Announcements
SREB COVID-19 Response and Resources
SREB is dedicated to supporting educators and policy leaders as they work through challenges unfolding from the coronavirus pandemic. During this time of uncertainty, we are convening leaders to help them develop strategies, find solutions and share ideas and resources. Each section — Higher Education Recovery Task Force, K-12 Education Recovery Task Force, K-12 Resources, Postsecondary Resources, CTE Resources, and State Actions — contains information to help SREB states navigate issues that have developed as a result of the pandemic.
Data Systems
Integrated Data Systems and Predictive Analytics in Higher Education
SREB, June 2020
This policy brief explores up-to-date information on how data systems and predictive analytics work in tandem to provide institutes of higher education the data necessary to map out the future. Using aligned data systems and data definitions, higher education entities can make better decisions and gain substantial returns on investments.
States Need Better Data to Meet Student Expectations
eCampus News, June 3, 2020, Laura Ascione
A new framework published by the Institute for Higher Education Policy offers guidance on approaches to eliminating “barriers to data use, with solutions at the federal, state, and regional levels.” The framework will help states advocate for the resources necessary for changes in resource allocation, data sharing and matching across agencies, and regulatory compliance.
Data Privacy
How Higher Ed Chief Privacy Officers and CISOs Can Boost Student Privacy
Ed Tech Magazine, May 8, 2020, Emilia Pang
As states and institutions navigate a rapid shift to remote learning and constantly changing technology, it is important for Chief Privacy Officers and CISOs to work together. Often, privacy and security teams may not work together due to silos or a misunderstanding of responsibilities. Michael Corn, CISO for the University of California, San Diego, believes there is a common misunderstanding about how security departments do their jobs, that “security offices must invade privacy to monitor campus networks for intrusions and attacks.”
Predictive Analytics
How Higher Ed Can Use Data Analytics to Boost Admissions
Ed Tech Magazine, June 24, 2020, Doug Bonderud
According to an EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research report, 69% of postsecondary institutions indicated that analytics were a top priority. However, some institutions may find it difficult to analyze and synthesize data in a meaningful manner. As the COVID-19 pandemic changes the face of education delivery, analytics are essential for enrollment and marketing efforts. “While there is no single analytics solution that can predict the future of post-pandemic education, many universities and colleges will need a shift in fundamental frameworks.”
Bandwidth
COVID-19 AND Broadband Access in SREB States: Resources and Strategies for Extended School Closures
SREB, July 2020
Access to broadband speeds sufficient for digital learning has become one of the most pressing education issues of the COVID-19 pandemic. This briefing offers an overview of the Federal Communications Commission Keep Americans Connected Pledge, the E-Rate program extension, TV white space, CARES Act funding and additional K-20 strategies to expand broadband access.
Report: 16.9M Students Still Lack Home Internet Access
Education Dive, July 23, 2020, Roger Riddell
While U.S. households increasingly have access to in-home internet service, millions of students still lack access. According to a report by Alliance for Excellent Education's Future Ready Schools initiative, rural and low-income students make up the highest percentage of those without reliable access to the internet. The article notes that nearly 25% of students in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia do not have home internet access.
New Learning Models
The 'Half-Campus' Model
Inside Higher Ed, July 21, 2020, Lilah Burke
Highly selective universities are considering inviting a portion of their students back to campus for in-person instruction during the fall semester. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge states and institutions, some experts think that this half-campus model, with fewer students physically on campus, may be a safe option for those who can afford to do so. “The partial residential return gives institutions a middle ground to bring back the number of students administrators believe they can keep safe and manage.”
Student Digital Literacy
Coronavirus Puts Information Literacy in Curriculum Spotlight
Education Dive, July 8, 2020, Shawna De La Rosa
Digital, media and information literacy has become more important for students than ever before as more and more students are expected to participate in distance/online learning for the upcoming fall semester. Florida and Texas are highlighted as leaders in this, having already implemented digital literacy standards within their state curriculum.
Technology Security
Ensuring Data Security During Remote and Hybrid Learning
eCampus News, July 13, 2020, Piyush Pandey
As campuses across the country shift to remote learning for an extended amount of time, data security is a top concern for universities. Institutions will have to work to maintain “strict authentication and data security policies while requiring additional UX/UI [user-experience /user interface] solutions that create an intuitive mobile user experience” for students and faculty. To secure data and privacy, many institutions are also moving past multi-factor authentication, believing that “transaction-level authentication is ultimately the best way to ensure data isn’t unnecessarily exposed.”
COVID-19 Ushers in a New Era of Cybersecurity
eCampus News, June 19, 2020, Bill Conner
While college campuses have long been the target of cybersecurity attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for higher education entities to ramp up their IT security efforts even more. And as countless institutions plan to move to virtual learning formats for the fall semester and beyond, it is critical that these schools protect at-home and endpoint device users. The author suggests moving, storing and sharing critical information in the cloud and providing endpoint protection platforms, “protecting devices against malware and enabling continuous behavioral monitoring.”
Digital Accessibility
Ed Department Issues Guidance on Special Education During Pandemic
Disability Scoop, June 23, 2020, Michelle Diament
The U.S. Department of Education published two documents offering guidance on IDEA amid the COVID-19 pandemic. States have the ability to extend and adjust timelines for processing and resolving complaints and may conduct hearings by video conference or conference call
Schools Want IDEA Liability Protections from Congress
Disability Scoop, July 20, 2020, Michelle Diament
A joint report from the School Superintendents Association, National School Boards Association and the Association of Educational Service Agencies is asking Congress for protections and provisions in the new COVID-19 legislation. “The push for liability protections is just the latest effort from school leaders to ease their obligations under IDEA during the pandemic.” School leaders are concerned that they will face numerous lawsuits if protections are not put in place.
Policy
A Landmark Open-Access Agreement
Inside Higher Ed, June 17, 2020, Lindsay McKenzie
The University of California System and Springer Nature Publishing announced a landmark deal that will allow all research currently published in Springer Nature journals to be openly accessible to the public. The UC System will also use a multi-payer model between libraries, and research funds secured by individual researchers, to provide open access to research in hybrid journals. “The deal will enable UC system corresponding authors to publish openly in more than 2,700 journals. Of these 2,700 titles, 500 are already fully open-access journals.”
