What if the biggest variable in your cell culture experiment isn't what your cells are doing, but what they’re sensing? In this eye-opening episode of Cooperatively Speaking, host Allison Lambert sits down with Dr. Krista Rantanen of Baker to explore a commonly overlooked, but critical, factor in biomedical research: oxygen.

They discuss how most human tissues operate at much lower oxygen levels than what’s used in traditional lab settings, and why that matters. From cancer research to stem cell studies, Dr. Rantanen explains how replicating real oxygen conditions can lead to more accurate, reliable science. The episode also touches on common misconceptions, simple tips for getting started, and emerging technologies making low-oxygen culture more accessible.

Guest: Dr. Krista Rantanen, Director of Scientific Applications, Baker
Host: Allison Lambert, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services

Relevant Links:

E&I's Baker 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 the final episode of our three-part “Unlocking AI in Education” series, host Matt Levine reconnects with Microsoft’s Carlos Fernandez to explore how Copilot is transforming everyday productivity. From drafting emails in Outlook to analyzing data in Excel, Carlos walks us through the practical ways Copilot integrates with Microsoft 365 to make faculty and staff more efficient. Hear tips, real-world examples, and onboarding insights that help ease the learning curve and accelerate adoption. Plus, get a glimpse of what’s on the horizon for M365 Copilot in higher ed. It’s a powerful close to a series focused on turning AI into actionable impact.

Guest: Carlos Fernandez, Director Specialist, Microsoft
Host: Matt Levine, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services

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 Part 2 of our “Unlocking AI in Education” series, host Matt Levine and Microsoft’s Carlos Fernandez explore the next frontier in AI-enabled transformation: Copilot Agents. Unlike traditional chatbots, these intelligent agents are designed to automate complex, repetitive processes—freeing up time for both students and faculty. Carlos discusses real-world applications, from streamlining course registration to enhancing student services, and shares how even non-technical users can build and customize these tools. Whether you’re an IT leader or a faculty member, this episode sheds light on how Copilot Agents can redefine campus operations, and student experiences, in the years ahead.

Guest: Carlos Fernandez, Director Specialist, Microsoft
Host: Matt Levine, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services

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 the first episode of our three-part series on Microsoft Copilot, host Matt Levine sits down with Carlos Fernandez, Director Specialist at Microsoft, to explore Copilot Chat - a transformative AI tool reshaping how students and educators engage with content. Carlos shares real-world examples of how institutions are using Copilot to boost student outcomes and enhance teaching strategies. From simplifying research to streamlining faculty workflows, Copilot Chat is making a measurable impact. Tune in to hear how AI is evolving in higher education and what to expect in the future.

Guest: Carlos Fernandez, Director Specialist, Microsoft
Host: Matt Levine, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services

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.

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.

E&I Host:
Dennis Hyde, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services

Guest:
Adrienne Meador Murray, VP for Equity, Compliance, and Civil Rights Services at D. Stafford & Associates

This podcast explores the sweeping changes in Title IX and Title VI enforcement under the new Trump administration, and what those changes mean for higher ed institutions across the country. From landmark Supreme Court decisions to evolving campus policies, we connect the legal history to the real-time challenges institutions now face regarding admissions, athletics, sexual misconduct, and diversity.

As Title IX and Title VI increasingly intersect, the boundaries between them are becoming less clear, making compliance even more complicated. One of the most controversial shifts is the administration’s strict, binary definition of sex, which removes federal protections for transgender students. Institutions that allow transgender women to participate in women’s sports or use women’s facilities are already facing new federal investigations. The return of the 2020 Title IX regulations adds another layer of complexity, strengthening protections for students accused of misconduct while limiting schools’ responsibilities for off-campus incidents. The administration is also widening its scrutiny of colleges, beyond just the Ivy League.

For higher ed leaders, these developments are forcing urgent reassessments of campus policies and civil rights compliance strategies in a rapidly changing landscape.

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.