Beyond the Webinar: Key Takeaways on the Human Impact of AI in Higher Education 

Nuventive’s recap of “The Human Factor of AI in Higher Education,” a 10-part webinar series, starts with a review of takeaways from our first event.

Webinar Details: AI’s Impact on Higher Education Improvement: Exploring the Human Element

Watch the full replay HERE. 
Date Recorded: October 17, 2023 
Featured Speakers: Dr. David Raney: CEO, Nuventive;  Rob Curtin: Director, Data and AI, Edtech Ecosystem, Microsoft; Moderated by Dr. Brent Ruben: Senior Advisor, Nuventive; Distinguished Professor of Communication; Founder/Senior Fellow, Center for Organizational Leadership, Rutgers University 

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Each week, we’ll 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. We begin with “AI’s Impact on Higher Education Improvement: Exploring the Human Element.”  

AI has burst into higher education with a mix of excitement, hesitation, and opportunities. Institutions are working to find AI applications that have actual impact and go beyond flashy demonstrations. Many early conversations have centered on instruction, assessment, plagiarism, and academic integrity. Administrative uses of AI are growing. 

Rob Curtin, Director, Data and AI, Edtech Ecosystem, Microsoft, described AI as a skills imperative rather than just a threat to academic integrity. 

Focus areas include: 

Safety and Security. AI is being deployed to detect and defend against cyber threats, a critical issue since higher education is one of the most frequently attacked industries. 

Personalization and Experience. Tools like Microsoft Copilot are designed to save time, improve efficiency, and create better outcomes for both faculty and students. 

Community and Access. AI has the potential to re-engage adult learners, bring back students who have stopped out, and open doors for entirely new audiences. 

Self-Actualization. AI can support discovery, research, and personalized learning pathways that align with each learner’s goals. 

The bottom line is clear:

AI succeeds only when it is tied to the institutional mission. Deployments fail when AI is adopted “for AI’s sake” without governance or a clear purpose. 

View the video clip HERE. (1 minute) 

Dr. David Raney, CEO, Nuventive, looked at AI through the lens of human impact: does it make things better for individuals, groups, and institutions? 

Dr. Raney emphasized three human factors: 

1. AI increasingly feels “human,” and it will deepen our personal connections with technology. 
2. People want to be understood, and this can create powerful emotional ties with AI.
3. It is critical to keep AI grounded in outcomes and improvement rather than letting fear or hype drive decisions. 

View the video clip HERE. (2 minutes 44 seconds)

It’s essential for institutions to learn from one another. Sharing both successes and opportunities for growth across campuses, states, and associations helps everyone move faster with intention. 

The call to action is to experiment, document what works, and spread those lessons in ways that build value and confidence across the community. 

Success starts with culture, not technology. Leaders should make sure faculty, staff, and students feel included rather than having AI initiatives “done to them.” Consensus is built through dialogue and trust. 

Two strategies emerged: 

Walk, Then Run. Start with small, purposeful pilots that have measurable outcomes, and scale once there’s proof of value. 

Run Wild in Parallel. Encourage exploration and innovation while maintaining guardrails to ensure projects stay aligned with the mission. 

The human factor must remain central. AI should always support improvement, inclusion, and equity, not replace human decision-making. Governance, transparency, and policy guardrails are critical to align innovation with the institutional mission. AI is transformative, but it will only deliver long-term value if it is used ethically and intentionally. 

Check back next Wednesday for a look back at our second webinar in the series, “An Accreditor’s View of AI in Higher Education” featuring Dr. Belle Wheelan, President, SACSCOC, Ret.; interviewed by Dr. David Raney, CEO, Nuventive. Recorded December 16, 2023.  View the replay now. 

Interested in learning more about the Nuventive Improvement Platform?