessible

Accessible Wayfinding Fosters Inclusion forStudents with Visual Impairments
Blind and visually impaired students need to find classrooms,
computer labs, exits, restrooms, and bus stops like any otherstudent. Orientation and mobility training is expensive andhard to find. The NaviLens wayfinding system was designed
for blind and visually impaired people to navigate theirenvironment independently. It uses special QR codes and aconformance reports (completed VPATs) for electronic resources.
But many institutions struggle with how to compare thesereports between resource options, how the responses correlate
to specific portions of the population, or how to compare them
to a prior year response. The University of Texas at Arlington
has developed a scorecard to solve this problem! Contact
accessibility@uta.edu for a copy of the scorecard.

free app to deliver location and service information in the

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Fellows
Programlanguage of the phone.

The UDL Fellows Program aims to support faculty and staff

Accessibility in the Digital Learning Environment
Collaborative
To engage the Northwestern University community aroundthe topic of digital accessibility, a campus-wide partnershiphas been formed to guide and support instructors who needassistance bringing their learning materials and course sites
into compliance with Northwestern’s digital accessibility
policy. The project team works closely with faculty to address
and incorporate seven core skills into their course sites via agamified approach, the Mission: Accessible challenge.

in developing expertise in UDL through a comprehensive
professional development program. Participants will engage
in a series of workshops, online modules, and project-focused
activities, enabling them to apply UDL principles in redesigning
their courses and practices. By incorporating inclusive andaccessible elements, these initiatives will benefit students,
staff, and faculty members from diverse backgrounds, providing
greater options and flexibility in resources, tools, processes,
and course delivery. In its pilot year, the program will reach 21
courses with diverse learning contexts and has the potential
to directly impact more than 5,000 students in the upcoming
academic term.

FURTHER READING
Andratesha Fritzgerald

TIME

CMSWireAntiracism and Universal Design for
Learning: Building Expressways to
Success“I’m a Blind Scientist and Inventor. More Disabled
Kids Should Have the Opportunities I Had”

“6 Considerations for Digital
Accessibility and Generative AI”

Achieving the Dream

Anthology“Proactive, Not Reactive: How the University ofManchester Shifted Their Approach to Digital
Accessibility”

Cornell University Center for
Teaching Innovation“Holistic Student Supports Redesign”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

Inclusive Teaching Strategies

24

SUPPORTING STUDENT CONNECTION
AND BELONGING WITH TECHNOLOGY
Overview
Tools do not have to be designed forHigher education stakeholders havecome to rely on technological solutions
to a range of problems, and technology
will continue to play a central role in“Creating connections witheducational settings to be valuableor through technology

and staff are already repurposing

for connecting students. Faculty

could increase a sense oftools designed for enhancing

leveraging technology to reimagine

belonging, and feeling a sense

in other contexts. For example,

the ways in which students are ableof belonging can increase aworkers together can be used to

institutional operations in the future.
Now, colleges and universities areto connect, both with each other andwith faculty and staff. Tools aimed at
supporting students’ interpersonalconnection and belonging canaddress issues such as recruitment
and retention, educational andextracurricular engagement, academic

communication and collaboration
applications designed to bring remotestudent’s overall impression

help students communicate aboutof the student experience

services such as advising, and more.

coursework, club activities, support

generally and the course

In these cases, faculty and staff areexperience academically.”

are also teaching them to use tools

not only helping students connect but

achievement, and general wellness.

they will likely need for the workplace.

The role of student connection andSocial media applications can bebelonging is well known to contribute to student successused in real time and in ongoing student engagement, both forin higher education and support their holistic wellness byacademic and extracurricular activities and to communicate

combating social isolation. Additionally, institutions can gain

with students about events and resources. Students alreadyvaluable and essential insights about students’ experiences

spend time on social media, and they are already leveraging

in their own words. Still, no technological solution comessuch tools to connect with each other, even before their

without risk. Without careful implementation, tools designed

first day of classes. For example, an incoming class might

for connection and belonging can easily flood students withfollow a specific hashtag to identify potential new friends andextraneous information. In this way, potential solutions

roommates.

may only exacerbate existing problems such as stress andoverwhelm.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition25

Relevance for the Holistic Student Experience
Digital equity plays an integralrole in using technology tosupport student connection
and belonging. Without equitable
access to digital tools and resources
across the institution, some students
will miss out on the benefits of digitalsolutions, perpetuating systemic

meaningful connections. Technology“Focus on providing accessible

should facilitate interpersonal

and useful ways of connecting

faculty and staff should not be fooledwith technologies. The

by the myth of the “digital native.”technology should respond to

in using digital tools for school, even if

biases and inequity. However, digitalthe current student learning

equity is not characterized simply byand student life needs, as wellaccess to basic hardware, software,and internet. Technology that supports

connection, not replace it. Further,as provide privacy and safety.”student connection and belonging mustalso be designed with accessibility,

Students need instruction and training
they have used the same tools in othercontexts.

With the right set of tools,
students can find support andresources around the clock
and around the calendar. In

affordability, privacy, and security as fundamental principles.

the hybrid world, business hours have taken on a whole new

When built on a foundation of accessibility and access, these

meaning. Technology can now be used to connect students,

technologies can even support personalized learning andfaculty, and staff outside the limitations historically imposed

communication for students with disabilities.

by on-site business hours and geographical location.
As pressures such as budget cuts continue to impact

Digital tools are one piece of a much larger
puzzle. As institutional leaders leverage more technology

institutions’ capacity to develop and maintain student support

to connect students, they must be cognizant of larger

In addition to removing limitations of time and geography,

pedagogical, social, and cultural settings. Digital tools alone

technology can merge experiences that might currently be

will not solve any problem, but when they are implemented

separated by modality, creating an integrated, multimodal

with the right expertise and as part of a larger strategic

experience for students, faculty, and staff.

mechanisms, on-demand technology is increasingly valuable.

effort, they can help students develop purposeful and“Higher education institutions that support student connection may be able to differentiatethemselves in the increasingly competitive postsecondary education landscape.”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition26

Supporting Student Connection and Belonging with Technology in PracticeCenter for Equitable Digital Access at California
State University, Fullerton

UMGC Immersive Pilot

California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is bridging

of Maryland Global Campus is running a two-year pilot

the digital divide through the Center for Equitable Digital
Access (CEDA) to benefit all students who have struggled
to digitally compete. We understood that in order to haveequity in education we need to eliminate obstacles andbarriers. Low-income students at CSUF face many obstacles
to earning their degrees. CEDA was created to combat this.
CEDA is an ambitious and comprehensive program throughwhich all students have equal access to devices, the internet,

As an original META-sponsored metaversity, the University
to test how immersive technology can increase learning
opportunities, impact academic success rates, and improvestudent retention for adult students otherwise largely
accessing their education online and asynchronously. Initial
pilot courses produced encouraging results. Subject matter
ranged from introductory speech to criminal justice, thelatter including virtual victims with scattered virtual clues.

digital skills training, and tech support, both at home and in

MyUSU 2.0 Student Engagement Portal

the classroom. CSUF is transforming empowered learners

MyUSU provides a unified gateway for meaningful

through CEDA!

connections to the entire Utah State University (USU)

Tiger-2-Tiger: Building Belonging for Online
Students through Virtual Communities
Tiger-2-Tiger is a virtual community at Fort Hays State
University (FHSU) that significantly improves peer connection
and a sense of belonging for online learners. This community
addresses the social experience gap for online students
by providing a space for serendipitous meetups, casualinteractions, and authentic peer conversations. Throughcommunity and is the first student-driven software update for
USU. Designed to be student-centric, MyUSU implemented
information, resources, and tools to promote social
networking opportunities as well as academic progress.
MyUSU 2.0 launched in August 2021 to further centralize theuniversity’s online resources and connect campus community
members.

Tiger-2-Tiger, FHSU enables all students, regardless ofClassroom Technology That Develops Student
Connections

learning modality, to connect, contribute, and build theWinona State University provides students with leased

relationships they need to succeed.

laptops, appropriate software, and network services for their

The Doctoral Community by Grand Canyon
University
The Doctoral Community (DC) Network is a virtual
community designed to take doctoral students beyond theclassrooms of the learning management system to support
doctoral students’ scholarship, sense of belonging, andconnectedness. The motto of the DC is “Connect, Collaborate,
and Communicate.” The DC connects learners, faculty, andeducation. This classroom technology initiative builds on thisfoundation by providing a laboratory environment with USB-C
docks, multiple monitors, and Internet of Things devices.
These components are woven into a supportive learning
environment utilizing videoconferencing, screen-sharing, andclass recordings. Students master these skills during classso they are prepared upon graduation for today’s connectedworld.

alumni with forums, resources, guides, wikis, knowledge
bases, training courses, and more. The DC facilitatessynchronous and asynchronous learning and communication.

FURTHER READING
Behavioral Scientist“The Biggest Challenges Facing
Higher Education Are Those of Student
Belonging. EdTech Can Help.”

EdTech“What Technologies Do Colleges Needto Support Modern Students?”

EdTechThe Edvocate“How Universities Can Use AI
Chatbots to Connect with Students
and Drive Success”“How Technology Supports Relationships
between Teachers and Students”

Inside Higher Ed

Indiana University Bloomington, Center
for Innovative Teaching and Learning“Academics Fall For and Fret About
Technology”“Technology to Support Equitable andInclusive Teaching”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

27

EXPANDED MENTAL HEALTHSUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
Overview
higher education. Student productivity

Higher education stakeholders’increasing awareness of thechallenges and impacts of mental
health is a trend that touches
almost every aspect of higher
education. In an effort to aid
students in these difficult times,
faculty, staff, and administrators
are working to expand mental“Expanded mental healthsupport for students becomes

and learning are often measured intime—namely, time spent attendingclasses, doing homework, andthe underpinning of a successful

studying. This approach to evaluating

higher education career. For

student agency, individuals’ varying

any student struggling, accessaffective constructs in the learning

students negates the importance ofabilities and needs, and the role of

to resources in a timely andprocess. Additionally, systems

counseling, graduate counselors

effective manner allows them

meaningful productivity measuresand interns, and service bots

to face and overcome adversity

health supports and programs.
Faculty and staff training, peer

are all examples of mechanisms
for increasing student accessto mental health support andequipping faculty and staff withwhile remaining engaged andprogressing toward completion.”favoring time measurement over more(e.g., producing useful outputs,
demonstrating professional skills)
perpetuate a data surveillance culture,
which can increase stress and anxiety
for all stakeholders. A more holistic

the knowledge and empathy toalternative to time measurement isconnect students with the righta system that combines quantifiable

help at the right time. Understanding that students are notstudent data with person-to-person contact strategies,

empty vessels who arrive at our institutions ready to be filled

ensuring that individual students’ unique situations and goals

with knowledge, higher education leaders are finding new

are acknowledged, valued, and accounted for in academic,

ways to recognize students’ individual life experiences andfinancial, and career plans. Further, institutional culture iscircumstances and provide support for the whole student.

beginning to shift toward prioritizing self-care, personal wellbeing, and even fun over academic responsibilities. This shift

In addition to creating, improving, and maintaining formal

is a direct acknowledgement that all of us, including students,

programs that support student mental health, higher

must be able to bring our whole selves to work and school in

education stakeholders are working to change the culture oforder to be successful.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition28

Relevance for the Holistic Student Experience
Supporting student mental
health is everyone’s job.
Currently, institutional and“Expanded mental healthcommunity mental healthsupport is a [diversity, equity,

professionals are overburdened

and inclusion] issue at its core,by the recent influx of students
looking for help, coupled with anwith a formal recognition ofStudents’ increased interest in
online and hybrid modalities
can be leveraged to broaden
their access to mental healthsupports. Students are no longer
limited to on-site campus mental healthcenters. The expansion of general

the importance of mental

remote-operating capabilities, including

training, all faculty and staff canhealth on an equivalent level

more options for protecting theirbe equipped with the skills neededas the physical. Formalizing inprivacy, finding culturally relevant

this way helps to broaden thelevel of care rather than being limited to

the right services. Perhaps moreawareness and expansion ofmaintaining multimodal mental healthimportantly, faculty and staff canresources available to faculty,

supports will be a massive undertaking

staff, and students.”

resources and expanding risks in areas

ongoing shortage of mental healthprofessionals. With deliberate

to identify students in need,
provide appropriate support whenpossible, and refer students toplay a role in preventing at least
some of the stresses and pressuresassociated with school throughinclusive pedagogy and equitablepolicies (both academic and broader institutional policies).

telehealth, means that students have

options, and accessing the appropriate
a one-size-fits-all service. Creating andfor institutions, requiring additionalsuch as data privacy. However, panelists
argue that the greater risk is notproviding students with the help they need, when they need it.

Certainly, there are risks associated with distributing mental
health responsibility across the institution. Proper training

Mental health is an equity issue. Higher education

for faculty and staff requires time and money, resources

leaders are recognizing that students’ mental health isstakeholders are finding less and less available. Additionally,as important as their physical health, and all students

as more stakeholders become involved in mental healthshould have equal access to holistic wellness supports.

support, there are more opportunities for unintentional

Understanding the needs of diverse groups of students

harms such as providing students with inappropriate advice

requires meeting students where they are and asking themor incorrect resources.

what they need. This seemingly simple task is complicatedby a variety of factors, including student data privacy andsecurity, the need for expertise related to educational
equity, and the availability of resources required formethodologically sound research.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition29

Expanded Mental Health Support for Students in PracticeTechnology Integrated into a Stepped Care
Approach for Collegiate Mental Health

Advancing Health and Wellness throughCollective Impact

Miami University adopted a stepped care approach to increase

The health and well-being needs of our community havestudent awareness of and access to mental health services

been amplified by the persistent effects of the pandemic

and programs on campus. Technology was central in theand exacerbated by the pervasive impact of institutionalized

adoption and success of this framework, including an online

racism. Leaders at the University of Michigan decided to takeWellness Navigator tool, rolling out TogetherAll, a supportive

bold action to foster conditions that improve mental health.

online community for students with shared experiences, andThe Well-being Collective is a collaborative effort focusedproviding virtual training for faculty/staff to increase theiron making U-M a better place to live, work, and learn forcapacity to address student mental health concerns in thestudents, faculty, and staff.

classroom.

Montgomery County Community College’s
Expanded Mental Health Services

The Happiness Project: A Collaboration between
Velocity and the Library
Amid concerns around student social isolation, entrepreneurs

In response to the mental health and wellness needs of ourat University of Waterloo considered developing...an app.

students, Montgomery County Community College (MCCC)

Recognizing that technology alone cannot effectively solve

launched a Wellness Center to provide a tiered system ofthis problem, Waterloo’s incubator, Velocity, launchedholistic care, including in-person mental health support, 24/7

Foundations: The Happiness Project in partnership with

virtual mental health counseling and medical care, substancethe library. Foundations encourages students to challenge

use recovery support, food and housing resources, andtheir assumptions and validate ideas through research.

resource navigation. More than 2,000 MCCC students have

The program was its own solution to the isolation crisis—

registered for virtual mental health services since 2020.

connecting like-minded students—and culminated in pitchesof truly student-centered recommendations.

The Healthy 49ers Wellness App
collaboration with the College of Computing and Informatics,

The Waubonsee Mental Health Peer Support
Programdeveloped an app addressing the eight dimensions of well-

Our goal in developing the Waubonsee Peer Support Program

being (emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual,

was to empower students, enhance a sense of belonging, andintellectual, environmental, and financial). This home-grownpromote an inclusive community that supports each other’s

app specifically addresses the holistic well-being of UNC

mental health and unique identity, while improving wellness

Charlotte students by delivering wellness tips, health andin our daily lives.

UNC Charlotte’s Center for Wellness Promotion, in

well-being monitoring, and engagement opportunities, as wellas connecting students to the health and well-being services
on campus.

FURTHER READING
Association of American Medical
Colleges“A Growing Psychiatrist Shortage and an
Enormous Demand for Mental HealthServices”

Uprise Health“The Role of Mental Health in DEI”

Inside Higher Ed

Lumina Foundation“The Mental Health Crisis and Higher
Education”

American Psychological
Association“Student Mental Health Is In Crisis.
Campuses Are Rethinking Their
Approach”“Report: Colleges Help, and Hurt,
Student Mental Health”

Journal of Clinical Child &Adolescent Psychology

National Education Association“Conceptualizing Community Mental
Health Service Utilization for BIPOC
Youth”“The Mental Health Crisis on College
Campuses”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

U.S. Department of Health andHuman Services“New Surgeon General Advisory Raises
Alarm about the Devastating Impact of
the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolationin the United States”

Journal of Behavioral Health Services& Research“Optimizing Efforts to Promote Mental
Health on College and University
Campuses: Recommendations to
Facilitate Usage of Services, Resources,
and Supports”
30

UNIFIED DATA MODELS FORLEARNING ANALYTICS
Overview
To maximize the benefits of learning

With more and more data about“Use of particularanalytics and minimize unintentional harms,

leaders are looking for meaningful ways

algorithms may lay baredata systems. Given the current state ofto harness the power of those data.

intrinsic biases thatmost institutional data governance, this will

may not be apparent at

tangible (e.g., time, money) and intangible

educational environments being
collected every day, higher education

Artificial intelligence tools, and machinelearning in particular, have sharply risen

stakeholders must properly manage unified

require significant resources, in ways both

first but may be more(e.g., cultural shifts). EDUCAUSE defines

education leaders can use learning
analytics to achieve a more holistic

apparent as time goesand goals for managing institutional data,in popularity in recent years. Higher

understanding of student experiences
across institutional silos, but only withthe help of unified data models. Unified
data models bring together disparate dataon and certain trendlines develop.”from across the institution so that end

data governance as the processes, policies,
typically including policies and standards
for data access, data quality, security
and privacy compliance, and retention
and archiving. Efforts to create unified
data models for learning analytics carryusers can carry out more robust analyses. For example, data

significant risk. At a time when resources are already spread

about students’ academic engagement can be combined withthin, it will be challenging for institutions to dedicate enoughdata about their extracurricular activities and even self-reports

resources to redesigning data governance. The biggest hurdles

such as surveys and course evaluations. Data insights can beto overcome are creating data privacy policies that protect

used for a wide variety of institutional activities, from strategic

individual students and address concerns about tracking andplanning to student advising. Analytics tools can also provide

surveillance, shoring up data security to protect institutions

faculty and staff with recommendations such as pedagogicalfrom data breaches, designing and monitoring data analytics

approaches and resources for students.

practices so that they do not perpetuate harmful biases andexacerbate existing inequities, and training end users so thatdata insights are used appropriately.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

31

Relevance for the Holistic Student Experience
Properly managed data canfeed proactive tools anddashboards. Proactive data analytics
tools such as early-alert systems areaccess to data and learning analytics“Disparate systems indoes require additional training andhigher ed have always

data governance plans should account for

support for more end users, so expanded

raised issues in unifying thethis need.

data. There is also distrust
throughout higher ed that

Leaders can use unified data
insights to move from deficit
models to asset models. Learningaware that they need help, and students

the data are accurate andanalytics tools and dashboards can

who lack familiarity with resources thatmight be available to them. Optimizing

true, which causes issues

the systems at their institutions andtools and dashboards requires efficientwhen using these data for

across higher education broadly. Thislearning analytics.”

student success away from individual

designed to enable faculty and staff
to help students as early as possible.
These systems could provide support for
students who are otherwise hesitant to
ask for help, students who are not evendata governance, especially unified data
models.

help end users draw conclusions about

approach shifts the onus for supporting
students, faculty, and staff and back onto
institutional systems. Further, instead ofUnified data models facilitate
the democratization of learning analytics. Holistic

only searching for gaps in student achievement, institutional

student support requires a team approach from everyone

leaders can take a proactive and strategic approach toat an institution. With the right data unification strategy,

identifying both strengths and weaknesses in institutional

administrators, faculty, staff, and even students would bepolicies, procedures, course offerings, asset allocation, andable to access data insights with minimal training and without

more.

needing deep expertise in learning analytics. Increasing“Students do want some degree of privacy, and they do not want to feel ‘tracked.’
Including students in the conversation would help create a sense of trust.”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition32

Unified Data Models for Learning Analytics in Practice
Arizona State University Learning@Scale
The ASU Learning@Scale (L@S) project is developing theStudent Experience Excellence Design: Planting
the SEEDs of Student Successfoundational infrastructure and protocols to connect a

To create a “wow” student experience and to remain true towide range of diverse student and course data. We provide

our mission of enabling students to achieve, succeed, andresearchers with access to data on student achievement,

prosper, the College of Southern Nevada has created thelearning, persistence, courses, and more, while maintaining

SEED initiative. The program is a holistic transformation ofindividual and institutional privacy. L@S is a platform thatthe student journey, replacing silos and broken experiences

promotes innovation in research and analytical methods,

across multiple departments and tools with a single life-cycle

resulting in the advancement of equity-oriented practices,

data platform supported by people and processes that aim

benefiting all students.

to architect student experiences at every touchpoint in theirstudent journey.

Faculty Student Success Dashboard (FSSD)
FSSD is an innovative data toolset that allows faculty
to understand how they individually contribute to theirstudent’s academic performance, progress, and success(e.g., retention, graduation). It is the first data toolset of its
kind in the California State University System. The toolset
helps faculty identify opportunities to take concrete proactive
actions to reach out to specific students in need, supporting
California State University, Fullerton, faculty commitment to
student success.

Leveraging Integrated Data Model forInterprofessional Education, Academic Advising,and Instructional Design
The University of Michigan’s integrated data model blends
student information systems (SIS) and various learning
environments, driving transformative projects. In healthcare education, it supports interprofessional education(IPE) through curriculum mapping and competency tracking
for students across programs. Additionally, the model
empowers advisors with students’ course grades from the

Course Insights: Learning Analytics for
Instructors

current term, aiding effective guidance toward academic

Course Insights is a Canvas integration developed bydesign recommendations provided to course admins. This

Teaching and Learning with Technology at Penn State thatcomprehensive approach fosters student success.

goals. The model confirms instructional designers’ course

enables instructors to view learning analytics data for the
population of students enrolled in their courses. The tool
empowers instructors to explore the relationships between
course engagements and learner activity to outcomes in theircourses, helping them shape their pedagogical strategies,
course administration, and out-of-class student support
needs.

FURTHER READING
Institute for the Futureof Education“Learning Analytics as a Support
Tool for Higher Education”

Dataversity“Should You Consider a Unified Data
Model?”

McKinsey & Company“How Higher-Education Institutions Can
Transform Themselves Using Advanced
Analytics”

Charles Lang, George Siemens, Alyssa
Wise, and Dragan Gašević (eds)
Handbook of Learning Analytics

Educational Technology Research andDevelopment“Buried Treasure or Ill-Gotten Spoils: The
Ethics of Data Mining and Learning Analytics in
Online Instruction”

Teaching in Higher Education

ForbesEDUCAUSE Review“The Case of Canvas: Longitudinal Datafication
through Learning Management Systems”“Why AI Teams Need A Unified
Data Format for Machine Learning
Datasets”“Discrimination in a Sea of Data: Exploring
the Ethical Implications of Student SuccessAnalytics”“Learning Analytics: 3 Challenges andOpportunities”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

Society for Learning Analytics Research

33

BUILDING DATA LITERACY FOR
UNDERSTANDING AND USINGSTUDENT DATA
Overview
Supporting data literacy is no small task,

All three of this year’s technologicaltrends are related to data anddata analysis. We see an increasein the amount and types of data
being collected about students;
simultaneously, the use of machinelearning and AI tools is increasing.

“Data literacy is an essential

and many institutions will find that theyskill for decision-making forlaunching professional development

need to take some steps even before

all the stakeholders, and inin this area. First, data governancethe context of student data,

to be clearly defined so that faculty

practices, policies, and definitions need[data literacy] provides

and staff are able to use data with thecommunity tackle some of its biggest

insights into student profiles,

privacy and security will be prioritized,

problems (e.g., mounting budget cuts

learning preferences, social

minimizing the risk of unethical andand the impending enrollment cliff),
but without concurrent advancesand political factors, andgovernance facilitates best practices

critical support needs.”

data-informed conclusions. These best

New and improved data insights could
certainly help the higher educationin data literacy for all institutional
stakeholders, this data-driven culture
could do more harm than good. Data
insights that are improperly generated

appropriate guardrails. In this way, data

unsafe data practices. Further, good data
in data analysis and the distribution ofpractices help reduce intrinsic bias andmitigate the proliferation of structuralor interpreted can inform interventions that reinforce harmful

inequities. Institutions might also need to pursue stakeholder

stereotypes and biases, lead to wasteful investment of

buy-in before they are able to improve support for data

resources in unhelpful programs, and distract institutional

literacy. Too often, data literacy is an afterthought, rather thanleaders from students’ holistic needs. Building data literacy

a foundational ability necessary for 21st-century success.

for faculty and staff and empowering them to effectively

Successful institutions of the future will recognize data literacy

generate and use data insights could improve institutions’as a fundamental and essential skill for every individual.

understanding of the holistic student experience, take aproactive approach to supporting students, and identify root
causes of institutional barriers to student success.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

34

Relevance for Teaching and Learning
Learning analytics is amultidisciplinary field.
Students engage with institutions
in countless ways, so a holistic
approach to data literacy must
go beyond interpreting statistics.
Multidisciplinary teams should

Key opportunities in this space“Right now, there is not a clear

include data visualizations andunderstanding of the dataof data usable by any stakeholder,pipeline… Creating resources fordata literacy would help people

dashboards that make all types
including students. Further, thevery definition of “data” must not
be confined to information about

understand the need to haveconstructs that can be quantified

include end users and content

reliable data before acting on

misleading conclusions and silence

experts in fields such as learningsciences, educational equity,

data, and when looking at student

minoritized groups. Instead, dataand social sciences, as well as

demographics and other student

literacy training should include

data, being accurate before being

practices such as data disaggregation

be employed to design data
literacy supports. Teams should

process experts in statisticaland qualitative methodologies.
Certainly, assembling teams acrossinstitutional silos is an evergreen

actionable is vital.”challenge in higher education.
Efforts to build bridges will require bottom-up effort and topdown support.

at scale. Such approaches lead tothe experiences of historically

instruction on inclusive analytics
and qualitative data analysis.

Students need data literacy
to be agents in their own educations, careers,and lives. In particular, when considering the holistic
student experience in higher education, institutional data

Building data literacy bolsters a culture
centered on holistic student support. When faculty,

processes should be not only transparent for students but

staff, and administrators are able to analyze and interpretnot be reserved for faculty and staff. Students should be

data, they all have the agency to identify aspects of student

empowered to use data insights to understand and makeexperiences that need more attention and resources. Thisdecisions about their own education. Beyond the institutional

democratization of data insights reduces the impacts ofsetting, data literacy will help students with critical thinking

personal bias and anecdotal evidence—when stakeholders

and enable them to judge the veracity of information they

can directly access data insights, they are less likely to rely

receive from any source.

also inclusive of student voice. Further, data insights shouldon the loudest or most convincing points of view.

“Data literacy should be taught to students to help them be agents in supporting their own
holistic experiences.”2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

35

Building Data Literacy for Understanding and Using Student Data in PracticeTurning Data into Action: Professional
Development at the Intersection of Equity andEvidence

Democratizing Data to Close Equity Gaps inHigher Education

To foster data-informed and equity-minded decision-

Illumination (SADI) fosters transparency and excellence

making that supports historically underserved students, theCalifornia State University (CSU) offers the nationwide online
Certificate Program in Student Success Analytics. With its
interactive and action-oriented curriculum, the team-based
program brings together faculty, staff, and administrators
to collectively examine equity gaps on their campuses andto collaborate on innovative practices that remove barriers
to graduation. Participants can earn a digital badge, and noprevious data literacy is required.

The Kean University division of Strategic Analytics and Datathrough data visualization and strategic analytics. We strive
to create a data-centric culture, empowering institutional
success. The project “Democratizing Data to Close Equity
Gaps in Higher Education” affords our Kean community with
data-driven decision-making. It promotes data literacy,develops training programs and user-friendly dashboards, andfacilitates collaborative discussions. By promoting equity andinclusivity, the project drives positive change and improves
outcomes for all students.

The Colgate University Data Science
Collaboratory

UCI Compass: Enrollment Management Analytics

The goal of the collaboratory is to develop a vibrant researchcommunity among faculty and students. We aim to provide
statistical guidance and resources to researchers acrossfields increasingly reliant on data science. Further, because
students are incorporated into the scientific community,
they gain exposure to data science research and experience
selecting, applying, and interpreting the results ofappropriate techniques in various real-world contexts.

Terracotta

Compass EMA is the future of enrollment management anda key component of UC Irvine’s data-driven culture. This
analytics application provides intelligence into UC Irvine’s
enrollment trends and patterns, empowering stakeholders
and improving student outcomes. One of its key features is its
ability to produce predictive analytics using machine learningalgorithms to analyze historical data and identify trends thatcan be used to predict future enrollment patterns and adjust
university policy.

Terracotta, a platform for experimental education research,

Data-Informed Teaching Community of Practiceat the University of Iowa

enables research across education levels, student

The Data-Informed Teaching Community of Practice at the

populations, and learning materials by embedding studies
directly in Canvas. Terracotta supports teachers andresearchers by randomly assigning different versions of
online learning activities to students, collecting informed
consent, and exporting de-identified study data. The
platform lowers technical and methodological barriers to
conducting rigorous and responsible experimental researchwithin online course sites.

University of Iowa—co-sponsored by the Office of Teaching,
Learning, and Technology (OTLT) and the Center for Teaching—is a faculty-driven effort to gather, share, and apply bestpractices for leveraging course-level data to improve student
learning outcomes. The community benefits from thepartnership with OTLT, which provides professional staff whobring expertise in effective teaching practices and learning
analytics.

FURTHER READING
EAB

Fierce Education

Edutopia“The Six Data Detractors Holding
Your Campus Back – And How to
Respond”“What Higher Ed Needs to Know about
Data Literacy, Future of Work”“Boosting Students’ Data Literacy”

International Journal of Educational
Technology in Higher Education“Data Literacy for Leaders”

Campus Technology“5 Institutions Building Data Literacy
to Support Student Success”“How Stakeholders’ Data Literacy
Contributes to Student Success in Higher
Education: A Goal-Oriented Analysis”

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

MIT Sloan School of Management
Inside Higher Ed“Data Skills Are Just as Important asSoft Skills in Higher Education”

36

SCENARIOSW

ith the trends we’re observing and the technologies and practices
emerging around us that are already helping shape the future, we canbegin to imagine how all of these elements might combine and coalesce

into larger stories about who we’ll be as people and what higher education will be in
the future. In this section we offer up several of these larger stories through a seriesof scenarios that reflect on where these trends and technologies and practices may
ultimately lead us in 10 years’ time.

GrowthTo paint these scenarios, we use a forecasting framework from the Institute for the
Future (IFTF) to envision four distinct possible futures that each take a different
angle on how today might be leading into tomorrow. The first scenario we envision ischaracterized as Growth, a scenario in which the current trajectories of things today
have continued along their same paths into the future, breaking past previous limits.
The second scenario is Constraint, a scenario in which higher education has organizeditself around a common threat or core guiding value or principle that drives ourdecision-making and animates our daily practices. In the third scenario, Collapse, we
imagine a future in which higher education has experienced a series of breakdowns andConstraint

widespread changes that ultimately leave many institutions decimated due to a failureof human systems to overcome inherent tensions or weaknesses. In the Transformation
scenario, a new paradigm has been established within higher education that has led toa fundamental shift in the ways we think about and carry out education, stretching ourimaginations and challenging our assumptions.
This year, panelists were also actively engaged in creating the scenarios through small
group discussions imagining first-, second-, and third-order consequences for several

Collapsepossible futures that built on some initial sketches. For Growth, panelists exploredimplications of a future where generative AI proliferates into almost every aspectof life (e.g., software for work, educational software, household gadgets, games). In
the Constraint scenario, the starting point was a future where most higher education
institutions are launching campaigns to convince stakeholders of the value of higher
education. The potential future for Collapse was a world where a series of natural
disasters renders coastal regions all over the world uninhabitable. And finally, in theTransformation scenario, panelists reacted to the idea of a world where, as the result

Transformationof an international policy summit, AI leaders have released new, researched-informed
guidelines for ethical and transparent AI practices.
The scenarios we offer here only represent our potential futures, of course. With somuch changing around us seemingly on a daily basis, it is impossible to know with any
degree of certainty who we’ll be and what higher education will be in 2033. The best
we can do in the present day is use exercises like these to get better at anticipating
and planning and to practice creative thinking about our future, grounded in the best
information we have available to us, so that we can be more prepared to face whatever
future does eventually arrive.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

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GROWTHU

nrestricted growth of AI technologies proliferates

numerous government agencies provide financial support forin every area of life, across the globe. Educators inindividuals and institutions to accomplish this goal, the rapid

higher education quickly respond to the need forchange in priorities is putting pressure on institutions that

reskilling the current and future workforce, but they struggle

are already under-resourced and staff who are overworked,

to combat the escalating mental health crisis and food andespecially at community colleges and training institutions.

housing insecurity.

Further, financial support is only available to institutions thatcan prove they meet a long list of key performance indicators.

In early 2023, generative AI exploded onto the landscape of

Now more than ever, higher education institutions are collecting

international discourse. Within just a few years, generative

data about as much of the student experience as possible,

AI tools evolved from an interesting new technology to an

using machine learning to quickly generate data insights.

integral component of almost every aspect of daily life, fromEven as they escalate data collection and analysis efforts,

software for work and learning to games and household

higher education leaders are beginning to abandon efforts togadgets. By 2025, mainstream news outlets were commonly

implement comprehensive data literacy and data privacy plans,

reporting on the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” as businesses

feeling that the broader data-obsessed culture has advancedlaid off thousands of employees whose jobs were replaced

too far, too quickly, and can’t be stopped. Many students feelor reduced by automation. Though the initial economic shift

over-surveilled at school, exacerbating feelings of distrust andwas overwhelming for many families, changes in workforce

isolation.

needs and skills quickly led to more opportunities forentrepreneurship and innovation. Today, employees commonly

The impacts of the AI boom on the environment, especially its

use AI tools to reduce the time they need to complete their

massive carbon footprint, have largely been ignored. Across thework, achieving the same or better outcomes than they did

world, political polarization has prevented the passage of any

in the past. Employers largely embrace these changes andmeaningful legislation to protect the environment. More andencourage employees to use their new freedom to pursue

more students are being displaced by climate change migrationindividual interests. “Side gig” culture is booming, contributing

every day. There are now more institutional programs than everto new entrepreneurship trends. Paradoxically, workers’

to help support students with housing and food, but they are

newly discovered free time mostly presents them with thebarely able to keep up with students’ needs. Many institutions

opportunity to work more. Leisure activities and personal

are streamlining support services to a single digital assistant.

wellness take a back seat to the never-ending drive to do

Powered by generative AI, these assistants are able to keep

and accomplish more. Despite efforts in the mental healthtrack of resources students might access from both theirprofession to leverage generative AI to provide individuals witheducational institutions and external sources. Digital assistants

digital companions, overall holistic wellness has continued toalso provide students with tutoring, academic and career

decline over the past ten years.

coaching, and even information about rapidly changing weather
conditions and their impacts on daily activities. However, digital

Professionals from nearly every industry sector have needed

assistants fail to meet the needs of the students who most needreskilling and upskilling to use AI at work. In an effort tothem, primarily due to inequitable access to hardware and high-remain relevant in the age of AI and recover from the 2025

speed internet. In this way, the AI boom has ushered in an age ofenrollment cliff, universities and colleges have recently

unprecedented productivity, but it is widening digital, social, andundertaken a paradigm-shifting mission: training the existing

economic divides faster than any previous technology.

and upcoming workforce to develop and use AI. Though2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

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CONSTRAINTT

he future of higher education is threatened byexperiential learning. Further, educators are reprioritizing

financial uncertainty and social unrest. Institutions

their work to focus on lifelong learning, career exploration,prioritize a “student as consumer” model to stayaccess, and accessibility. Now, rather than committing to aafloat. As individual stakeholders express dissatisfaction withsingle course of study at a single institution, students are freehigher education’s new image, leaders struggle to unite their

to explore their interests at multiple institutions and engage ininstitutions in working toward survival.

new experiences as their personal and career goals change.
This flexibility and customizability has attracted adults from a

The mid-2020s were a perfect storm for higher education

wider age range, and the demographics of the average student

institutions. Increasing concerns about cost of attendance

body are shifting. Further, because student experience isand return on investment, declining enrollments, andnow central to all aspects of institutional operations, accesssweeping budget cuts threatened the future of higher

and accessibility are almost ubiquitously considered to be

education as it existed. Rapid advances in AI over the pastfoundational elements in the design of both curricular andten years significantly shifted the job market, and more

extracurricular experiences.

students have been finding well-paying jobs without a formal
postsecondary degree. Employers and online education

As institutions strive to attract local students, some leaders

providers have created comprehensive bootcamp-style

are trying to leverage geographic political divides by taking

onboarding and microcredentialing programs that equip new

public stances on politically divisive issues. The control ofworkers with the specific skills they need in their jobs. Higher

public funding for higher education based on political ideologies

education institutions have not been able to compete withhas intensified since the early 2020s, forcing higher educationthese approaches to job readiness, which are often free orleaders to make sweeping policy changes that align withcomparatively inexpensive for the worker.

political platforms. These leaders are finding it easier and more
profitable to align with local political movements, facilitating

In an effort to reignite interest and belief in their mission,

policy enforcement and bolstering tuition revenue from local

colleges and universities have slowly changed operations tocommunities. Not all institutional stakeholders are in favor

become more valuable to prospective students. Institutions areof these shifting priorities, and they’ve extensively debatedadopting a truly student-centered model, understanding that

topics such as academic identity and the true purpose of higher

students are consumers of higher education with distinct needs

education. The general public has expressed skepticism andand preferences. Institutions are increasingly transparent withcriticism in response to higher education’s new image. Some

data-informed insights about the return on investment students

are interpreting higher education marketing campaigns as

can expect from their education, providing data not only about“sales pitches.” It seems clear that in order for formal higher

completion rates and employment opportunities but also about

education to survive, all stakeholders are being forced toless tangible outcomes such as satisfaction, happiness, andsacrifice some of their own ideals and support the new normal.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

39

COLLAPSE

A

series of natural disasters renders coastal

education institutions are diverting research dollars to climate

regions all over the world uninhabitable. Massivechange and resilient infrastructure research. Communities

reorganizations in population and resourcesmust still rely on government support to rebuild, but politicaleliminate the existence of a middle class, force families todivisions are interfering with rebuilding progress; government

focus on meeting basic needs, and reduce the viability of formal

officials who deny the existence of climate change refuse

higher education.

to support resilient infrastructure initiatives and climatechange education programs. The growing need for resilient

In 2024, as the world was still reeling from the global COVID-19

infrastructure has shed new light on economic disparities.

pandemic and widespread political turmoil, a relentless series

Insurance companies are refusing to cover most coastalof natural disasters rendered coastal regions all over theareas, and the cost of coverage in any geographic region isworld uninhabitable. Hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, andskyrocketing. The cost and availability of insurance are also

other coastal hazards marked 2024 as the most devastating

widening economic divides. The families and businesses thatyear for weather in recorded history. The immediate loss ofneed insurance the most are forced to live without it. Eachlife and livelihood was immeasurable, and higher education

new severe weather event displaces more communities.

institutions were no exception. Many institutions were forced

Property ownership has become so risky that it is no longer ato shut down immediately, though some were able to shift

viable way to build generational wealth for most families. The

to remote operations. Now, nearly a decade later, humanity

strain of climate migration has forced families to reprioritize

is still working to regain its footing. Initial responses to theinvestments, focusing on farming and trade skills over2024 weather crisis revolved around rescue and recovery,

traditional schooling, leading to dramatic declines in higher

but communities quickly realized they would need to focus on

education enrollment.

endurance and longevity. In many parts of the world, goods
could no longer be imported due to the collapse of multiple

Social unrest is now escalating as separate communities withmajor sea ports and new carbon emissions regulations

deeply divided social and political beliefs attempt to merge.

limiting the use of air transport. Many countries and smaller

Areas adjacent to evacuated regions have been overwhelmed

territories have been forced to become more self-sufficientwith surges in population and lack the appropriate

in their supply chains while grappling with global food andinfrastructure to support daily life for new residents. Schools

medicine shortages. Disparate access to coastal resources has

at all levels still do not have the physical space to accommodate

exacerbated economic divisions. Now, an even smaller portion

new students and lack the resources to expand on-siteof the world’s population has even more control over the global

operations, and higher education institutions have not been

economy, and the existence of a global middle class has all butable to return to routine operations. Though some schools

vanished.

have tried to use online and hybrid learning models to meet
students’ needs and compensate for the loss of physical

Coastal boundaries are being redrawn, and new coastalbuildings, not all regions have the digital infrastructure

regions will need to be established. Climate experts andto support remote modalities. With scarce resources forresearchers have been urging builders to invest in resilient

rebuilding and dwindling enrollments, higher education isconstruction (i.e., building methods and materials designed

now only a remnant of what it once was. Institutions that haveto withstand severe weather events), arguing that eventually

managed to survive are too expensive for the new working

there will be no safe corner of the planet. Understanding theclass, and higher education is a privilege reserved for only thesweeping and immediate need for novel solutions, higher

wealthiest individuals across the world.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

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TRANSFORMATIONT

he world embraces artificial intelligence as theHigher education has experienced transformative shifts ingreatest technological development of the 21st

disposition toward AI. As institutions have been drafting new

century. With a focus on safe and ethical practices,

policies to align with the global guidelines, higher education

higher education adopts AI in all operational areas.

leaders have felt more confident with AI tools being used for

Institutions are transformed by AI tools, enjoying great

learning and work. In addition to integrating AI tools into almost

rewards, balanced by great risks.

every facet of daily operations, most institutions now support
academic programs that integrate disciplinary study and the

The explosion of AI tools in 2023 created an overwhelming mix

use of AI. However, as researchers and developers have had toof emotions across the world. With each new development,

slow their work to comply with guidelines, innovation has also

public opinion shifted between excitement, hope, caution,slowed. Policies tend to present roadblocks for risk-taking

and fear. Though immediate demands were made by

and innovation, leading to some measure of homogeneity invarious groups to halt or at least regulate the technology,

the current AI landscape. Further complicating innovation

governments found it challenging to respond expeditiously,

efforts, different local and world governments have contrasting

and the world could only watch as AI evolved exponentially. By

interpretations of guidelines, leading to conflicting laws.

March 2024, just one year after the release of GPT-4, world

Higher education institutions are still struggling to maintainleaders realized they were far behind and must act quickly.

compliance with varying regulations. Still, academics are

They organized the 2024 Global AI Summit, bringing together

capable of producing larger volumes of research more quickly

the world’s most respected leaders in AI development, ethicalthan ever before, rapidly solving some of the world’s mostand responsible technology development, data privacy andunyielding problems.

security, the global economy, and international relations.
Over the course of six months, the group designed research-

In recent years, while stakeholders who act in good faith haveinformed “global guidelines” for ethical and transparent

taken time to comply with new laws and policies, “dark AI” hasAI practices. The guidelines were open to public comment

emerged. There are daily developments in the ways bad actors

throughout the process, and the final result was largely

can use AI with malintent. Cybersecurity professionals are

accepted as one of the only truly collaborative international

scrambling to even keep up, let alone stay a step ahead, and thepolicy documents ever created. As individual governments

field of cybersecurity becomes even more deeply entrenched

and independent entities adopted the guidelines, new laws

in reactionary processes rather than data protection and crimeand policies immediately led to increased transparency in theprevention. Cybersecurity is a particularly challenging issue

processes used for training and implementing AI algorithms,

for higher education, as most institutions have transitioned

including large language models. Now, nearly 10 years later,

to unified data models to facilitate the use of AI tools. With

developers are compelled to disclose detailed accounts

each new data breach, faculty and students lose trust inof what data are collected, how they are collected, how

their institutional leaders to uphold the global guidelines

individuals can opt into or out of data collection, how data areby safeguarding their data. Coalitions and associations are

stored and protected, who has access to data, what processes

constantly issuing and revising guidelines for self-governance,

are used for data analysis, and how findings are shared. This

auditing, and correction, and watchdog groups have taken

transparency is leading to more rapid exchanges of ideason the task of monitoring AI use and data security in higher

across the industry, vastly improving the quality of AI tools

education. While cybersecurity issues have dampened

available. Today, the world is built on ethical AI.

stakeholder trust in institutions’ ability to safeguard their data,
the transformative impact of AI has outpaced these drawbacks.
As a whole, the higher education community is still committed
to a future paved by AI technology.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

41

METHODOLOGYT

he Horizon Report methodology is grounded in the perspectives and knowledge of an expert panel of practitioners andthought leaders from around the world who represent the higher education, teaching and learning, and technology fields.
This year’s group included returning and first-time Horizon panelists, all sought out for their unique viewpoints, as well as fortheir contributions and leadership within their respective domains. The panel represents a balance of global contexts, with members
contributing from North America, Europe, and Australia. We also sought balances in gender, ethnicity, and institutional size and type.
Dependent as the Horizon Report is on the voices of its panel, every effort was made to ensure those voices were diverse and that each
could uniquely enrich the group’s work.
Expert panel research followed a modified Delphi process, inchange. Ensuring an expansive view across all the many

addition to adapting important elements from the Institute forfactors influencing the future of higher education, the IFTF

the Future (IFTF) foresight methodology. Following the Delphi“STEEP” trends framework enabled our panel to focus onprocess, our expert panelists were tasked with responding

Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, and Politicalto and discussing a series of open-ended prompts, as welltrends. This effectively broadened the panel’s input andas participating in subsequent rounds of consensus voting

discussions beyond the walls of higher education to more(see sidebar “Panel Questions”), all focused on identifying

explicitly call attention to the larger contexts within which thethe trends, technologies, and practices that will be most

student experience takes place. These larger trends—and theimportant for shaping the future of supporting the holistic

current evidence and anticipated impacts of these trends—

student experience. Ideas for important trends, technologies,

served as the grounds on which the panel built its discussions

and practices emerged directly from the expert panelists

on the emerging technologies and practices influencing

and were voted on and refined by the panel. Direct quotes

institutions’ support of the holistic student experience.

from the panelists are included in this report to further
emphasize their contributions and were only lightly edited for

As they provided their inputs and engaged one another inreadability. Indeed, EDUCAUSE staff had minimal influence

discussion, panelists were encouraged to share news articles,on the content of the panel’s inputs and discussions, providing

research, and other materials that would help reinforce theirmainly group facilitation and technical support throughout the

inputs and provide evidence for their particular viewpoints onprocess. This was done to protect the core intent of the Delphi

current and future trends. In addition to enriching the panel’s

process—that an organized group of experts themselves

discussions and supporting the panel’s voting and consensus

discuss and converge on a set of forecasts for the future, on

processes, these materials were collected by EDUCAUSE staff

the basis of their own expertise and knowledge.

for use as evidence and further reading in the writing of thisreport. In the Delphi and IFTF methodologies, these collected

The framing of the questions and voting across each round of

materials also serve the purpose of ensuring that the panel’s

panel input was adapted from IFTF’s foresight methodology

future forecasts are sufficiently grounded in “real” data andand drew upon the IFTF trends framework and process fortrends.

collecting data about current trends and signals of coming

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition42

Panel Questions
STEEP Trends
Round 1 (for Social trends; repeated for each
STEEP trend category): Use the discussion board

An example of this process can be found below. Responses
to others do not need to follow this format.

below to propose social trends. Examples of social trends
are behaviors, demographics, beliefs, lifestyles, values,

When contributing to the STEEP discussion boards, we ask

cultural concepts, family, aspirations, life stages,that you:mobility, etc.
• Engage with posts of your colleagues. Rich discussion
To understand what the future might look like, we identify

helps improve the data we are able to collect for thetrends that are the forces reshaping today’s landscape into

next step of the process.

something new. Some of these trends may be new or recent• Note agreement or disagreement, and provide

developments; others, such as demographic shifts, may

additional evidence or counterfactuals that support

have been visible for decades and continue to impact our

your position.

future.
Remember that:• Trends are directional, either increasing or
decreasing.
• There’s often a historical element.
• They often fall into the STEEP categories.

Round 2 (for Social trends; repeated for each
STEEP trend category): The list below summarizes
the Social Trends provided by this year’s Horizon panel.
From this list, please select the top six (6) trends you believe
will have the most influence on the future of teaching andlearning. Drag those six (6) items from the left-hand list
to the right-hand list, then rank them in the order of mostinfluential (1) to least influential (6).

When proposing an original trend, please use the following
format:Round 3: Panelists were asked to respond to the following
questions about each of the top trends identified by theFirst, copy and paste the titles below in your post. Do notpanel:

make any changes.
• What additional evidence can you provide for this[TREND]

trend? Examples of good evidence include recent[LINKS](i.e., within the past year) research reports, credible[POTENTIAL IMPACT]

news stories, personal experiences, etc.
• What potential impacts might this trend have on the

Next, enter the information about the trend, signal, andfuture of the holistic student experience?

impact following each bracketed label. Enter each trend in a
separate discussion post.

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

43

Key Technologies and Practices
Round 1: For this round of information gathering, we’reRound 2: The list below summarizes the key technologies

interested in hearing from you about those key technologies

and practices provided by this year’s Horizon panel. Fromand practices that you believe will have a significant impact

this list, please select the top twelve (12) items you believeon the future of supporting a holistic student experience inwill have the most influence on the future of the holistic

higher education.

student experience. Drag those twelve (12) items from theleft-hand list to the right-hand list and then rank them in the

What do we mean by “key technologies and practices”?

order of most influential (1) to least influential (12).

For the purposes of the Horizon Report, these are practices
that are either new or for which there is substantial,

Round 3: Panelists were asked to respond to the following

perhaps transformative, new development. An importantquestions about each of the top six techs and practices, withdimension of these technologies and practices is that they

these ratings used to consider important differences andhave the potential to have significant impacts and effects

similarities between each:on supporting a holistic student experience. In particular,
be thinking about technologies and practices that have thepotential to mitigate or accelerate the trends the panel has
identified.

• Which of the following trends are supported or
mitigated by <tech/practice>? Select all that apply.
• In what ways could higher education stakeholders (i.e.,
staff, faculty, students) use <tech/practice> to support

Each answer should include three elements: (1) the key techor practice; (2) a brief explanation of why you believe thisthe holistic student experience?
• What risks, if any, might higher education

technology or practice will have a significant impact on thestakeholders (i.e., staff, faculty, students) face when

future of supporting a holistic student experience in higher

implementing <tech/practice>?

education; and (3) an example of a program or institutionthat exemplifies this key tech or practice.

• How, if at all, might higher education stakeholders(i.e., staff, faculty, students) leverage <tech/practice>
to support diversity, equity, and inclusion?

When proposing a technology or practice, copy and paste• What further reading (e.g., news articles, institutional

the template below for your post. Do not make any changes;

examples) about <tech/practice> can you suggest for

simply fill in the blanks. Please use a separate post for eachreaders of the Horizon Report?

technology and practice.
[TECH OR PRACTICE][IMPACT][EXAMPLE]

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

44

EXPERT PANEL ROSTER

Kathe Pelletier
Director, Teaching and Learning
Program
EDUCAUSE

Kelley Baran
Assistant Vice President ofInformation Technology
Bridgewater State University

Jenay Robert
Senior Researcher
EDUCAUSE

Elizabeth Barrie
Vice Provost for Teaching and
Learning Innovation
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Ebony English
Endowed Professor for Teaching and
Learning
Community College of Allegheny
CountyKevin Brennan
Business Architect
University of Toronto

Laura Fernandez Moran
Strategic Project Manager
Unicon, Inc.

Amy Buechler-Steubing
Assistant Vice Provost, Strategic
Initiatives and Learning Innovation
University of Texas at San Antonio

Erica C. Fleming
Assistant Director of Teaching and
Learning, College of Information
Sciences and Technology
The Pennsylvania State University

Nichole Arbino
Communities Program Manager
EDUCAUSE
Nicole Muscanell
Researcher
EDUCAUSEMark McCormack
Senior Director of Research andInsights
EDUCAUSE
Jamie Reeves
Director of Community, Product,
and Portfolio Management
EDUCAUSE
Belle McDonald
Portfolio Manager, Communities
and Research
EDUCAUSE
Susan Grajek
Vice President for Partnerships,
Communities, and Research
EDUCAUSE

Gül Akcaova
Lead Futurist
SURF b.v.
Tom Andriola
Vice Chancellor and Chief Digital
Officer
University of California, Irvine

Nicole Engelbert
Vice President, Product Management
OracleJennifer Culver
Sr. Academic Tech Director, Simmons;Manager, SMU Online Production
Services
Southern Methodist University

Lorna Gonzalez
Director of Digital Learning
California State University Channel
Islands

David DazaInternet of Things and Metaverse
Technologies Leader
Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)

Lauren Hays
Associate Professor of Instructional
Technology
University of Central Missouri

Jaclyn Doherty
Dean, Centre for Teaching, Learning
and Innovation
Lethbridge College, Alberta

Tania Heap
Director, Learning Research &Accessibility
University of North Texas

Tim Dorsey
Dean of Student Affairs
Cuyahoga Community College

James Hutson
Lead XR Disruptor, Department Head
Lindenwood University

Dariane Drake
Learning Analytics Architect
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Ksenia Ionova
Instructional Designer
Cornell University

María Emerson
Student Success Librarian
University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign

Constance Johnson
Chancellor
Colorado Technical University

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition45

Robert Johnson
CIO
The American University of Paris
Julie Johnston
Executive Education Vertical Director
Avaya

Smitha Nair
Director of Product Development &Integration
University of Kentucky
Kristi Newgarden
Instructional Designer
Charter Oak State College

Peggy Kay
Associate Vice President, Academic
Technology and Campus Engagement;
Deputy CIO
California State University,
Sacramento

Hans Pongratz
CIO and Professor
Stiftung fuer Hochschulzulassung,
Dortmund University

Michelle Kassorla
Associate Professor of English
Georgia State University

James Quisenberry
Director, Student Affairs Technology
University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign

Stephanie King
Coordinator of Writing Support
Services
La Salle University

Elizabeth Reilley
Executive Director, AI Acceleration
Arizona State University

Danielle Leek
Vice President of Academic Affairs andInformation Technology
The Urban College of Boston
Tatiana Levi
Senior Advisor for Education,
Technology and Future of Work
Foreign Service InstituteMichael Martin
Director of IT Client Experience andTechnology Resource Center
University of Central Oklahoma
Melissa McCartney
Associate Provost for Digital Learning
Queens University of Charlotte

Jana Remy
AVP, Educational Technology
Chapman University
Anne Marie Richard
Associate CIO and Director, Student
Affairs IT
University of California, Berkeley
Shannon Riggs
Executive Director of Academic
Programs and Learning Innovation
Oregon State University
Jason Smith
Vice President, Global Solution
Services
Anthology

Josie Milliken
Dean of Distance Education
Pima Community College

Angela Smith
Senior Executive Advisor to the Vice
President for Student SuccessIndiana University

Ayla Moore
Senior ID & Faculty Development
Specialist
Fort Lewis College

Kalpana Srinivas
Director for Retention and Student
Success
Syracuse University

2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Holistic Student Experience Edition

Lalitha Subramanian
Program Management Director
University of Washington
Sasha Thackaberry
Senior Vice President of Wave
D2L
Dhvani Toprani
Assistant Director of Learning Design
and Support, Teaching and Learning
Technologies
Elon University
Jeremy Van Hof
Director of Learning Technology
and Development, Co-Director of
Enhanced Digital Learning Initiative
Michigan State University
Darcy Van Patten
Chief Technology Officer
University of Arizona
Steven Varela
Director of Teaching and Learning
Technologies
University of Notre DameDavid Weil
Vice President, Chief Information andAnalytics Officer
Ithaca College
James Willis, III
Assistant Professor of Practice for
Religion
University of Indianapolis
Olena Zhadko
Director of Online Education
Lehman College/CUNY

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