Strong Foundations 2025 - Data Systems, Management, and Evolution in State Postsecondary Agencies

Oct 15, 2026

Strong Foundations 2025 explores how 68 state postsecondary agencies that oversee PSURs manage internal data systems beyond the student unit record foundation. The brief analyzes the broader internal data ecosystem, including financial aid, financial, human resources, and facilities data systems, and examines integration challenges across PSUR and other platforms. It also addresses data governance structures, privacy and security standards, and the investments and emerging capabilities shaping data modernization, including artificial intelligence.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Internal Data Systems Beyond the PSUR

The Broader Internal Data Ecosystem

Integration Across Systems

Data Governance, Privacy, and Security

Investments and Emerging Capabilities

Conclusion

Strong Foundations 2025: DATA SYSTEMS, MANAGEMENT, AND EVOLUTION IN STATE POSTSECONDARY AGENCIES Stephen Mayfield June 2026 The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) serves the chief executives of statewide governing, policy, and coordinating boards of postsecondary education and their staffs. Founded in 1954, SHEEO promotes an environment that values higher education and its role in ensuring the equitable education of all Americans, regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic factors. Together with its members, SHEEO aims to achieve this vision by equipping state higher education executive officers and their staffs with the tools to effectively advance the value of higher education, promoting public policies and academic practices that enable all Americans to achieve success in the 21st century, and serving as an advocate for state higher education leadership. For more information, visit [sheeo.org](sheeo.org). © 2026 State Higher Education Executive Officers Association SHEEO STRONG FOUNDATIONS 2025: DATA SYSTEMS, MANAGEMENT, AND EVOLUTION IN STATE POSTSECONDARY AGENCIES © 2026 by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 4 INTERNAL DATA SYSTEMS BEYOND THE PSUR ................................................................................... 4 THE BROADER INTERNAL DATA ECOSYSTEM .............................................................................................. 4 INTEGRATION ACROSS SYSTEMS .................................................................................................................... 6 DATA GOVERNANCE, PRIVACY, AND SECURITY ................................................................................. 7 DATA GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES .................................................................................................................7 PRIVACY AND SECURITY STANDARDS ............................................................................................................7 INVESTMENTS AND EMERGING CAPABILITIES ................................................................................... 9 DATA SYSTEM MODERNIZATION ..................................................................................................................... 9 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND POSTSECONDARY DATA SYSTEMS .................................................. 10 CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................................... 11 INDEX OF FIGURES 1. DOES YOUR AGENCY MAINTAIN ANY INTERNAL DATA SYSTEMS THAT COLLECT OTHER POSTSECONDARY DATA? ............................................................................................................... 5 2. WHAT CHALLENGES HAS YOUR AGENCY ENCOUNTERED WHEN INTEGRATING DATA BETWEEN YOUR PSUR SYSTEMS AND OTHER INTERNAL SYSTEMS?.................................... 6 3. WHICH STATE, NATIONAL, OR INTERNATIONAL PRIVACY STANDARDS DOES YOUR AGENCY USE TO DETERMINE PRIVACY AND SECURITY PROCEDURES?............................ 8 4. HOW HAS EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY AFFECTED YOUR AGENCY’S DATA SYSTEMS?.................. 9 5. HOW IS YOUR AGENCY CONSIDERING OR ALREADY USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO ENHANCE YOUR DATA SYSTEMS’ CAPABILITIES AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES? ............................................................................................................ 10 SUGGESTED CITATION: Mayfield, S. (2026). Strong Foundations 2025: Data systems, management, and evolution in state postsecondary agencies. State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. SHEEO STRONG FOUNDATIONS 2025: DATA SYSTEMS, MANAGEMENT, AND EVOLUTION IN STATE POSTSECONDARY AGENCIES © 2026 by the State Higher Education

FAQs

What is the focus of Strong Foundations 2025?

It examines how state postsecondary agencies manage multiple interlinked data systems beyond PSURs, including governance, privacy and security, and future investments.

What internal data ecosystems do agencies manage beyond PSUR?

Most agencies maintain at least one additional data system, with common areas including financial aid, financial, human resources, and facilities systems.

How do agencies approach privacy, security, and emerging technologies?

The brief covers data governance structures and privacy/security standards, and discusses investments and emerging capabilities, including artificial intelligence to enhance data systems and decision-making.

Oct 15, 2026

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