Colleges and Universities are increasingly leveraging technology to address a multitude of challenges including decreased financial support, tighter budgets, more competition for research funding, and an urgency to successfully incorporate digital teaching tools. Helping these institutions fulfill their technological aspirations is a Chicago-based company, Huron Consulting Group. The Higher Education practice helps institutions achieve operational excellence in the CTO/CIO function, including driving institutional transformation by developing and implementing practical approaches to improve enterprise operations for higher education institutions. “With unparalleled knowledge of administrative processes and systems, including financials, HR, student administration, and grants management, Huron has a dedicated practice which works with institutions on applying technology to improve business operations and mitigate risk,” says Peter Eschenbach, Managing Director and Leader in Huron’s Higher Education practice.

Huron’s IT Assessment, Strategy, and Governance help institutions align their information technology resources and investments to their strategic business, academic, and research goals. Its Enterprise Systems Selection, Planning, and Implementation services help many institutions select, plan, and implement ERP systems. “We are one of the largest consultancies serving higher education and our unique model helps us bring deep and relevant industry experience to our clients,” says Eschenbach. Huron has experience working with more than 350 universities, academic medical centers, and research institutions, including more than 90 of the top 100 research universities.

One of the Huron’s clients, a private west coast institution, had an IT governance model wherein the requests from many units were not informed by central strategic goals and objectives.