Underlining what matters in higher ed and ed tech: news, vendor updates, and commentary from across the field, in one place.https://theunderline.netlify.app/source/govtech-highered/https://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/google-offers-500-free-tech-certifications-through-miami-nonprofithttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/google-offers-500-free-tech-certifications-through-miami-nonprofitGrow 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.Mon, 12 Oct 2026 19:53:52 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/opinion-how-ai-is-changing-it-career-pathways-in-higher-edhttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/opinion-how-ai-is-changing-it-career-pathways-in-higher-edThe 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.Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:47:27 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-higher-ed-should-teach-baseline-ai-skillshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-higher-ed-should-teach-baseline-ai-skillsEDUCAUSE 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.Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:19:30 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-colleges-need-to-treat-vendor-risk-as-institutional-riskhttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-colleges-need-to-treat-vendor-risk-as-institutional-riskRecent 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.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 23:23:49 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/washington-state-university-taps-ai-company-for-sports-commshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/washington-state-university-taps-ai-company-for-sports-commsWashington 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.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 20:17:48 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-ai-exposes-gaps-in-data-governancehttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-ai-exposes-gaps-in-data-governanceSome 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.Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:55:09 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/lsu-researchers-use-ai-to-predict-and-model-wildfireshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/lsu-researchers-use-ai-to-predict-and-model-wildfiresAn 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.Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:08:04 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/university-of-hawaii-launches-unified-application-systemhttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/university-of-hawaii-launches-unified-application-systemAs 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.Wed, 07 Oct 2026 17:36:22 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-rethinking-it-infrastructure-amid-budget-uncertaintyhttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-rethinking-it-infrastructure-amid-budget-uncertaintyIT 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.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:34:22 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/ny-expands-free-community-college-to-offset-potential-ai-layoffshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/ny-expands-free-community-college-to-offset-potential-ai-layoffsAnticipating 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.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:39:10 GMTNewshttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-reflecting-on-ai-in-higher-ed-4-years-into-chatgpthttps://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/educause-26-reflecting-on-ai-in-higher-ed-4-years-into-chatgptAt 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.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 23:26:01 GMTNews