A Sneak Peek at “Improving Operations With AI”
Despite growing interest, artificial intelligence adoption across colleges and universities has been uneven. For many institutions, the challenge isn’t just technical—it’s cultural. Concerns about data quality, governance, labor disruption, and student privacy have slowed widespread use. But recent conversations, including one held by The Chronicle of Higher Education, suggest a new phase is emerging: Campus leaders are moving from hesitation to experimentation.
In The Chronicle of Higher Education’s recently hosted virtual panel, four tech leaders across higher education shared real-world examples of how AI is improving institutional workflows, shaping service delivery, and—even more importantly—reshaping mindsets on their campuses. Below, we explore a few key themes that emerged from the discussion.
1. AI Is Already Driving Operational Improvements
In higher education, AI is often discussed as an abstract concept, but the reality is that many institutions are already using it in very practical, targeted ways. AI-powered tools are streamlining transcript processing, housing assignments, form routing, and even faculty content creation. By modernizing these operations, institutions are saving staff time and improving student services.
Phil Komarny, Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Maryville, shared how his institution reduced transcript processing time from days to minutes with internally developed AI models powered by their own data strategy. Curt Ehlinger, Director of Data Management and Process Improvement at the University of Dubuque, described how their student life office, once 90% paper-based, now uses automation to assist with housing workflows, freeing staff to focus on student engagement.
2. Success With AI Requires More Than Having the Right Tools
Jaci Lederman, Executive Director of IT and CIO at Vincennes University, made a key distinction regarding AI usage: AI needs to also stand for actual intelligence. Tools are only as useful as the strategy and thought behind them. For AI to truly serve institutions, schools need to first invest in foundational work like modernization, data governance, and process mapping. That groundwork ensures AI can be implemented in a way that delivers real value.
Lederman wasn’t the only one advocating for more thoughtful AI implementation. Most panelists, at one point or another, emphasized the importance of aligning AI use with institutional values and strategic goals.
3. The Cultural Shift Is Just Beginning
As AI’s operational benefits are becoming more clear, faculty and staff attitudes are becoming more positive. Southeastern CTO Neal Dyer detailed how, at his campus, the prevailing attitude toward AI is one of curiosity and openness.
This is especially true when AI is framed as a supportive aid rather than a human replacement. From “social-learning companions” designed to reduce attrition in nursing programs, to AI-generated podcast scripts that help faculty engage with content in new ways, institutions are starting to see AI not less as a threat, but and more as a collaborator.
Read the Full Discussion
The Chronicle’s panel of IT leaders captured a moment of transition for artificial intelligence—from fear of AI to experimentation, from isolated tools to integrated strategy. Read the full report to discover the full extent of how institutions are improving their operations with artificial intelligence.
