GHFC Research Brief: Building a Smarter AI Strategy in Higher Ed
by Claire Brady, EdD
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation across industries—and higher education is no exception. A recent report from the AI Journal, drawing on a global survey and expert interviews, explores how AI has shifted from niche to mainstream, revealing invaluable lessons for higher-ed leaders.
“72% of business leaders now view AI as a positive force in post-COVID recovery.”
“Primary AI investments are focused on data science, predictive analytics, and chatbots—signaling a trend from experimentation to enterprise application.”
AI Is No Longer Niche—It’s Mainstream and Mission-Critical
AI has entered the mainstream, beyond experimental pilots. Leaders should see this post-COVID AI push not as a tech-optional luxury, but as mission-critical infrastructure. It delivers productivity boosts and strategic advantage—but only with the right governance in place
AI Threatens White-Collar Roles Too
Unlike past waves of automation that mainly affected manual roles, AI now impacts higher-educated jobs. While this promises efficiency, institutions could face internal role shifts or redundancies—making strategic workforce planning essential .
Governance & Ethics Must Be Integrated from Day One
The report highlights a clear need for ethics frameworks and transparent governance—AI shouldn't operate as a “black box.” Higher-ed leaders need to embed AI oversight and ethics into every deployment, especially when AI informs admissions, advising, or student services .
Education & Upskilling Are Non-Negotiable
Unlocking AI's potential requires more than tools—it demands investment in training and digital literacy for faculty, staff, and students. Equipping teams to understand, challenge, and collaborate with AI is vital .
Transparency Builds Trust
With societal concerns rising, institutions must mandate explainability in AI tools. Who makes decisions, how, and why? Ensuring AI’s rationale is traceable boosts trust and safeguards reputations
AI Enables Growth but Must Serve Institutional Mission
AI can decouple institutional growth from headcount increases—letting campuses do more with less. But if mission alignment is missing, AI becomes a cost-cutting lever—not a mission-enhancing tool. Leadership frameworks must keep student success and equity at the center .
What Higher Ed Leaders Should Do Next
Audit AI Readiness: Map AI tools in use—assess data quality, bias, privacy, and oversight.
Launch Governance Councils: Create cross-functional teams to review fairness, compliance, and alignment with values.
Invest in AI Literacy: Design training programs for faculty and staff on prompt design, ethics, and bias mitigation.
Partner Strategically: Work with trusted AI vendors, seek licensing or shared tool development aligned with institutional goals.
Monitor Role Impact: Watch for job shifts and skill gaps. Provide reskilling pathways, such as digital portfolios or AI-assisted advising.
Final Thoughts
The post-COVID AI era offers higher-ed leaders a powerful opportunity—to reimagine institutions as data-informed, human-centered engines of learning and impact. But realizing that vision isn't automatic. It requires strategic governance, digital capacity-building, and ethical clarity.
Download the full white paper on aijournal.com
Turning Insight into Action
If you’re looking to audit your AI tools, build governance frameworks, or develop training programs, I’d love to help you design a roadmap that keeps your institution resilient, mission-aligned, and future-ready. Contact me to learn more.
