ACUA

Auditing the Modern University: 10 IT Risk Trends Shaping Higher Education
2026-06-25 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Auditing the Modern University: 10 IT Risk Trends Shaping Higher Education

Thursday, June 25, 2026 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Register Today!

Higher education institutions operate some of the most complex digital environments of any sector supporting teaching and learning, advanced research, healthcare delivery, athletics, and global operations often with highly decentralized governance. As technology adoption accelerates, traditional IT audit approaches are increasingly strained, and internal audit functions are being asked to provide assurance and insight across rapidly evolving risk landscapes.

This session explores the Top 10 IT Audit Trends impacting colleges and universities, translating emerging technology risks into practical, higher‑education‑specific audit considerations. Participants will examine how trends such as cloud‑based learning management systems (LMS), ransomware threats, third‑party edtech ecosystems, AI and generative AI adoption, data governance complexity, research data protection, smart campus technologies, digital payments, and international campus operations are reshaping the scope and expectations of IT audit.

Each trend is anchored in real campus scenarios including academic systems, research environments, health centers, athletics, and global programs and paired with sample audit questions and scoping considerations. The session emphasizes how internal audit can evolve from traditional compliance‑focused reviews to more risk‑based, forward‑looking assurance and advisory work that resonates with institutional leadership.

Designed for internal audit, risk, and compliance professionals, this course provides actionable insights participants can use immediately to refine audit plans, engage more effectively with IT and business stakeholders, and communicate technology risk in a way that supports institutional objectives.

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to…

Identify the top 10 emerging IT audit trends currently impacting colleges and universities, including technology, regulatory, and operational risk drivers unique to higher education.

Understand how evolving digital strategies such as cloud migration, ERP modernization, learning management systems, and AI adoption are changing the IT risk landscape across academic institutions.

Assess the audit implications of increasing cyber, privacy, and third party risks, including ransomware, data governance, vendor ecosystems, and decentralization of IT environments.

Evaluate how internal audit functions can adapt audit plans, skill sets, and methodologies to remain relevant and effective amid rapid technological change.

Apply practical audit considerations and leading practices to strengthen assurance, advisory value, and collaboration with IT, compliance, and institutional leadership.

Translate emerging IT risks into board and leadership ready insights, enabling clearer communication of technology risk, controls, and assurance needs.

Delivery Method: Group InternetField of Study: Specialized KnowledgeAdvance Preparation: NonePrerequisites are required: NoCost: $25 for non-membersRecommended CPEs: 1

Resources

Host Information

Matthew Hoverman

Principal

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Matt is a Principal within CLA’s Business Risk Services group and leads the firm’s higher education enterprise risk and internal audit practice.

Michael Flory

Manager

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Mike is a Manager within CLA’s Business Risk Service team and supports the higher education enterprise risk and internal audit practice.

Traditional NCAA Compliance Risks Remain Despite Changing College Athletics Landscape
2026-07-30 13:00 - 14:00
Traditional NCAA Compliance Risks Remain Despite Changing College Athletics Landscape

Thursday, July 30, 2026 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Register Today!

NIL, revenue sharing, the transfer portal, litigation, the advent of the College Sports Commission, and the possibility of federal legislation regulating college athletics are just some of the significant events in college athletics these last few years. Despite myriad changes to the college athletics landscape, traditional NCAA compliance risks in the areas of eligibility certification, athletically-related financial aid, recruiting, and practice monitoring remain. This course shares data and information regarding these risks to help inform auditors who have – or seek to have – involvement with athletics.

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to…

Possess awareness of the existence of traditional NCAA compliance risks (e.g., eligibility certification, financial aid, recruiting, practice monitoring) in the modern college athletics landscape

Be aware of potential ramifications of a university’s failure to comply with NCAA rules and requirements in these areas

Understand how traditional auditing functions can apply to these areas.

Delivery Method: Group InternetField of Study: AuditingAdvance Preparation: NonePrerequisites are required: NoCost: $25 for non-membersRecommended CPEs: 1

Resources

Host Information

Josh Lens, J.D.

Owner/President

The Compliance Group

A former attorney in private practice and compliance administrator at Baylor University, Lens owns and runs The Compliance Group (TCG). TCG provides both proactive and reactive consulting services to college athletics conferences and universities. Lens also teaches sport management and sport law courses for The University of Iowa and The University of Iowa College of Law. He has published over 30 academic articles, primarily regarding compliance and legal issues in college athletics. Lens’s work has been featured by media outlets including Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, the Associated Press, Sportico, The Athletic, CBSSports,com, and The Paul Finebaum Show. Lens can be reached at jlens@tcgathletics.com.
