I came back from CECU in Cleveland with one big takeaway:
The career and technical education community feels...different. Not because the challenges have magically disappeared. (Spoiler: they have not.)
But because the conversations have shifted from "Who's to blame?" to "How do we solve this together?" That's encouraging.
Photo courtesy of CECU.
Institutional leaders aren't pretending the road ahead is easy. Regulatory changes, enrollment pressures, staffing challenges, technology adoption — it's all still there. But the people I talked with seemed remarkably focused on solutions instead of doomscrolling the future.
And honestly? That's where the magic happens.
Takeaway #1: Authenticity Over Flash
The other conversation I kept having was about partnerships. If you're a company serving higher education, authenticity matters more than ever. Nobody wants another flashy demo with a roadmap that looks like it was written by ChatGPT after three energy drinks (which is technically just water for AI…idk).
Institutions have been promised enough "game-changing" platforms that somehow arrive with half the features, twice the implementation timeline, and a support model that amounts to "Have you tried refreshing your browser?"
Campus leaders are looking for partners who:
- Tell the truth — even when the answer isn't flashy.
- Stay engaged after the contract is signed.
- Understand institutional culture, not just software features.
- Care as much about implementation and adoption as they do about closing the deal.
Takeaway #2: The Platform Is Just the Vehicle
Here's the reality: A platform doesn't improve student success. People implementing a platform well improve student success. The technology is just the vehicle.
That said, this isn't all on the vendor side. Institutions have a responsibility too.
Ask the Hard Questions Before You Buy
- Push vendors on implementation plans.
- Ask to see adoption data — not just feature lists.
- Find out what happens six months after go-live, when the excitement wears off and people are trying to fit new technology into already-full days.
Takeaway #3: Don't Buy Potential. Buy Proven Execution.
Maybe that's the biggest lesson I took home.
Success isn't about having the newest tool. It's about having partners willing to roll up their sleeves when things get messy. And if your implementation strategy is basically, "Good luck, everyone," then, much like the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation over the last two decades (no offense)...we probably need a better game plan.
As Drew Carey taught us, the points are made up and the rules don't matter.
Except in higher education.
Here, the rules definitely matter. The points? Those are student outcomes. And those are worth getting right.