Active Directory
Microsoft’s directory service used for centralized authentication, authorization, and identity management across campus systems.

Active Learning Classroom
A technology-enhanced classroom designed to support collaboration, group work, and interactive teaching methods rather than traditional lectures.

Adaptive Learning Platform
A software system that personalizes content and pacing for each learner based on performance data and behavioral patterns.

Analytics Dashboard
A visual interface that aggregates institutional or course data to help faculty and administrators monitor trends and outcomes.

Application Programming Interface (API)
A defined set of rules enabling different software applications to communicate and exchange data.

Artificial Intelligence
A set of technologies that enable software systems to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence — such as recognizing patterns, understanding language, making predictions, and automating decisions — by learning from data and improving over time.

Asset Management System
A tool used to track and manage IT equipment, software licenses and lifecycle status.

Authentication
The process of verifying the identity of a user or system attempting to access a resource.

Authorization
The process of granting or denying access rights to authenticated users based on defined permissions.

Backup and Recovery
The policies and technologies used to copy and restore institutional data to ensure continuity after data loss or system failure.

Bandwidth Management
The practice of monitoring and allocating network capacity so that critical academic services remain reliable during peak demand.

Blended Learning
An instructional model that combines in-person classes with online components in a planned, integrated way.

Business Intelligence (BI)
Technologies and practices that transform institutional data into useful operational or strategic insights.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
A policy that allows students, faculty, and staff to connect their personal devices to campus networks and systems.

Change Management
A structured process for managing changes to IT systems and workflows to minimize disruption.

Cloud Computing
Delivery of computing services (servers, storage, applications) over the internet on a scalable, on-demand basis.

Cloud Migration
The process of moving applications, data, or services from on-premises infrastructure to cloud-based platforms.

Classroom Response System
A tool that lets instructors pose questions and receive real-time responses from students via clickers or mobile devices.

Competency-Based Education
An educational model in which learners earn credentials by demonstrating mastery of specific skills or competencies, rather than by completing a set number of credit hours or seat time.

Constituent Relationship Management (CRM)
A system used to manage communication and engagement with prospective and current students, alumni, and other stakeholders.

Cybersecurity
Practices and technologies used to protect campus systems and data from threats.

Data Center
A physical facility that houses servers, networking equipment, and storage supporting campus computing operations.

Data Governance
The framework of policies and processes that ensures institutional data is accurate, secure, and used responsibly.

Data Integration
Combining data from multiple systems (e.g., SIS, LMS, CRM) into unified datasets.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Tools and policies that prevent sensitive information from being leaked or accessed improperly.

Data Warehouse
A centralized repository that consolidates data from multiple campus systems for reporting and analytics.

Digital Divide
Inequities in access to devices, connectivity, and digital skills that affect students’ ability to participate in technology-enabled learning.

Digital Transformation
A coordinated, institution-wide shift in culture, workforce and technology to enable new operating models, value propositions and educational experiences.

Disaster Recovery (DR)
Strategies and systems designed to restore services after major outages, security incidents, or disasters.

Edge Computing
Infrastructure in which computing and data processing happen closer to the edge (e.g., IoT sensors on campus) rather than solely in centralized data centers, reducing latency and enabling advanced services.

Encryption
The process of encoding data to prevent unauthorized access.

Endpoint Management
Tools and processes used to configure, secure, and monitor devices such as laptops, desktops, and mobile devices on campus.

ePortfolio
A digital collection of a student's work, reflections, and achievements that can be shared with instructors or employers.

Enrollment Management System
A technology platform that supports recruitment, admissions, financial aid, and retention strategies across the student lifecycle.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
Integrated systems that manage finance, HR, student data and other core institutional functions.

Federated Identity Management
A system that allows institutions to share authentication and identity information securely across multiple platforms and services.

FERPA Compliance
Adherence to federal regulations governing the privacy and security of student education records.

Flipped Classroom
A teaching approach where students first encounter content outside class and use in-person time for active problem-solving and application.

Generative AI
Artificial intelligence systems that are trained to generate novel outputs — such as text, images, audio, video, code, or data — by learning the statistical and structural patterns of a training dataset. These systems use probabilistic models to produce new samples that are consistent with, but not direct copies of, the data they were trained on.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
A coordinated strategy for managing IT decision-making, institutional risk, and regulatory obligations.

Gradebook Integration
The ability of learning tools to pass assignment scores directly into the LMS gradebook through secure standards.

High-Availability Architecture
A system design that minimizes downtime for critical campus applications through redundancy and failover mechanisms.

HIPAA Compliance
Adherence to U.S. health data privacy regulations when handling protected medical information.

Hybrid Cloud
A computing environment combining on-premises infrastructure with public and private cloud resources.

HyFlex Learning
A course model that allows students to participate in person, synchronously online, or asynchronously online, with all modes treated as equivalent.

Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Processes and technologies used to verify user identities and control their access to campus systems and data.

Incident Response
Steps taken by security teams to detect, contain and remediate cybersecurity threats.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Cloud service model providing virtualized computing resources.

Immersive Learning
An umbrella term encompassing technologies like AR, VR and simulation to create engaging, realistic learning experiences that connect students experientially with the material.

Instructional Design
The practice of designing learning experiences and course structures that align outcomes, activities, and assessments.

Instructional Technology
Tools and platforms that support teaching and learning activities.

Integration Middleware
Software that connects disparate campus applications so they can securely exchange data and workflows.

Internet of Things
The network of physical devices, sensors and systems across campus (e.g., buildings, spaces, equipment) that collect data, enable automation and support operational and learning outcomes.

Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
A system that monitors networks for suspicious activity.

Learning Analytics
The collection and analysis of learner data to improve teaching, course design, and student support.

Learning Management System (LMS)
A core platform where instructors manage course content, activities, assessments, and communication with students.

Lecture Capture
Technology that records class sessions for students to review later, often including audio, video, and shared content.

Managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Security solutions that monitor devices for malicious activity and provide rapid incident response.

Microcredential
A shorter, focused learning experience that certifies specific skills or competencies, often stackable toward a larger credential.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
A security requirement that users verify their identity using more than one method, such as a password and a mobile code.

Network Access Control (NAC)
A security approach that restricts network access based on device and user compliance.

On-Premises Systems
IT systems hosted locally on institutional hardware rather than in the cloud.

Open Educational Resources (OER)
Teaching and learning materials that are freely available to use, adapt, and share under open licenses.

Open Source
Software whose source code is publicly available for anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute.

Online Proctoring
Technology or services that monitor remote test-takers to reduce cheating and verify identity.

Predictive Analytics
The use of data modeling, machine learning and analytics to predict student outcomes (e.g., attrition risk, course drop-out, graduation likelihood) enabling proactive interventions.

Portal
A personalized web interface that aggregates key campus services, notifications, and tools for users.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Technology that provides electrical power to devices such as access points and cameras through network cables.

Provisioning and Deprovisioning
The automated creation and removal of user accounts and access rights across systems as roles change.

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
A protocol enabling remote access to desktop systems.

Risk Assessment
The evaluation of threats, vulnerabilities and potential impacts on institutional IT systems.

SaaS (Software as a Service)
A software delivery model where applications are hosted by a provider and accessed over the internet rather than installed locally.

SCORM
A set of standards that enables online learning content to be packaged and tracked consistently in different LMS platforms.

Service-Level Agreement (SLA)
A formal agreement outlining the expected performance and responsibilities of IT services.

Single Sign-On (SSO)
A system that allows users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications without re-entering credentials.

Software as a Service (SaaS)
Applications delivered through a web browser rather than installed locally.

Storage Area Network (SAN)
A high-speed network dedicated to providing shared data storage access to servers.

Student Information System (SIS)
The authoritative system of record for student demographics, enrollment, courses, grades, and credentials.

Streaming Media Server
A service that stores and delivers video or audio content on demand to users across the campus network.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
A framework for designing courses that provide multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression for diverse learners.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
A system that delivers a full desktop environment from the data center to users' devices over the network.

Virtual Reality Lab
A campus facility with VR hardware and software that supports immersive simulations and experiential learning.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A secure connection that allows remote users to access campus resources as if they were on the internal network.

Wi-Fi 6/6E
The latest generation of wireless networking standards that offer higher speeds, lower latency, and better performance in dense campus environments.

Workflow Automation
The use of software tools to streamline and orchestrate multi-step administrative or academic processes.