As institutions look to streamline their learning technology ecosystems, tool consolidation is becoming an increasingly common strategy. But reducing the number of platforms on campus is rarely a simple technical decision. It affects faculty workflows, departmental needs, student experiences, support models, procurement priorities, and vendor relationships.
In this session, panelists from ASU will discuss the real-world challenges, tradeoffs, and opportunities involved in consolidating academic technology tools. The conversation will explore how institutions evaluate overlapping solutions, engage stakeholders, manage change, and advocate for the functionality, flexibility, and partnership they need from vendors. Attendees will leave with practical considerations for approaching consolidation in a way that supports teaching, learning, and institutional goals.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how ASU approached learning technology consolidation across a large, complex institution.
- Understand why consolidation is an organizational change initiative—not simply a technical or procurement exercise.
- Explore how to evaluate tools based on instructional value, accessibility, adoption, integration, support requirements, cost, and long-term sustainability.
- Hear lessons about balancing institution-wide consistency with the specialized needs of faculty, programs, and departments.
- Examine the effects of consolidation on faculty workflows, student experiences, support teams, procurement practices, and vendor relationships.
- Identify strategies for engaging stakeholders, navigating resistance, and communicating decisions transparently.
- Learn how institutions can reduce unnecessary overlap while retaining the capabilities educators and students genuinely need.
- Leave with practical questions and considerations they can use to assess and refine their own learning technology ecosystems.
Intended Audience:
This webinar is designed for higher-education leaders and decision-makers responsible for learning technology strategy, including leaders in centers for teaching and learning, digital and online education, academic technology, instructional design, information technology, procurement, accessibility, and academic affairs.
Participants will benefit from an institution-level perspective on the opportunities, tradeoffs, and unintended consequences of technology consolidation. Through lessons from ASU’s experience, attendees will gain a practical framework for evaluating overlapping tools, aligning stakeholders, managing organizational change, and building a more coherent and sustainable learning technology ecosystem—without losing sight of faculty needs or the student experience.
Speaker Bios:
Lisa Fresquez
Director, Technology Innovations Learning Team, EdPlus at Arizona State University
Lissa Frésquez leads the Technology Innovations Learning Team at EdPlus at Arizona State University, overseeing the exploration, implementation, and scaling of educational technologies across online courses. Her experience spans K–12 and higher education and includes classroom instruction, library services, curriculum development, instructional design, faculty training, and technology strategy. She focuses on streamlining technology adoption, reducing barriers to learning, and creating meaningful digital learning experiences that support long-term student success.
Stuart Rice
Executive Director, Learning Experience, ASU Enterprise Technology
Stuart Rice is Executive Director of Learning Experience within Arizona State University’s Enterprise Technology organization. He leads teams responsible for learning environments, technology-enabled student experiences, educational technology practice, AI practice, and related enterprise services. Stuart works across academic and technology units to align institutional strategy, faculty enablement, platform support, and emerging technology adoption. His experience at ASU spans learning design, digital initiatives, professional learning, and the development of scalable systems that make learning technology more useful to educators and learners.
Marcus Popetz
Co-Founder and CEO of Harmonize Learning