In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider podcast, Rhea Kelly, editor-in-chief of Campus Technology, speaks with Tirumala Rao Chimpiri, senior programmer analyst for enterprise applications & integrations at Stony Brook University, about CAIP-HE, a platform-agnostic reference framework for connecting insight, decision-making, and execution across enterprise environments. Chimpiri explains that organizations often invest in ERP, analytics, automation, integration, personalization, and AI, yet still struggle to turn insights into timely, coordinated action because these capabilities remain siloed and decision ownership and workflows are unclear. CAIP-HE focuses on four interdependent dimensions — cognitive automation, advanced analytics, integration and interoperability, and personalization — and is positioned as a leadership lens rather than a product or methodology. He recommends starting with a few high-impact scenarios, mapping the end-to-end flow from insight to execution, and addressing gaps through clearer governance, ownership, integration, and workflow design, noting that AI alone does not resolve decision flow or accountability.
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:30 Tirumala Background and Motivation
02:23 What CAIP-HE Means
05:38 The Insight to Action Gap
07:06 How to Apply CAIP-HE
08:58 Why AI Alone Is Not Enough
10:44 Governance and Decision Rights
12:34 Common Modernization Mistakes
14:22 Key Takeaways for CIOs
15:54 Closing and Where to Listen
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 17 minutes
Transcript (coming soon)
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Campus Technology Editor-in-Chief Rhea Kelly hosts Ed Skoudis, president of the SANS Technology Institute, to discuss how AI is reshaping cybersecurity and what it means for higher education. Skoudis says AI is now driving all five top emerging attack trends highlighted in SANS's RSAC keynote: increased zero-day exploits, expanded supply-chain risk, growing complexity in operational technology attacks, risks of irresponsible AI use in digital forensics and incident response, and the need to use AI defensively to keep pace with attackers' speed. He explains why higher ed is harder to defend due to diverse, open, cutting-edge environments and constrained budgets, and he recommends accelerated patching, AI-assisted incident response, rapid decision-making teams, frequent tabletop exercises, threat intelligence monitoring, and flexible AI workflows that can swap models as tools change.
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:29 Ed Skoudis Background
01:00 Steampunk Office Tour
02:24 Antiques Meet IoT
03:25 AI Drives Attack Trends
05:01 Higher Ed Under Fire
05:49 Five AI Shaped Attacks
09:51 Lessons from Finance
12:05 Speeding Up Response
15:32 Training for AI Defense
18:00 AI Toolkit and Model Flexibility
22:01 Budget Priorities Patching First
25:39 Crystal Ball Rough Years Ahead
29:53 Zero Vulnerabilities Vision
31:22 Prepare with AI Strategy
34:16 Closing and Where to Listen
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 35 minutes
Transcript (coming soon)
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Campus Technology Editor-in-Chief Rhea Kelly interviews Bridget Burns, CEO of the University Innovation Alliance, about how generative AI is reshaping student success work and increasing the need for cross-institution collaboration. Burns describes the UIA's role supporting 19 large public research universities as a shared R&D lab for higher ed, emphasizing open, scalable practices that improve student outcomes. She outlines key AI challenges for institutions, including governance gaps, privacy and data risks, intellectual property, contract liability, safety concerns, and limited capacity to evaluate rapidly evolving vendor agreements. Burns highlights ASU's AI initiatives and explains UIA's AI Decision Framework, outlining critical questions to ask before signing enterprise AI agreements. She also discusses institutional readiness, AI literacy, and principles for scaling innovations through adaptation, cross-functional teams, clear targets, and ongoing evaluation.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:32 UIA Mission and Model
01:49 Generative AI Changes
05:07 Promising Campus Use Cases
07:22 Top Risks and Governance
09:23 ASU Early Mover Lessons
11:11 AI Vendor Decision Framework
15:28 Procurement Questions That Matter
18:54 Community Over Perfection
21:42 AI Readiness and Culture
25:53 Scaling with Guardrails
31:56 Closing Thoughts and Wrap Up
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 34 minutes
Transcript
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Rhea Kelly, Editor-in-Chief of Campus Technology, dives into leadership in higher education IT with Sean McDonald, president of MOR Associates. They discuss defining leadership, the major challenges for leaders today, including complexity and prioritization, and how AI is shaping the future of higher ed. Sean shares his insights on creating a culture of shared governance, fostering diverse perspectives, and the importance of strategic thinking.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:26 Sean McDonald's Background and Work
01:11 Defining Leadership in Higher Education
03:17 Challenges for Leaders in Higher Education
03:54 Complexity and Focus in Higher Ed IT
06:51 Strategic Thinking and Leadership
10:11 Shared Governance and Change Management
13:40 Impact of AI on Leadership
16:53 Overcoming Leadership Challenges
22:26 Practical Leadership Tips and Coaching
25:09 Final Advice for Aspiring Leaders
27:10 Conclusion and Podcast Sign-off
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 28 minutes
Transcript
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rhea Kelly sits down with Sidney Fernandes, CIO, and VP of Digital Experiences at the University of South Florida. They discuss the impact of agentic AI in higher education, focusing on USF's initiatives to make technology and workflows user-friendly. Topics include the formation of the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, strategies for integrating AI to improve student and faculty experiences, and the importance of security, compliance, and data governance in AI deployment. In addition, they explore how USF leverages student ambassadors to scale AI literacy and solutions across its campuses.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:30 Sydney Fernandez's Background and Role at USF
01:10 USF's Technology Strategy: Making It Easy
02:44 Digital Experiences at USF
05:33 AI Initiatives and Early Goals
13:32 Scaling AI with Student Ambassadors
23:44 Challenges and Lessons Learned
26:08 Future of AI at USF
29:19 Conclusion and Farewell
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 30 minutes
Transcript
In this episode of the Campus Technology Insider Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rhea Kelly sits down with Jenay Robert, Senior Researcher at Educause, to discuss the 2025 Horizon Action Plan focusing on building skills and literacy for using generative AI in higher education. They delve into the process behind Educause's annual Horizon reports, the actionable advice stemming from these reports, and the preferred future that educators and institutions should be aiming for. They also explore the goals for higher education over the next decade, the shift from AI policy to practical training, and the specific actions that different levels within institutions can take to integrate AI effectively. Jenay also teases her upcoming research project on AI's impact on day-to-day work in higher education.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:42 Understanding the Educause Action Plans
02:40 Focus on Generative AI Skills and Literacy
05:51 Preferred Future for Higher Education
10:40 Actionable Steps for Institutions
17:01 Next Steps and Future Research
20:10 Conclusion and Farewell
Resource links:
Music: Mixkit
Duration: 21 minutes
Transcript