This IDC Perspective identifies some of the leading challenges in creating supportive environments. Enhancing student success efforts and addressing the mental health and well-being crisis in education are at the top of educators' minds around the world. IDC has seen a significant increase in interest from education leaders in identifying solutions that can enable faculty and staff to provide more timely, personalized, and holistic services to students. Overall, their institutions are seeking to take a proactive, rather than reactive, posture in providing services to get ahead of student challenges before they become crises. In response to this demand, IDC set out to conduct in-depth research to get a clear understanding of the challenges that prevent institutions from being more responsive and to identify critical technical capabilities needed to build this capacity. The goal of this document is to offer a clear definition of what a "responsive institution" looks like, identify best practice examples, and provide education leaders with practical guidance on how to build a responsive institution. This document is an update to the responsive institution framework published in early 2023. This update was based on institutional and educator feedback collected between January 2023 and September 2024. The framework's components were informed by interviews with K-12 and higher education leaders as well as education technology vendors."Education leaders around the world are balancing the need to advance student success efforts while addressing the student well-being crisis," said Matthew Leger, senior research manager for IDC's Worldwide Education and EdTech Digital Strategies research program. "IDC's framework for a responsive institution is designed to help guide education leaders through the technological and institutional transformation required to provide student-centric, wraparound support to students in their time of need."
Executive Snapshot
Situation Overview
The Rise of the Responsive Institution
The Foundation for Building a Responsive Educational Institution
Tech-Enabled, Data-Informed, and People-Driven Student Services
Case Study Examples of Responsive Educational Institutions
Cal Poly Pomona Leverages IDC's Responsive Institution Framework to Drive Digital Initiatives for Student Success
Johnson C. Smith University Empowers Students Through Coaching and Technology
Texas Christian University's Comprehensive Collaborative Care Model
The University of Florida Enhances Students' Services for Students with Disabilities
California College of the Arts Identifies Students in Need with Data Dashboards and Risk Profiles
Ivy Tech Community College Enhanced Student Success with AI and Machine Learning
Fulton County Schools Enhances Decision-Making with Microsoft Power BI
Key Challenges to Creating a Responsive Educational Institution