The Transformative Potential of AI in Student Affairs: Recommendations for Student Affairs Leaders

As higher education evolves in the era of the fourth industrial revolution, AI presents unparalleled opportunities to enhance how institutions support and engage students. From adaptive learning platforms to predictive analytics, AI enables personalization, operational efficiency, and proactive interventions.

At its core, the report underscores that AI should augment—not replace—human connections. By automating routine tasks, AI empowers professionals to focus on relationship-building activities that drive student success.

This report offers a four-phase approach to AI adoption, including 14 use cases from colleges and universities engaging in innovative technology projects along each phase.

Based on Complete College America’s (2023) “Do Now, Do Soon, and Work Toward” model for AI integration to affect college completion efforts, this framework expands and adapts this concept to address four unique challenges and opportunities within student affairs. The framework retains the spirit of Complete College America’s phased approach while addressing the specific needs of student affairs leaders at this critical juncture in higher education.

Implement readily available AI solutions that address current student affairs challenges with minimal disruption to existing processes and build momentum for further AI adoption.

Allocate resources and build capacity for more complex AI implementations and invest in AI literacy, infrastructure, and expertise.

Expand proven AI solutions and plan for their broader assimilation into various student affairs domains.

Craft an expansive vision for AI-enhanced student affairs that transcends current limitations and aligns with broader institutional long-range goals.