Banding Together: How Independent College Presidents are Addressing AI

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

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