The growing prominence of artificial intelligence tools in the mainstream can strengthen the work of higher education in a variety of ways, according to a report commissioned by HBCU support organization the Partnership for Education Advancement.
"AI, Equity, and Affordability: A Primer for Higher Education Leaders and Educators" a report produced by Whiteboard Advisors and created in partnership with the Harvard-MIT Axim Collaborative, details the ways in which AI can be used to assist colleges and universities with student support, data organization, enrollment, and retention.
Institutions with fewer resources, schools without the sufficient means to adopt or keep current with AI tool usage risk falling behind, subsequently presenting the possibility of another digital divide between those with more and those with less, the report noted.
“I think we really hope that the report would be sort of a guiding document of how an institution like an HBCU might be able to use AI right now,” said Cecilia Marshall, director of external partnerships at Ed Advancement. “We constantly are thinking [about how] if we don't provide a resource or support at this point, our HBCUs might be left behind in the dialogue.”
Cecilia Marshall
From 24/7 chatbots to personalized tutoring, AI can provide resources for students and educators.
Chatbots, though not necessarily cheaper, free up time that staff can spend face-to-face with students instead of answering calls or emails, Marshall said.
“In the case of South Carolina State University, I think they gained 400 staff hours by using customer service chatbots,” she said. “The cultural responsiveness of staff at HBCUs and really the beauty of community of HBCUs, is the people.”
