Month: November 2025

Key Takeaways: Nuventive’s seventh webinar in our 10-part artificial intelligence series explores how AI is reshaping, enhancing, and accelerating the work of Institutional Research teams.

Webinar Details: Artificial Intelligence for Institutional Research: New Tools, New Strategies, New Questions

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Featured Speakers:
• Dr. Jason Simon, Former Associate Vice President – Data, Analytics, and Institutional Research, University of North Texas
• Dr. Eric Zeglen, Executive Director of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Moderated by:
Dr. Randy Swing, Advisor to Nuventive

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Each week, we distill key takeaways and share short clips from our conversations with presidents, provosts, and leaders in institutional research, assessment, and technology—turning big ideas into practical steps for improvement.

This week, we look at how leaders in Institutional Research are adopting and implementing AI.

Survey results from a poll conducted by the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) show many IR offices describing AI maturity as “not occurring” or “reactive,” but this does not reflect a lack of progress.

Dr. Eric Zeglen explained, IR teams often operate within complex environments shaped by system implementations, resource considerations, and institutional priorities—all of which influence how quickly new technologies can be adopted.

Even so, IR offices are laying essential groundwork: strengthening data structures, developing governance, and using generative AI in targeted ways such as communication, summarization, and workflow support.

Both Dr. Zeglin and Dr. Simon emphasized that AI alone is not a threat to IR roles. The concerns echo earlier reactions when statistical software became widely available, yet IR remained essential in interpreting results responsibly.

AI automates repetitive tasks but enhances the strategic contribution of IR, enabling teams to devote more time on student success questions, program effectiveness, and institutional strategy.

According to Dr. Zeglen, communication represents one of the most immediate opportunities. AI helps IR teams create clearer summaries, translate dashboards into digestible narratives, and tailor insights for different audiences—cabinet, deans, faculty, deans, advisors, and more.

Dr. Simon highlighted efficiency as another major advantage. AI reduces friction in tasks such as qualitative analysis, code generation, drafting communications, and producing visual representations—enabling IR professionals to focus on deeper analysis and meaning.

Data privacy and governance are central to AI adoption. Dr. Simon emphasized the need for strict protocols to prevent sensitive institutional data from entering public AI tools. His campus created a generative AI task force to develop guidelines for faculty, staff, and administrators, including secure workflows and recommended syllabus language.

Dr. Zeglen added that IR professionals must fully understand system stability and data architecture before implementing advanced AI solutions. IR plays a critical leadership role in guiding ethical use and helping campus partners understand both the opportunities and limitations of AI.

Professional development begins with mindset. Dr. Simon described how he used ChatGPT to create self-guided learning, then expanded into structured resources such as like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Google’s AI certificates. Even brief, consistent learning—reading an article or watching a short video—builds momentum.

“The first critical acknowledgment you have to make is: do you have the mindset, and the interest, and the desire to want to learn? I would encourage us all in the field to be really curious. If you don’t learn, someone else is going to learn, and you never want to be left behind,” Dr. Simon explained.

Dr. Simon encourages IR teams to begin with small, manageable applications—drafting emails, analyzing comments, generating visuals. Experimentation builds comfort, and curiosity keeps IR professionals current in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Dr. Zeglen recommends a thoughtful, patient approach centered on governance, communication, and scalability. Small wins compound over time. AI is here to support IR—not replace it—and thoughtful adoption ensures long-term success.

Up next in our AI webinar series, we turn to the role of artificial intelligence in documenting student learning and institutional achievement.

Documenting Achievement: Is There a Role for AI in Higher Education Assessment?
In this session, our panelists explore how AI can support meaningful assessment practices without compromising academic integrity, faculty ownership, or the nuance required to understand student learning. Stay tuned as we distill the key insights in next week’s blog.

Featuring:
Dr. Jenn Klein, Director, Institutional Assessment Systems, Gonzaga University
Dr. Jessica Cannon, Associate Professor of History, University of Central Missouri

Moderated by:
Dr. Jim Moran, Advisor to Nuventive

Recorded: April 4, 2024
View the replay now

Interested in learning more about the Nuventive Improvement Platform?

Key Takeaways: Nuventive’s sixth webinar in our AI series explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping academic leadership, student success, research, and strategy in academic affairs.

Webinar Details: Artificial Intelligence for Academic Affairs: What Innovation Means for Students, Faculty, and Administrative Processes

View the replay now

Featured Speakers:
• Dr. Rebecca Hoey, Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Dakota State University
• Dr. Ranjit Koodali, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for International Affairs, New Mexico State University
• Dr. Melissa Hortman, Education Strategist, Microsoft

Moderated by: Dr. Jim Moran, Advisor to Nuventive

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Each week, we distill key takeaways and share short clips from our conversations with presidents, provosts, and leaders in institutional research, assessment, and technology—turning big ideas into practical steps for improvement.

This week, we look at how provosts and graduate leaders are approaching AI with grounded awareness, ethical responsibility, and a focus on strengthening—not replacing—the human relationships at the heart of higher education. From personalized learning and advising to research acceleration and strategic planning, our expert panel offers a view of how AI can enhance academic work while ensuring faculty, staff, and students remain empowered and supported.

One of the first topics addressed was whether academic leaders must become AI experts to guide their institutions. Dr. Melissa Hortman, Education Strategist, Microsoft, emphasized education and awareness over expertise:

“For the majority of academic leaders, it’s really about being aware of this changing landscape, which we know is changing very quickly, and understanding generative AI and how it impacts education.”

Leaders can develop a broad understanding of AI by:

• Staying connected to diverse peer perspectives
• Listening to internal stakeholders
• Using AI tools regularly
• Creating space for innovation on campus

She highlighted a key insight from Harvard Business Review: “70 percent of organizational transformation fails because organizational change can’t happen if leaders cannot change with it.”

AI is expanding the ways students learn—not by replacing human instruction, but by strengthening it. Dr. Rebecca Hoey, Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Dakota State University, noted that early computer-assisted tools like Pearson’s MyMathLab were precursors to today’s AI-enhanced learning. What’s different now is the scale and speed at which AI can support students.

Examples from Dakota State University:
• AI tools that help students practice and refine mathematical proofs
• A “digital personality” avatar that supports students with questions about academics, financial aid, and registration
• Emerging opportunities for individualized, 24/7 tutoring and feedback

These tools personalize learning by identifying where students struggle, adapting support, and offering targeted guidance that helps them progress with greater confidence.

AI-embedded academic systems are reshaping how institutions identify needs and support students throughout their learning journey.

Examples shared:
• LMS systems that analyze login patterns, detect at-risk students, and prompt about missing assignments
• Camtasia automatically generating captions
• Library chatbots helping students locate resources
• AI-powered lecture capture that creates flashcards

Dr. Hoey sees this as a major opportunity: “Our existing tools are embedding AI … they’re really morphing and changing to support degree attainment.”

Dr. Hortman added: “AI is allowing professionals that work alongside students to really, truly be alongside them and to be able to see those patterns and use those patterns to have intentional conversations with them. I think this can be really powerful for students; it personalizes the experience.”

Dr. Ranjit Koodali, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for International Affairs, New Mexico State University, highlighted three research priorities:

1. Enhancing literature reviews: AI helps navigate scholarly databases and identify emerging trends
2. Accelerating data analysis: High-performance computing + models = faster, clearer insights
3. Predictive modeling: AI enables simulation of complex phenomena and forecasting outcomes

Dr. Hortman noted that AI changes the researcher’s role: “From being in the trenches to being the conductor of the tools.”

Even with AI, students must critically evaluate sources. Dr. Koodali emphasized the importance of knowing:

• Who produced the information?
• Are the authors credible?
• Are claims supported by raw data?
• Are methods transparent?
• Are there citations or retractions?

Dr. Hortman highlighted the importance of humanity and critical thinking: “We’re putting so much trust in AI to be the expert. When we anthropomorphize AI as the expert in research and forget all those amazing steps and the critical thinking that happens, going back to the source, understanding the information, knowing if it’s valid or not. Those pieces cannot be forgotten in research. AI is not the expert.”

At Dakota State University, advisors use AI-embedded tools to:

• Automate registration reminders
• Generate communications
• Flag non-program course selections
• Prevent financial aid compliance issues

Dr. Hoey explained: “I don’t see a place where AI will replace human advisors. It takes away those more menial tasks and frees up time for the more complicated, rich, mentoring work.”

Hear it from Dr. Hoey here

Dr. Hortman outlined how generative AI aligns with core institutional work:

Key capabilities:
• Content generation
• Summarization
• Cohort comparisons
• Real-time KPI tracking
• Semantic search
• Translation into leadership-ready language

“Strategic plans used to be made and then put on a shelf … now we can bring data in to inform what we do next.”

Dr. Hoey added excitement about mining data across academic and student systems: “AI is allowing us to ask specific research questions that will help us identify solutions that will help our students.”

As independent colleges navigate this evolving landscape, community remains their greatest strength. “We often find that the best way we can serve our members is through the creation of networks … to create shared communities of practice,” Hass said

Dr. Koodali

• AI accelerates discovery and research
• Protect data privacy
• Ethics must guide implementation

Dr. Hortman

• Lead with responsible AI
• Build a sustainable, ethical culture
• Empower faculty, staff, and students

Dr. Hoey

• Use AI intentionally
• Co-create institutional guidance
• Prepare students for an AI-shaped workforce

Across roles — provosts, deans, industry partners — the message is clear:
• AI is already embedded in higher education operations
• Human expertise remains the centerpiece
• Institutions must adopt ethical, shared frameworks
• Student success and strategic planning will increasingly rely on AI-driven insights
• Faculty and leaders will do less repetitive work, but more high-value work

Artificial Intelligence for Institutional Research: New Tools, New Strategies, New Questions

Featured Speakers:

Dr. Jason Simon, former Associate Vice President – Data, Analytics and Institutional Research, University of North Texas

Dr. Eric Zeglen, Executive Director of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Moderated by: Dr. Randy Swing, Advisor to Nuventive and former Executive Director at the Association for Institutional Research

Recorded: March 19, 2024
View the replay now

Interested in learning more about the Nuventive Improvement Platform?

Key Takeaways: Nuventive’s fifth webinar in our 10-part AI series explores how community college presidents are addressing artificial intelligence adoption and implementation within higher education.

Webinar Details: AI and the Future of Work: How Community College Presidents are Addressing AI

View the replay now
AI and the Future of Work: How Community College Presidents are Addressing AI
Date Recorded: January 30, 2024
Featured Speakers: Dr. Avis Proctor, President, Harper College; and Dr. Vincent Rodriguez, President, Coastline College
Moderated by: Dr. Andrew Jones, Strategic Advisor to Nuventive

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Each week, we distill key takeaways and share short clips from our conversations with presidents, provosts, and leaders in institutional research, assessment, and technology—turning big ideas into practical steps for improvement.

This week, we look at how community college presidents are approaching AI with pragmatism, purpose, and people-first leadership—balancing innovation with ethics, empowering faculty, and ensuring technology strengthens human connection rather than replaces it.

Guided by moderator Dr. Andrew Jones, Strategic Advisor to Nuventive, the conversation on the future of AI in community colleges evolved into a discussion on how artificial intelligence is already shaping higher education—and how institutions can stay ahead of it. Both presidents agreed that the key question isn’t whether AI will change the field, but how leaders will guide that change.

“It’s hard to think of an area it won’t impact,” said Dr. Rodriguez. “Our faculty are already integrating AI into curriculum discussions—adding new components, addressing ethical use, and revising syllabi to clarify when and how students can use these tools. That’s happening right now.”

Dr. Proctor added that AI is already improving the student experience. “This month alone, our chatbot handled more than half of the inquiries from incoming students. AI is already shaping how we connect, support, and guide learners—not just in the classroom but throughout the student journey.”

From adaptive learning to policy updates, AI is influencing nearly every aspect of higher education. “AI is here,” Dr. Proctor said. “The question now is: how ready are we to understand it, utilize it, and manage it responsibly?”

As enthusiasm for AI grows, both presidents underscored the need for balance—embracing innovation while maintaining thoughtful caution.

“The apprehension around artificial intelligence is correctly placed,” said Dr. Proctor. “It can be used in harmful ways … but AI can also be used for good and can benefit our students and our organizations.”

She added that leaders must model ethical engagement. “As leaders, we have a responsibility to stay informed, educate our students about ethics, and ensure we have the right information to make the right decisions.”

Dr. Rodriguez agreed that while change can be unsettling, the focus should remain on adaptation, not fear.

“AI provides tools that improve what we do, but it won’t replace us. Our focus as presidents should be on how those changes happen—and how we support our teams through them.”

Faculty members remain at the heart of institutional innovation. Both presidents highlighted how educators have embraced AI as a tool for exploration and growth.

“When ChatGPT first appeared, there was a lot of uproar—but our faculty immediately began organizing panel discussions to understand what resources existed and how they could use AI in the classroom,” said Dr. Proctor. “I’m proud of how quickly they stepped up to learn, apply, and share their insights.”

Dr. Rodriguez recalled how faculty conversations evolved from concern to creativity. “At first, the conversation was all about cheating … but soon the tone changed. Faculty started saying, ‘Wait a minute—let’s teach students how to use it appropriately for our discipline.’ That evolution has been great to watch.”

Dr. Proctor shared an example of faculty experimentation in action. “One of our faculty members asked students to complete a writing assignment both with and without ChatGPT, then compare the results. It showed that not everything AI generates is accurate—and that evaluation and discernment are skills our students must carry forward.”

Leadership, both Dr. Proctor and Dr. Rodriguez agreed, is about guiding people through change—not dictating it.

“As presidents, we’re not the ones in the weeds doing the action—we’re helping to guide it,” said Dr. Rodriguez. “For me, that means creating a safe space for faculty to explore AI … and showing our staff that this isn’t going to replace them—it’s a new tool to help us work quicker and free up time from repetitive tasks.”

He added that budgets must reflect those priorities. “People say budgets show your priorities—and that’s true. We’re analyzing where we need to shift resources, whether it’s for training or technology, so our teams can be ready.”

Dr. Proctor emphasized the importance of engagement—internally and externally. “The budget should show what our priorities are. As leaders, we have to engage industry partners to understand the skills and competencies they need so our programs stay aligned with the workforce.”

Both also agreed that technology should serve to deepen, not distance, human connection. “As we automate more, we can’t lose the human interaction,” said Dr. Rodriguez.

“Exactly,” Dr. Proctor agreed. “Chatbots should handle the routine questions so our staff can deepen the human conversations that matter.”

Even as institutions gain access to more data and smarter tools, both leaders agreed that interpretation and storytelling remain uniquely human.

“We have all this rich data and understanding, but how do we tell the story?” said Dr. Proctor. “We’ve all seen reports where three different people think they mean three different things. So how do we synthesize the information? How do we use it to influence, validate, and connect?”

She emphasized Harper’s “data-informed, not data-driven” philosophy. “We’re not making decisions solely on numbers. We also listen to how people feel and how they’re impacted by those decisions. That’s where understanding truly happens.”

And even in an age of automation, the simple act of connection still matters most. “We can’t just work behind machines and send emails. Some of the most important insights happen in the hallway … Technology can inform us, but it’s the human connection that moves us forward.”

Both presidents also see potential for AI to strengthen wraparound student support.

“We’re big on providing holistic supports for students—from food insecurity to transportation and housing,” said Dr. Proctor. “I could imagine a future where we triangulate data from our Hawks Care Center, early alerts, and classroom performance to identify when a student might need support before a crisis emerges.”

Dr. Rodriguez echoed the potential for early detection while maintaining empathy. “If AI could help us recognize patterns earlier, we might prevent crises before they happen.”

While AI can provide early warnings, the human relationship remains irreplaceable—it’s technology in service of care.

Across every dimension—student wellbeing, curriculum, leadership, and culture—Dr. Proctor and Dr. Rodriguez reminded us that AI’s promise isn’t to replace human work, but to enhance it.

The role of higher education isn’t to chase technology; it’s to guide it—anchoring innovation in ethics, empathy, and the collective pursuit of learning.

As independent colleges navigate this evolving landscape, community remains their greatest strength. “We often find that the best way we can serve our members is through the creation of networks … to create shared communities of practice,” Hass said

Artificial Intelligence for Academic Affairs: What Innovation Means for Students, Faculty, and Administrative Processes

View the replay now

Featured Speakers: Dr. Rebecca Hoey, Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Dakota State University; Dr. Ranjit Koodali, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for International Affairs, New Mexico State University; and Dr. Melissa Hortman, Education Strategist, Microsoft.

Moderated by: Dr. Jim Moran, Advisor to Nuventive

Interested in learning more about the Nuventive Improvement Platform?

Key Takeaways: Nuventive’s fourth webinar in our 10-part AI series explores how independent college presidents are approaching artificial intelligence adoption and implementation within higher education.

Webinar Details: Banding Together: How Independent College Presidents are Addressing AI

View the replay now
Date Recorded: December 13, 2023
Featured Speakers: Dr. Ajay Nair, President, Arcadia University; and Dr. Marjorie Hass, President, the Council of Independent Colleges. Moderated by Dr. Melissa Hortman, Education Strategist, Microsoft Education.

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Each week, we distill key takeaways and share short clips from our conversations with presidents, provosts, and leaders in institutional research, assessment, and technology—turning big ideas into practical steps for improvement. This week, we look at: Banding Together: How Independent College Presidents are Addressing AI.

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, higher education is moving steadily into strategic implementation. In a conversation between Dr. Nair and Dr. Hass, the two leaders reflected on how independent colleges can guide responsible, human-centered use of AI.

The AI conversation has shifted from curiosity to purposeful integration. As Dr. Hass noted, “We’re past the awareness phase of AI, and we’re in that strategic phase.”

Drawing parallels to past technological advancements—the printing press, television, and the internet—she reminded listeners that history has taught us technology neither saves nor destroys humanity but reshapes it. The task now is to learn from those transformations and apply that wisdom to AI.

Dr. Nair spoke with optimism about the possibilities. “AI has enormous potential and challenges, like anything that’s evolving,” he said. With the right strategy, higher education can leverage AI to enhance student engagement, improve pedagogy, and streamline institutional operations.

He continued, “AI is extending our ability to solve complex problems. So, it has to have a role in higher education. That’s our mission; it could potentially be the leading difference maker for higher ed to deliver honest, promised advanced knowledge.”

Hear it from Dr. Nair HERE (1 minute 23 second watch)

While independent colleges may not lead AI research directly, their shared role in shaping its intentional adoption is significant.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Dr. Hass explained, “We’re not massive research institutions, but we can innovate in AI … our ability to do that collectively is where the action’s at.”

Dr. Hass emphasized that adopting AI shouldn’t be intimidating—it should be exploratory. “You have to create an atmosphere of experimentation and play,” she explained.

By allowing faculty to learn together, institutions can foster creativity and reduce fear around new tools. “Approaching it in that way could be an exciting thing for institutions—to set aside time where we play together with this new technology.”

But play must be balanced with caution to avoid unintended consequences. Clear boundaries— especially between private and public data—are essential.

As institutions introduce AI into academic and administrative spaces, governance and ethics remain top of mind. Dr. Nair outlined the challenges: “Privacy, data governance, intellectual property, security—all of these priorities we have to examine now from the lens of AI.”

He also called for alignment across disciplines: “We have to have a shared understanding … of what outcomes we want for our students in the classroom and outside the classroom, related to AI.”

For both leaders, collaboration is the foundation of responsible innovation. Policies should protect, but not stifle, creativity.

There’s a natural fear that AI could make humans obsolete. Dr. Hass addressed it directly: “No one is going to be excited to work for a future in which they are obsolete. But people are excited to work for a future in which they can spend more time doing the things they love and care about.”

The key, she said, is to ensure AI serves as an enabler of human meaning. “How do we decide what is the most meaningful work we do, and then use the AI technology to make us able to do that better.”

As independent colleges navigate this evolving landscape, community remains their greatest strength. “We often find that the best way we can serve our members is through the creation of networks … to create shared communities of practice,” Hass said.

Both leaders agree that, at the end of the day, it all comes back to students. “They are going to be the beneficiaries of what we’re doing,” said Hass. “You’re not just going to have the tool in front of you as AI, but you’re going be using that tool for good. And that gives me so much hope for the future of education.”

As independent colleges navigate this evolving landscape, community remains their greatest strength. “We often find that the best way we can serve our members is through the creation of networks … to create shared communities of practice,” Hass said

Both leaders agree that, at the end of the day, it all comes back to students. “They are going to be the beneficiaries of what we’re doing,” said Hass. “You’re not just going to have the tool in front of you as AI, but you’re going be using that tool for good. And that gives me so much hope for the future of education.”As independent colleges navigate this evolving landscape, community remains their greatest strength. “We often find that the best way we can serve our members is through the creation of networks … to create shared communities of practice,” Hass said.Both leaders agree that, at the end of the day, it all comes back to students. “They are going to be the beneficiaries of what we’re doing,” said Hass. “You’re not just going to have the tool in front of you as AI, but you’re going be using that tool for good. And that gives me so much hope for the future of education.”

Check back next week for key takeaways from our fifth webinar in this series:

AI and the Future of Work: How Community College Presidents are Addressing AI

Dr. Avis Proctor, President, Harper College; and Dr. Vincent Rodriguez, President, Coastline College. Moderated by Dr. Andrew Jones, Strategic Advisor to Nuventive.

Recorded: January 30, 2024

View the replay HERE

Interested in learning more about the Nuventive Improvement Platform?