What does it take to build a resilient cybersecurity strategy in higher education - especially with limited resources and rising threats?

Tobey Coffman, Chief Information Security Officer at Ball State University, and Ron Pelletier, founder of Pondurance, share how their partnership grew from a single pen test into a fully managed, 24/7 detection and response program. Together, they break down the real-world challenges campuses face, the tipping point that led Ball State to invest in around-the-clock protection, and what makes a vendor-university relationship truly work.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to deepen your institution’s cybersecurity posture, this conversation delivers insight, strategy, and lessons learned from the front lines.

Guests: Tobey Coffman, Executive Director of Information Security and Chief Information Security Officer, Ball State University & Ron Pelletier, Founder & Chief Customer Officer, Pondurance
Host: Matt Levine, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services

Relevant Links:

E&I's Pondurance Contract

Cooperatively Speaking is hosted by E&I Cooperative Services, the only member-owned, non-profit procurement cooperative exclusively focused on serving the needs of education. Visit our website at www.eandi.org/podcast.

Contact Us
Have questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you! Contact Cooperatively Speaking at podcast@eandi.org.

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host(s) or E&I Cooperative Services.

In this episode, Dennis Hyde sits down with legal counsel from the Higher Education Practice Group at Church Church Hittle + Antrim (CCHA) to discuss the legal landscape surrounding federal regulations aimed at preventing sex-based discrimination on college campuses. A key focus of the discussion is the growing impact of pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions in higher education settings.

In this podcast, the two Partners at CCHA discuss laws and regulations that apply to pregnancy on campus, what the compliance mechanisms are for those laws, the unique challenges of pregnant student-athletes, and practical advice for universities. The episode highlights how laws that apply to pregnancy on campus are unique as well as what constitutes a "pregnancy-related condition," and how institutions can ensure compliance. The conversation also explores how the Biden administration’s approach to Title IX enforcement on pregnancy differs from that of the Trump era.

E&I Host:
Dennis Hyde, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services
Guests:
James Nussbaum, Partner at CCHA & Jodie Ferise, Partner at CCHA

Cooperatively Speaking is hosted by E&I Cooperative Services, the only member-owned, non-profit procurement cooperative exclusively focused on serving the needs of education. Visit our website at www.eandi.org/podcast.

Contact Us
Have questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you! Contact Cooperatively Speaking at podcast@eandi.org.

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host(s) or E&I Cooperative Services.

AI is transforming higher education, but at what cost to student privacy? In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking, Matt Levine speaks with Chris Uthe, Chief Product Officer at BlackBeltHelp, about how colleges and universities can harness the power of artificial intelligence without compromising the trust at the heart of the student experience.

With campuses storing vast amounts of sensitive data, the conversation dives into how institutions can use AI to enhance student support while staying compliant with regulations like FERPA. As a seasoned expert in education technology, Chris shares insights on cutting through the noise of overhyped AI solutions, streamlining tech stacks, and building ethically sound systems that truly serve students.

Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or looking to sharpen your data privacy strategy, this episode offers timely, practical guidance on the future of AI in higher ed.

E&I Host:
Matt Levine, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services
Guest:
Chris Uthe, Chief Product Officer, BlackBeltHelp

Cooperatively Speaking is hosted by E&I Cooperative Services, the only member-owned, non-profit procurement cooperative exclusively focused on serving the needs of education. Visit our website at www.eandi.org/podcast.

Contact Us
Have questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you! Contact Cooperatively Speaking at podcast@eandi.org.

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host(s) or E&I Cooperative Services.