Strategies for a Future-Ready Learning Environment

Milos Topic, Vice President for IT and Chief Digital Officer, Grand Valley State University

Milos Topic brings over 25 years of leadership experience in technology, innovation, strategy, and operations, working with startups, Fortune 1000 companies, and universities. Currently serving as VP and Chief Digital Officer, he has held roles like CIO and CTO. His expertise encompasses customer experience, business development, project management, and information security. Topic holds a Bachelor's in computer science, a Master’s in Information Systems, an MBA, and a Ph.D. focused on CIO leadership in innovation. He is also a sought-after speaker and advisor on business strategy and digital innovation.

Navigating New Horizons

I joined Grand Valley in August 2020 as the inaugural VP for IT and Chief Digital Officer. My role is twofold: leading the IT organization and collaborating with faculty, senior leadership, and community members to reimagine the future of higher education. I believe there is always room for improvement and focus on enhancing effectiveness, efficiency, and engagement across our operations.

Over the past four years, we have pinpointed three key areas for growth: modernizing our environment to simplify experiences, increase flexibility, and streamline services to improve quality for faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Additionally, we are focused on fostering innovation across various sectors. This proactive approach has attracted attention from peer institutions nationwide, leading many to reach out to learn from our successes.

Unlocking the AI Potential

While AI is a prominent topic today, its potential remains largely untapped across various sectors. Organizations are eager to leverage AI to tackle specific challenges, but fully developing these solutions will take time. Moreover, existing technologies are not as novel as AI, and their application in higher education can still be significantly improved. Many institutions are exploring ways to harness vast amounts of data to derive actionable insights.

The primary focus is to enhance overall student experience and success and better support faculty in research and teaching. Historically, we have not maximized the integration and utilization of this data. Addressing this issue alongside advancements in AI is essential for meaningful progress.

“I believe there is always room for improvement and focus on enhancing effectiveness, efficiency, and engagement across our operations.”

Aligning Mission and Technology

We have introduced an AI companion within Zoom, our unified communications platform, and are exploring the implementation of Zoom Phone along with its call center features. Additionally, we are testing Microsoft Copilot and examining potential applications with OpenAI and ChatGPT, though current pricing poses challenges for widespread adoption. During a recent Workday conference, I learned that as we transition to Workday for our ERP system, they are integrating significant AI features into their offerings.

Our primary focus is on reducing friction, enhancing flexibility, and automating tasks, allowing staff to spend less time on repetitive processes. Eventually, we aim to ensure that everyone remains aligned with our core mission: to support students and their education while effectively leveraging AI to streamline secondary tasks.

Bridging Gaps in a Digital Age

The marketing and innovation sectors are relentless, often indifferent to our reactions. Companies will continue to push forward, exploring new ideas and technologies. It falls to leadership and the organizational culture to adapt to these changes. While being at the forefront of every trend may not be necessary, avoiding the bottom tier is crucial.

Take calculators as an example. When they first appeared, many educators were skeptical, fearing they would undermine basic math skills. Fast forward to today, and we rely on calculators daily, often through our smartphones. Similarly, AI tools will evolve and integrate into our lives, but this progress brings significant concerns, particularly regarding the ethics of coding and broader societal issues.

Access to technology is another critical concern, encompassing digital presence and equity. While many individuals have admirable intentions, institutions like universities often face limitations in their influence. We cannot guarantee that every student has the necessary hardware, software, internet access, and funding to thrive. It is essential to navigate how to provide these vital tools effectively. No single organization can address every issue; collaboration and shared responsibility are vital in tackling these challenges.

Discovering Your Path

My advice is to pursue a distinct path and embrace your journey. Listening, learning, and engaging with other universities and industries is crucial to uncover innovative use cases that may inspire your approach. We actively seek insights from those further along in their journey to understand their strategies and applications. Hands-on experience is important—real learning comes through trial and error. Learning to drive a car provides a good analogy; you gain true knowledge only once you start driving.

This principle applies equally to new tools and technologies. Test them, but remain cautious and mindful of data privacy, retention, and other important considerations. Strive to understand these models thoroughly and practice the behaviors you wish to cultivate across your organization in the future.

ERP

Information Security

Microsoft

Customer Experience

Project Management

Startups

Test

Marketing