education operations

7 trends in education operations health


Operations data, survey feedback reveal slightly improved outlook on the state of higher education facilities

University IT teams say they struggle to find a balance between accommodating more devices on campus while dealing with limited IT resources, according to a new survey on education operations.

The Education Operations Health Index, an annual report from Dude Solutions based on operations statistics and a 25-question survey, gauges sentiments from K-12, higher education, and industry to determine general dispositions toward education facilities.

The survey can help institutions self-assess and make better decisions.

“This unique data-based view [ensures] that every education leader, from superintendents to business officers to CIOs, has a benchmark to not only pinpoint their department’s strengths and weaknesses, but make informed and actionable decisions,” says Nick Mirisis, vice president of marketing for Dude Solutions.

Predictive maintenance and the Internet of Things

New methods of maintaining education facilities are on the rise, including predictive maintenance using the Internet of Things to target asset maintenance, according to the index. Although this approach can save money, more than 50 percent of those surveyed are unfamiliar with predictive maintenance, and 85 percent are not leveraging IoT capabilities, although 20 percent said they plan to in the near future.

Deferred maintenance

Facilities last an average of about 40 years, but many overlook funding capital upgrades and improvements. Generally, it is recommended that 3 percent of funding be deferred annually for maintenance and capital projects, but only 19 percent of those surveyed allocate that amount. Nearly 50 percent allocate less than 3 percent, and some don’t direct any funding to this area.

Preventive maintenance

Slightly more than 40 percent of those surveyed said they are doing more preventive maintenance than last year.

Community use of facilities

Only 16 percent of those surveyed report high facility deterioration, with 83 percent reporting either some or little to no deterioration, indicating that respondents are seeing less wear and tear on facilities from after-hours use.

Energy

Energy spending seems to be stable—70 percent of survey participants said they did not see an increase in energy spend last year, likely due in part to improved tracking and lower usage costs.

Technology management

Getting connected is easier, and 55 percent of respondents say they have more devices now than last year. But with more assets to track, plus data security concerns, IT teams say feel they face an uphill battle without enough resources.

Safety

Sixty-five percent of respondents said their safety budgets have remained the same. This suggests institutions feel secure with their current safety efforts, but it remains a major focus for education leaders, especially in the wake of repeated school violence.

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Laura Ascione

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