We partner directly with colleges and universities to help leaders navigate technology-enabled change in support of student success. Our work helps institutions make thoughtful technology decisions, strengthen organizational capacity, and prepare for emerging opportunities—including artificial intelligence.

We frequently support institutions in:

• Aligning technology investments with institutional priorities

• Assessing organizational and technical readiness

• Developing technology and AI strategies

• Improving the effectiveness of existing student success technologies

• Identifying opportunities for more connected, student-centered systems

• Strengthening collaboration across academic affairs, student affairs, institutional research, and IT

Whether supporting a single initiative or broader transformation effort, our goal is the same: helping institutions align technology strategy with student success strategy.

Many of today’s most important challenges facing higher education cannot easily be solved by institutions working alone. Navigating how emerging technologies can and should be used to strengthen pathways to economic mobility will require collaboration from policymakers, foundations, state systems, intermediary organizations, community members, and institutional leaders.

The Ada Center partners with organizations working at regional and national scales to accelerate learning, inform strategy, and strengthen technology-enabled student success across higher education.

Our partnerships often include:

• Technology and AI strategy development for education systems, funders, and supporting organizations

• Statewide and multi-institution technical assistance

• Strategic advising for philanthropy and intermediary organizations

• Design of collaborative initiatives that advance student success at scale

Current projects include supporting the Gates Foundation’s Digital Holistic Student Support strategy, partnering with AIHEC to strengthen technology capacity across Tribal Colleges, and designing national learning initiatives focused on AI adoption and organizational readiness.

Technology is evolving rapidly, but practical guidance often lags behind. Institutions and organizations need trusted resources that help them understand what is changing, what matters, and how emerging technologies can be applied in ways that advance student success.

The Ada Center helps translate lessons from across the field into practical frameworks, shared language, and actionable insights that support better decision-making.

Our work includes:

• Applied research and environmental scans

• Student, practitioner, and field insight gathering

• Workshop and convening design

• Cohort-based learning experiences

• Practical frameworks, tools, and open-access resources

• Facilitation of peer learning across institutions and organizations

Through this work, we help identify emerging practices, synthesize lessons across initiatives, and equip leaders to navigate technology with greater clarity and confidence.

Exploring our open-access resources is a great way to get support or learn about how we think and who we partner with.