Conversations around artificial intelligence's potential in higher education are growing, and a report outlines some of the ways in which AI could revolutionize higher education. Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Current Uses and Future Applications, from The Learning House, casts a critical eye on the immediate and future applications of AI in higher ed, and it also examines implementation challenges. The report also highlights important policy guidance and recommendations that are likely to accelerate AI innovation or, if unrealized, stifle its growth and adoption. Related content: Is your campus ready for AI and other tech trends? For example, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) last updated in 2001, predates many common education technologies including smartphones, tablets, wireless data, MOOCs, and even online education programs in general.

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), autonomous systems, robotic process automation, chat bots, augmented and mixed reality and many other buzzwords are flying around water coolers and leadership team meetings across enterprises. It signifies the interest and the potential benefits to the organizations or institutions (in the case of higher education) and how these technologies can be adopted successfully to gain an advantage in the already very competitive higher education business. Part of AI is what is called unconscious AI. What does this really mean, and what are the different perspectives of unconscious AI? To explore unconscious AI, we first must understand what AI is and what different approaches are taken by technology providers and consumers to make AI effective and useful in daily life.

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), autonomous systems, robotic process automation, chat bots, augmented and mixed reality and many other buzzwords are flying around water coolers and leadership team meetings across enterprises. It signifies the interest and the potential benefits to the organizations or institutions (in the case of higher education) and how these technologies can be adopted successfully to gain an advantage in the already very competitive higher education business. Part of AI is what is called unconscious AI. What does this really mean, and what are the different perspectives of unconscious AI?

Colleges, universities, and community college systems are grappling with how best to plan, implement, and deliver artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to the maximum benefit of students, faculty, administration, and community stakeholders. As I interact with colleagues across the country, they all know it's no longer a question of "if" but "how and when and to what end." While the needs of every institution are obviously going to vary based on size, student profile, public versus private, I would like to offer up some useful observations and takeaways based on our first steps in this AI journey at the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). The taxpayer investments in the system have been consistent, considerable, and continue to generate economic growth and development across North Carolina. The best and most effective strategy won't work unless you can show early successes.

With so many industries seeing the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) applications come to fruition, we will need highly trained workers to fill what is likely to be a rising demand for such skills. In fact, the number of LinkedIn members adding these skills to their profiles saw a 190 percent increase between 2015 and 2017. Software and IT services saw incredible growth in the past two years, but education, hardware and networking, finance, and manufacturing saw increases as well. In fact, AI is one of the top four specific technological advances (along with ubiquitous high-speed mobile internet, widespread adoption of big data analytics, and cloud technology) set to positively affect business in the 2018-2022 period. Machine learning and augmented and virtual reality are poised to likewise receive considerable business investment.

According to a Northeastern University/Gallup poll, most Americans are optimistic about artificial intelligence's (AI) impact on their futures while, at the same time, expecting the net effect of AI to be an overall reduction in jobs. If we manage AI effectively, I believe it can be a net benefit to both society and the economy. The question is: How will higher education manage AI? Unfortunately, higher education does not have a reputation for managing change effectively. Our experience is much more one of coming late to the party--and not of our own accord. We cannot and should not do this with AI.

Another potential use for AI on campus is streamlining the admissions process by making accurate forecasts and predictions. For example, colleges and universities need to be able to accurately estimate how many accepted students will enroll in each upcoming term. If institutions are not able to make accurate predictions, both over- and under-enrollment can cause serious problems. Over-enrollment requires the institution to accommodate more students than it has resources for, resulting in a reduction in quality for the students who choose to attend. Under-enrollment threatens the long-term stability of the university through the loss of potential gains.

What if a special lab at the University of Rhode Island (URI) could educate the community on the ethical, technological, and social consequences of artificial intelligence (AI)? That's what Karim Boughida, dean of the URI Libraries, is counting on with a unique AI lab in the Robert L. Carothers Library at URI. Students, faculty members, state officials, business people, and community members can all use the lab for answers. And although AI labs have been around for decades, this is the first-of-its-kind in a common area, open to the public. The lab's goals are two-fold: How the lab operates Funded by a $143,065 grant from the Champlin Foundation, the lab has a Nvidia supercomputer as its centerpiece. It includes software-focused makerspaces and design-thinking labs, creating a multidisciplinary environment that's rare in academic buildings, Boughida says.

In light of the fact that only 59 percent of students who begin pursuing a four-year degree at a higher-ed institution graduate within six years, many in the industry are seeking innovative ways to improve student outcomes. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to its adoption across many sectors. The multidisciplinary field presents a wide variety of opportunities for application, giving it great potential for use in higher education. We are only beginning to scratch the surface of the many ways this technology could be used to help universities improve the student experience. AI uses on campus One way AI could revolutionize the higher ed experience is through automating the course-scheduling process. Rather than the current, sometimes lengthy, process of searching for courses that fit specific schedule and major requirements and deliberating over which ones to take, students could simply input any particular scheduling conflicts, such as a job or extracurricular activity, and receive a suggested course schedule tailored to their academic needs that fits within their time constraints.

As recently as last year, nearly one in five students who committed to attending Georgia State University (GSU) never showed up for classes in the fall. This problem isn't unique to GSU, and it's commonly referred to as the "summer melt." But GSU has taken an innovative approach to solving this challenge, using an artificially intelligent (AI) chatbot that has led to a significant increase in student enrollment. Summer melt most commonly affects low-income students, many of whom are the first in their family to be accepted into college. Navigating the complex student enrollment process can be intimidating for anyone, but especially these students--and many just give up before they complete the process.