Day two of the HETMA Virtual Conference 2026 continued the reflective yet forward-looking tone established on day one, with conversations centered on artificial intelligence, accessibility, lifecycle strategy, and operational maturity. Across sessions, a common thread emerged: higher education AV is no longer simply supporting instruction; it is actively shaping the strategic direction of teaching and learning environments.
AI in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities
The morning began, as it often does at HETMA events, with informal coffee conversations that quickly turned into substantive discussions about innovation, experimentation, and the realities of implementation. That energy carried directly into Byron Tarry’s keynote on the impact of AI in higher education AV.
Byron challenged attendees to rethink long-held assumptions, arguing that in the AI era, the industry is shifting from “content is king” to “context is king.” Rather than focusing solely on delivering information, technology managers must now design systems that understand and adapt to context, workflow, and user needs.
The conversation acknowledged concerns surrounding AI’s energy consumption, potential overhype, and copyright complexities. Yet the prevailing message was pragmatic optimism. AI is not a distant concept; it is already embedded in the tools campuses use. The challenge for higher ed AV leaders is to develop clear innovation strategies, identify manageable pilot projects, and collaborate across departments to ensure human-centered outcomes.
Wi‑Fi and Cloud-Based Assistive Listening Devices
Accessibility remained front and center in the session moderated by Teddy Murphy of the University of Pikeville, featuring Ernie Bailey (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences), Greg Carstens (AVIXA), and Tim Neviska (Kenyon College).
Panelists explored the growing deployment of Wi‑Fi–based assistive listening systems, widely viewed as more practical today than emerging AuraCast implementations. With smartphone adoption nearly universal among students, Wi‑Fi solutions offer flexibility and improved support for neurodiverse learners. At the same time, AuraCast was discussed as a promising future direction, albeit one currently limited by device compatibility and ecosystem maturity.
Security and network collaboration surfaced as recurring themes. Building strong relationships with campus network engineers was described as essential, particularly as enterprise management tools continue to evolve. Latency, once a significant barrier, has improved substantially over the past several years, strengthening the case for IP-based assistive listening.
One of the most consistent messages from the session chat was a call for manufacturers to develop hybrid solutions that combine AuraCast and Wi‑Fi in a single ecosystem. Attendees expressed frustration at having to choose between future-facing Bluetooth broadcast technology and today’s more practical Wi‑Fi infrastructure. A dual-path approach, allowing institutions to support current accessibility needs while preparing for broader AuraCast adoption, was widely viewed as a desirable next step for the industry.
As in previous discussions on accessibility, the conversation reinforced that ADA compliance represents a baseline, not a ceiling. Institutions must evaluate not only whether assistive listening systems are present, but whether they are intuitive, inclusive, and capable of evolving alongside student needs.
Engine Tune-Up: Optimizing AV Systems for Peak Performance
Moderated by Lisle Waldron (University of Trinidad and Tobago) and featuring Jon Youse (Ivy Tech Community College) and Matt Kamenski (UC Berkeley), this panel shifted the focus toward operational discipline and lifecycle planning. What began with a lighthearted conversation quickly evolved into a substantive discussion about maintenance, refresh cycles, and the long-term health of campus AV ecosystems.
Panelists emphasized standardization, user experience, and cost efficiency as foundational pillars. Early warning signs of system inefficiency, such as inconsistent firmware patching, reactive maintenance habits, and unclear ownership, were highlighted as risks that can quietly erode performance and shorten equipment lifespan.
The broader discussion of organizational structure revealed the diversity of reporting lines across institutions. Whether AV resides within IT, facilities, or academic affairs, success often hinges on leadership understanding the strategic value of instructional technology. Standardization and faculty partnership were repeatedly cited as powerful levers for securing institutional support.
Monitoring in a Single Pane of Glass
The final session, moderated by Troy Power (Northwestern) with panelists Matt Kamenski (UC Berkeley) and Chris Kelly (Creighton University), brought the day full circle by examining centralized monitoring and AI’s operational impact.
Participants described the complexity of managing multiple dashboards across disparate systems. The vision of a true “single pane of glass” remains aspirational in many environments, but progress is being made through API integrations, improved interoperability, and tighter alignment between AV platforms and ticketing systems.
AI’s role in monitoring was framed as both assistive and transformative. From automated troubleshooting recommendations to workload redistribution that empowers junior technicians, AI-driven insights can reduce unnecessary physical service calls and improve response times. However, the conversation underscored the need for open standards and manufacturer collaboration to fully realize this vision.
Outside the Sessions
As with day one, some of the most valuable conversations occurred between the formal programming blocks. Discussions spilled into networking breaks and continued well into the HETMA Happy Hour, which lasted nearly five hours and culminated in a special recording of The AV Life. In true HETMA fashion, technical experimentation was on display as Joe successfully merged Zoom and StreamYard in a live production environment—a fitting close to a day focused on innovation and operational evolution. (Be sure to catch the episode when it airs Monday on Higher Ed AV Media.)
If day two reinforced anything, it is that higher education AV stands at an inflection point. Artificial intelligence, accessibility modernization, lifecycle discipline, and systems integration are no longer separate conversations. They are interconnected forces shaping the next chapter of the profession, and HETMA continues to provide the forum where those conversations can unfold candidly and collaboratively.
