Let's Chat: How CUNY’s CIO is Leveraging Tech to Empower 250,000 Students

Overview

Seb Formoso discusses CUNY’s multi-pronged strategy to enhance digital equity, streamline student support, and modernize infrastructure. Key initiatives include upgrading Wi-Fi accessibility, deploying predictive advising tools, and rolling out a new Learning Management System (LMS). He emphasizes resilience, innovation, and a future vision of AI-driven personalized education.

What You’ll Learn

• Bridging the Digital Divide: How CUNY’s Eduroam Wi-Fi expansion and technology loaner programs ensure access for underserved students.

• Data-Driven Student Support: The impact of real-time counselor dashboards and AI-powered advising tools (like EAB Navigate) on retention.

• Infrastructure Resilience: Partnerships to prevent network downtime and secure systems against cyber threats.

• Future of EdTech: Formoso’s vision for AI-customized curricula tailored to individual learning speeds and needs.

Strategy in Action

1. Eduroam Wi-Fi: Students now access CUNY systems securely from any national hotspot (e.g., public libraries).

2. Counselor Corner: High school counselors track applicant progress in real time, reducing delays in admissions.

3. Predictive Advising: EAB Navigate flags at-risk students, optimizing advisors’ time for targeted interventions.

4. LMS Upgrade: A new platform (with DTL) modernizes remote learning tools.

5. Security & Uptime: Collaborations with network providers ensure 100% resilience against outages/attacks.

Quotable Moment

“We’re literally rethinking how you can engage every student… to teach them at their particular speed and time. It’s about giving every student a better opportunity, whatever their constraints.”
— Seb Formoso on CUNY’s AI-driven future.

Why You Should Listen

Formoso offers a blueprint for scaling equity in large institutions, blending tech innovation with mission-critical priorities. His focus on real-time data, partnerships, and long-term AI integration provides actionable insights for educators, IT leaders, and policymakers tackling similar challenges.

Want more insights like this? Great news—Seb Formoso will be back at the Government Innovation Showcase NY in November 2025! Secure your spot and stay updated.