As colleges work to modernize their learning spaces, they will achieve the best outcomes when they assess their existing environments, employ cost optimization strategies, plan for ongoing maintenance and tailor offerings to an evolving student mix. Expert partners can often provide valuable recommendations for specific campuses.

TECHNOLOGY AUDITS: Many colleges expanded hybrid learning during the pandemic, often led by product availability more than strategic planning. Now, colleges should audit these investments to assess what’s working and where new solutions are warranted. Performed independently or with outside support, a current-state baseline can inform spending and strategy.

COST OPTIMIZATION: Cost optimization initiatives ensure colleges maximize the value of IT investments. Typically, these can reduce the duplication that occurs on many campuses due to decentralized purchasing and lack of standardization across departments. Often, experts can also identify opportunities for short-term savings and help institutions move toward long-term cost-efficiency.

MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT: With funding uncertain for many institutions, leaders are looking for ways to extend the life of classroom technologies. For example, replacing equipment categorically across multiple rooms can be less costly than piecemeal updates due to bulk pricing discounts. Colleges also need solid systems for ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting.

STUDENT DIVERSITY: Student bodies continue to diversify, with 39% of higher education leaders citing an increase in nontraditional students as an impactful trend for the next five years. Institutions must understand the different needs and preferences among such groups; younger students are more likely to prefer onsite classes, for example.

EXPERT SERVICES: Technology partners with higher education expertise understand best practices for modern learning environments and can help colleges transform traditional spaces. CDW has a wide array of vendor partners and the capabilities to support technology audits, network assessments and staff augmentation for the design and installation of classroom furniture and technologies.

Recent investments in learning environments show how varied such spaces can be, from computer labs to outdoor classrooms and everything in between.

MODERNIZING COMPUTER LABS: When a top-ranked public research institution in the Northeast embarked on a major upgrade to its campus computer labs, students’ input was crucial. One outcome was the decision to install various types of seating to accommodate everything from solo work to collaboration, as well as adding options for students to connect their own devices to external monitors or use the lab’s desktops. An array of displays, printers and power outlets add flexibility to the space. And because the university prioritizes accessibility, it also included adjustable-height desks; large display screens; and backlit, large-print keyboards. Today, these modern computer labs flex easily between study and socializing as they accommodate diverse uses and show that “learning spaces” now extend well beyond the traditional classroom.

INVESTING IN ESPORTS: A small, public research institution in the Northeast went all in on esports with a new, cutting-edge arena for its large, student-led club. This project exemplifies the important role that cocurricular spaces can play in student engagement and learning. The arena features 11 gaming stations with ergonomic desks and gaming chairs, computer setups designed for gaming, and a broadcast booth. Providing opportunities for students in computer science and game design, as well as marketing, video production, operations and other fields, the esports arena is a multidisciplinary space. As esports continues to grow in K–12 schools and higher education, colleges are investing in such spaces to attract and retain students who look to these programs for socialization, professional training and leadership opportunities.

EXPANDING WI-FI COVERAGE: A small, private university on the East Coast upgraded its wireless network to Wi-Fi 6E, a significant update to infrastructure that was several years old. The goal was to support increased device density on campus, both now and in the future. The 6E extension allows for a separate band with faster speeds and less latency, creating a “fast lane” for Wi-Fi 6E-compatible devices and reducing traffic on bands supporting older devices. The university knew that high-performing Wi-Fi was essential for high-density areas such as classrooms and dormitories. It also recognized that high-quality connectivity outdoors was important to students. That led to an expansion of coverage in outside areas where students gather and an outdoor learning area serving biology students. In this case, the modern learning environment may be a lecture hall, a dorm room or a fieldwork setting.

FOCUSING ON OUTCOMES: As institutions revamp their learning environments, measuring the success of technology investments is crucial to student engagement and retention. However, only 14% of higher education leaders say their institutions have broad integration of strategic technology management. The lack of such integration makes it more difficult to align investments in learning spaces with institutional goals. In addition, the majority of institutions have limited or nascent capabilities in business analytics, process optimization, change management and project management. These capabilities can be a powerful way to ensure that modernization initiatives achieve desired results: enhanced student engagement and retention, personalized learning through AI and other tools, and the ability to leverage data to improve academic outcomes.