GovTech: Higher Ed
Monday, October 12
Google Offers 500 Free Tech Certifications Through Miami Nonprofit
Grow With Google is working with the Miami nonprofit Get Tech Knowledge to offer three- to six-month certifications in building tech businesses, turning data into decisions, and IT or cybersecurity.
govtech.com
Friday, October 9
Opinion: How AI Is Changing IT Career Pathways in Higher Ed
The accelerating development of artificial intelligence is changing the value of certain skills, the long-term outlook of certain careers and what aspiring IT professionals should do to stay ahead of the curve.
govtech.comEDUCAUSE ’26: Higher Ed Should Teach Baseline AI Skills
EDUCAUSE Senior Researcher Nicole Muscanell says neither education nor workforce leaders know what the future of work will look like, so higher education should focus on providing students with a few key AI skills.
govtech.com
Thursday, October 8
EDUCAUSE '26: Colleges Need to Treat Vendor Risk as Institutional Risk
Recent cyber attacks on Canvas and Oracle PeopleSoft showed how a vulnerability in a third-party platform could become a campuswide problem, and why higher-ed institutions need specific contracts with those vendors.
govtech.comWashington State University Taps AI Company for Sports Comms
Washington State University has contracted with the Nebraska-based AI startup FanWorld for an unspecified role in sports communications. Some graduates worry it will mean fewer writing opportunities for students.
govtech.com
Wednesday, October 7
EDUCAUSE ’26: AI Exposes Gaps in Data Governance
Some college and university data officials say now is a moment for institutions to strengthen their data governance, whether starting from scratch or adjusting to artificial intelligence’s demand for clean data.
govtech.comLSU Researchers Use AI to Predict and Model Wildfires
An AI tool created by Louisiana State University researchers, the consulting firm Ailectric and other partners can predict where a wildfire is likely to start, look for early signs and model how it will spread.
govtech.comUniversity of Hawaii Launches Unified Application System
As part of a broader effort to simplify the process of entering and moving through its system, the University of Hawaii consolidated several application pathways into a single new application for all 10 campuses.
govtech.com
Tuesday, October 6
EDUCAUSE ’26: Rethinking IT Infrastructure Amid Budget Uncertainty
IT leaders at the EDUCAUSE annual conference last week cited unpredictable budgets, vendor pricing and determining the value of artificial intelligence among the biggest pressures for campus IT teams.
govtech.com
Monday, October 5
NY Expands Free Community College to Offset Potential AI Layoffs
Anticipating AI will have significant impacts on the workforce, effective January 2027, New York will allow CUNY and SUNY students aged 25-55 to enroll tuition-free in “high-demand” associate degree programs.
govtech.com
Friday, October 2
EDUCAUSE '26: Reflecting on AI in Higher Ed, 4 Years Into ChatGPT
At the organization's annual conference in Denver, EDUCAUSE President John O'Brien said that since generative AI's boom started in November 2022, universities have moved from hype to finding value in specific use cases.
govtech.com