AI is no longer a future issue for higher education. Policymakers and institutions must decide how to use it to support learners.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping many elements of higher education, ranging from how students learn to the policies being written. According to a survey by Inside Higher Ed, 85% of learners used generative AI for coursework in the last year and the majority of faculty and administrators used it personally or professionally. The challenge is no longer whether higher education will use AI, but how leaders and policymakers will guide its use to protect students, strengthen learning, and maintain public trust.
AI in Higher Education: Learner-Centered Insights for Policymakers and Practitioners is a research series from CHEPP that examines how colleges and universities are using AI, the opportunities and risks it presents, and how AI tools can support learner-centered design. The series provides a foundation for understanding how AI is being integrated into higher education and considerations for policymakers and institutional leaders as AI becomes more deeply embedded across campuses and learning platforms.
AI Primer
Before higher education institutions can make sound decisions about AI, leaders need a clear-eyed understanding of what it is and what it can do. AI in Higher Education: A Primer for Higher Education Policymakers and Leaders introduces the types of AI tools in use today and their capabilities.
With a shared understanding of the technology, policymakers and leaders can make informed decisions about how AI can support teaching, learning, and the student experience as AI evolves and institutions face increasingly complex choices.
Teaching and Learning
As AI tools become more commonplace, policymakers and institutions must consider what it means to keep learners at the center of higher education, understanding both the inherent risks, concerns, benefits, and opportunities of the technology. The goal isn’t simply to adopt new technology; it is to use AI in ways that build critical thinking, support learner agency, and strengthen the learning experience.
AI in Higher Education: Teaching and Learning includes use cases from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and other institutions that are using AI to strengthen the learning experience through:
- AI-integrated coursework: Faculty design coursework that requires learners to evaluate and critique AI-generated outputs, building AI fluency
- Personalized tutoring support: AI tools provide on-demand tutoring and feedback that accelerates learning
- Simulation and practice environments: Learners use AI to practice interviews, explore career pathways, and receive real-time feedback in a low-stakes environment
- Accessible learning: AI tools provide real-time captioning, translation, and text-to-speech support for learners with disabilities
Infrastructure and Operations
AI in Higher Education: Infrastructure and Operations focuses on the operational and governance questions that institutions must answer to get AI right: How they evaluate and adopt new tools, protect student data, and build AI literacy among faculty and staff. Establishing clear governance ensures that decisions about AI are applied consistently and reflect institutional values.
AI has the potential to expand access and support, but without intentional design, it can also reinforce existing gaps, such as:
- Resource constraints: Not all institutions have the funding to invest in AI tools, infrastructure, and training, which can limit access for learners
- Disconnected systems: Student data is often spread across disconnected systems, making it harder to use AI effectively without major investment
- Uneven adoption: While many institutions see the value of AI, some haven’t started using AI in their day-to-day work due to uncertainty and concerns about risk
From Insights to Action
The decisions that policymakers and institutions make now will shape higher education’s future. AI has the potential to expand access, personalize learning, and improve student outcomes. As with other major shifts in higher education, the challenge is not simply adopting new technology; it is ensuring that learners stay at the center of systems, policies, and practices.
AI in Higher Education is a resource for policymakers and institutional leaders making decisions that will shape how AI is adopted across higher education and who ultimately benefits from it.
To learn more, read:
AI in Higher Education: Learner-Centered Insights for Policymakers and Practitioners.
AI in Higher Education: A Primer for Higher Education Policymakers and Leaders