EdTech Elevated
Higher Ed Needs Better Data: A Conversation with Darren Catalano
In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Gerry Hanley, Chief Academic Officer at Partner in Publishing, sits down with Darren Catalano, CEO and co-founder of HelioCampus, for a conversation about the pressures reshaping higher education and how institutions can use data to make better decisions about their future. Darren shares his journey from financial economics and industry analytics to higher education leadership at University of Maryland Global Campus and, ultimately, founding HelioCampus to help institutions use data for strategic decision-making. Drawing on his experience both inside higher education and as an EdTech partner, he explains why institutions are facing a fundamental shift from an era of enrollment growth and relatively easy expansion toward a new reality focused on accountability, financial sustainability, and outcomes. In their conversation, Gerry and Darren unpack the growing importance of understanding the economics of higher education, from enrollment and demographic shifts to program-level performance, cost structures, and the question of whether a college degree delivers sufficient value for students. Drawing on his experience building a "hub and spoke" model at UMGC, he explains why successful institutional transformation requires relationships, shared governance, and tools that help different campus communities make better decisions together. Whether you're a higher education leader, institutional researcher, EdTech professional, or someone interested in the future of colleges and universities, this episode offers a practical examination of how data, governance, and AI are shaping how institutions understand and manage their missions. Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/ Bookmarks: 2:25: Meet Darren Catalano and His Journey Into Higher Education Analytics 3:10: Why HelioCampus Was Built Around Data-Driven Decision Making 6:12: Evaluating Partners in Higher Education 8:02: The Demographic Enrollment Cliff 9:30: Balancing Mission and Margin in a New Era of Higher Ed 11:22: Why Understanding the Economics of Higher Education Matters 13:40: Using Data to Take the Emotion Out of Difficult Decisions 15:41: Accreditation, Accountability, and the New Financial Sustainability Requirements 17:35: Looking Forward: Data, ROI, and Positive Post-Graduation Outcomes 19:39: The Carrot and the Stick: Mission, Accountability, and Institutional Change 21:20: Generative AI and the Next Disruption in Higher Education 23:00: Why Trusted AI Requires Trusted Data 25:45: The Rise of the Chief Data and AI Officer 38:31: Shared Tools, Standards, and the Future of AI in Higher Ed Resources: HelioCampus HelioCampus on LinkedIn Darren Catalano Partner in Publishing Partner in Publishing on LinkedIn Gerry Hanley Lisa March
