The seemingly sudden prominence and ongoing rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened the door to transformative possibilities for just about all industries, higher ed being no exception. But while there is a broad recognition AI will be important, the overall picture shows an industry that is still fairly resistant to using the technology and grappling with how to integrate AI effectively. As a result, higher ed is still in the early stages of adoption. But this creates an enormous opportunity for collegiate recreation.
As an industry sector that generally tends to be more progressive and innovative compared to higher education overall, campus rec professionals can bring incredible value and leadership by embracing AI and showcasing its capabilities responsibly. To harness the full potential of AI in this sector necessitates a strategic and thoughtful approach, navigating a complex landscape of opportunities and challenges. This is where leading the establishment of an AI Council can be invaluable.
What is an AI Council?
An AI Council serves as a strategic advisory and governing body within an organization, responsible for overseeing the ethical and effective development, integration and governance of AI across the institution. Its role is to ensure AI technologies are aligned with the organization’s goals, operate responsibly and deliver measurable value while mitigating risks. An AI Council in higher ed should consist of stakeholders who represent all key operational and business aspects of the university, including faculty, IT, legal, division leaders, senior leadership and students. Together, Council members serve as a collaborative platform for strategic planning, informed decision-making and addressing the multifaceted challenges that arise with AI implementation.
Driving Success with an AI Council
- Strategic Vision and Alignment: The Council helps define a clear and comprehensive vision for AI in higher education, aligning itself and its initiatives with the institution’s mission, values and strategic goals. By identifying use cases and opportunities where AI can create the most value, the Council ensures AI investments yield maximum benefits.
- Ethical and Responsible AI Use: Within the sensitive environment of higher education, responsible AI deployment is paramount. The Council establishes policies and guidelines to ensure AI systems are transparent, fair, accountable and free from bias. It actively addresses concerns and champions safe practices regarding data privacy and security, ethical practices, algorithmic accountability, legal considerations, and potential unintended consequences.
- Interdepartmental Collaboration: AI initiatives and workflows often impact various departments within a university. The Council fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing, breaking down silos and ensuring AI projects are integrated seamlessly across the institution.
- Informed Decision-Making and Prioritization: With an overwhelming number of AI applications and programs available, institutions need a strategic and structured approach to determine which ones to utilize. The Council uses data-driven decision-making by evaluating the potential impacts of AI initiatives and platforms, and their feasibility for implementation, to prioritize which avenues to pursue and help facilitate resource allocation.
Navigating Challenges
- Faculty Adoption and Student Usage: Like it or not, students are using AI. But what is perhaps more important to recognize is their careers and lives will be increasingly impacted by AI beyond graduation. So, it behooves us to help students understand and prepare for AI rather than hide from it. Successful AI integration hinges on building AI literacy among faculty to develop buy-in and aptitude. The Council supports educators with workshops, training programs and resources, empowering them to leverage AI effectively in their pedagogy and support student understanding and responsible application.
- Job Displacement Fears and Maintaining Human Connection: The Council emphasizes a balanced approach, ensuring AI complements rather than replaces human insight, expertise and skill. By proactively identifying areas where AI can augment human capabilities, the Council helps mitigate concerns about job displacement, supporting staff in acquiring new skills and transitioning to new roles. Additionally, this preserves an effective personalized learning environment and human-centric campus experience overall.
- Costs, Infrastructure and Impacts: To track success, the Council establishes key performance indicators and assessment frameworks to track the impacts of AI on student outcomes, operational efficiency and the university’s broader goals. The Council also conducts thorough cost-benefit analyses and explores sustainable funding models to ensure AI adoption aligns with the institution’s financial capabilities.
As higher education works to understand the possibilities presented by AI, the opportunity for collegiate rec professionals to blaze a trail toward AI adoption and integration is significant. The key is thoughtful leadership, proactive and strategic action, collaboration, and a commitment to ethical and responsible innovation. With these efforts, collegiate recreation can not only enhance its own operations but also greatly contribute to shaping the future of higher education in a technology-driven world.
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