Building Smarter Infrastructure through Faculty Partnership

Brad Shook, Senior VP of Technology and Operations, the University of Texas Permian Basin

Brad Shook has been working in higher education for about six years and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Technology and Operations, CIO/COO at the University of Texas Permian Basin. In this role, he oversees all aspects of technology and operations.

Shook has led efforts to respond to challenges in the higher education space, particularly those stemming from uncertainty in federal and state funding, including issues related to Pell Grants. With student populations shifting and national enrollment declining, he has focused on streamlining operations, eliminating redundant tools and implementing more efficient systems. His work centers on supporting evolving student needs and building adaptable operational models.

Through this article, Shook emphasizes the need for practical, cost-effective innovation in higher education, especially as institutions face rising technology costs and limited funding. He highlights the importance of building trust with faculty to implement tools like AI to streamline operations successfully.

The Rising Cost of Innovation

Institutions are under increasing pressure to modernize, support more diverse student needs and keep pace with emerging technologies—all while managing tighter budgets and shifting public funding. The biggest technology challenge we’re facing in higher education right now is cost. Vendors are raising prices across the board—software, hardware, IT services and with so many tools moving to subscription-based models, our long-term expenses just keep climbing. At the same time, our funding hasn’t increased, which forces us to make hard choices like cutting back on software, reducing features and keeping student laptops in use longer than we’d like.

AI is certainly on our radar, but for us, the bigger concern is how we protect student and staff data. We’re guiding our teams with clear policies to ensure responsible AI use, especially when it comes to tools that might handle sensitive information. At the University of Texas System office, we’re testing a new in-house AI system developed by our technical team. It’s designed to help us automate tasks, integrate with systems like our ERP and improve both internal workflows and student-facing services. This is part of our larger goal to do more with less by using technology that’s safe, scalable and cost-effective.

The Road Ahead for AI in Higher Ed

I do believe AI will play a big role in the future of higher education technology, but the truth is, as an industry, higher education tends to move more slowly when it comes to adopting new tools and innovations. When I look at other sectors like business or healthcare, it’s already much further along in how it is using AI. In contrast, universities are still in the early stages, and that’s partly because of how traditional and cautious our users can be.

“We know our faculty juggle many responsibilities. This new faculty portal offers a personalized dashboard that highlights key tasks based on their role, whether teaching, leading a department or managing a college”

The most common use of AI is among students, especially as a research tool. It helps them find sources faster, summarize content and organize their ideas more efficiently. Faculty and staff are also starting to explore it for editing and information gathering, which helps speed up tasks without replacing the deeper thinking that still needs to happen.

I’m most excited about AI’s potential behind the scenes, automating repetitive tasks, improving operations and freeing up time for teams to focus more on supporting students. AI agents, like digital tools that can take actions on their own, are becoming more talked about this year, and I think there’s a real opportunity for them. Higher education may take a little longer to catch up, but I believe it’s coming. And when we do adopt these technologies, we want to make sure we’re doing it responsibly and in ways that truly make a difference.

Simplifying the Faculty Experience

I’m looking forward to the launch of our new faculty portal this fall at the University of Texas Permian Basin. We’ve built it using Microsoft SharePoint, and the goal is to bring everything faculty need into one easy-to-access place. That includes syllabus deadlines, grading timelines, course schedules and even tasks tied to our Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation process.

This idea grew out of conversations with faculty. We know our faculty juggle many responsibilities. This new faculty portal offers a personalized dashboard that highlights key tasks based on their role, whether teaching, leading a department or managing a college.

We’ve also added tools to support student advising, so faculty can quickly see which students may be falling behind and reach out before it’s too late. We’ve already piloted it with some faculty, and the feedback has been incredibly encouraging. I believe this will take some of the day-to-day pressure off our faculty and give them more time to teach and mentor students.

Creating Space for Innovation to Thrive

For me, innovation in higher education comes down to trust, relationships and a shared commitment to improving the learning experience. Technology moves forward when the people who make the institution run, especially the faculty, feel included and supported. That’s why I make it a priority to stay connected with them, meet regularly with chairs and deans and build strong partnerships with faculty who are excited about using technology in meaningful ways.

These relationships help bridge gaps, smooth transitions and make it easier to bring new ideas to life across campus. Real progress happens through honest conversations and mutual understanding, when technology is used to support teaching, simplify processes and create more time for helping students succeed.

ERP

Microsoft

Healthcare

IT Services