Inside Higher Ed recently conducted its annual survey of campus IT leaders to gain insights into the state of digital transformation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other technology priorities in higher education. Over the years, technology has gained increasing attention in colleges and universities, evolving from a helpful learning tool to an indispensable part of the higher education infrastructure. The focus on technology has intensified due to the rapid growth and widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. However, the survey revealed that there is still caution among chief technology and chief information officers regarding the use of AI. Only 16 percent of respondents considered investing in AI as a high priority or essential for their institutions. Nevertheless, a significant number of respondents expressed interest in experimenting with AI, machine learning, and adaptive learning. The survey also highlighted the challenges faced by CIOs in implementing digital transformation due to resistance from faculty and staff, as well as a lack of financial investment. Despite the significant importance of digital transformation, only about half of the respondents reported that leaders in their institutions shared the same perception.

Cybersecurity practices showed improvement compared to the previous year, with 82 percent of CIOs expressing confidence in their institutions' ability to prevent ransomware attacks. However, concerns regarding the impact of AI and the lack of attention to AI ethics and security were notable. The survey also examined the role of technology in online learning, faculty recognition, and staff hiring. While higher education institutions have made progress in implementing digital transformation initiatives to enhance student success, the survey revealed that 60 percent of institutions had not set specific goals for digital transformation. The lack of funding, faculty resistance, and a lack of centralized coordination were identified as roadblocks to digital transformation. Furthermore, institutions found it challenging to compete with the technology sector in terms of hiring and retaining IT personnel due to salary discrepancies and more flexible work environments. Despite financial constraints, most institutions maintained their central IT budgets from the previous year. The survey results emphasized the effectiveness of technology resources in on-campus teaching and instruction but identified areas for improvement in other uses such as learning analytics, faculty research, and alumni engagement.