Higher Ed AI Survey

What Institutions Are Doing and Planning with Artificial Intelligence

Over the last several years there has been a lot of press surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. The promise of AI is a better experience for students, reduced costs and improved recruitment and admissions results.

In Fall 2021, we surveyed institutions to better understand what institutions are doing — and plan to do — with AI now and in the future.

The Results:

AI and Recruitment

This is what the respondents told us in relation to AI and
Recruitment. They are:

Using chatbots to communicate with prospects and answer questions

  • Not in use 51% 51%
  • Considering it 37% 37%
  • Some usage 10% 10%
  • A lot of usage 2% 2%
  • Don’t know 0% 0%

Using AI to build personalized communication

  • Not in use 51% 51%
  • Considering it 39% 39%
  • Some usage 7% 7%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 2% 2%

Using predictive modelling to identify “hot prospects”

  • Not in use 41% 41%
  • Considering it 34% 34%
  • Some usage 10% 10%
  • A lot of usage 2% 2%
  • Don’t know 12% 12%

Using AI to re-enroll students who have dropped out

  • Not in use 78% 78%
  • Considering it 5% 5%
  • Some usage 2% 2%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 15% 15%

Using AI to “nudge” applicants to accept and put down their deposit

  • Not in use 56% 56%
  • Considering it 24% 24%
  • Some usage 12% 12%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 5% 5%

Using AI to plan communication (across any media – text, email, social, print, etc.)

  • Not in use 39% 39%
  • Considering it 22% 22%
  • Some usage 27% 27%
  • A lot of usage 2% 2%
  • Don’t know 10% 10%

Using AI to track and analyze the student behaviour on your website

  • Not in use 32% 32%
  • Considering it 34% 34%
  • Some usage 15% 15%
  • A lot of usage 2% 2%
  • Don’t know 17% 17%

The Results:

AI and Admissions

This is what the respondents told us in relation to AI and
Admissions. They are:

Using AI to detect plagiarism on application essay questions

  • Not in use 51% 51%
  • Considering it 0% 0%
  • Some usage 22% 22%
  • A lot of usage 2% 2%
  • Don’t know 24% 24%

Using AI to assess students for financial aid

  • Not in use 61% 61%
  • Considering it 12% 12%
  • Some usage 0% 0%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 26% 26%

Using AI chatbots to help students enroll in classes

  • Not in use 63% 63%
  • Considering it 12% 12%
  • Some usage 7% 7%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 17% 17%

Using AI to assess admissions applications and score applicants

  • Not in use 68% 68%
  • Considering it 12% 12%
  • Some usage 2% 2%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 17% 17%

Using AI to assess students for financial aid

  • Not in use 61% 61%
  • Considering it 12% 12%
  • Some usage 0% 0%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 26% 26%

Using AI to predict enrollment by program

  • Not in use 61% 61%
  • Considering it 10% 10%
  • Some usage 2% 2%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 27% 27%

Using AI to provide emergency financial aid

  • Not in use 59% 59%
  • Considering it 7% 7%
  • Some usage 0% 0%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 34% 34%

The Results:

AI and Student Success/Retention

This is what the respondents told us in relation to AI and Student Success/Retention. They are:

Using AI to identify students most at risk of dropping out

  • Not in use 54% 54%
  • Considering it 10% 10%
  • Some usage 5% 5%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 32% 32%

Using AI to send academic warnings

  • Not in use 54% 54%
  • Considering it 15% 15%
  • Some usage 7% 7%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 24% 24%

Using AI to help manage dropping classes

  • Not in use 66% 66%
  • Considering it 7% 7%
  • Some usage 2% 2%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 24% 24%

Using AI to encourage student community and engagement in campus life

  • Not in use 54% 54%
  • Considering it 15% 15%
  • Some usage 10% 10%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 22% 22%

The Results:

AI and Teaching

This is what the respondents told us in relation to AI and Teaching. They are:

Using AI for grading

  • Not in use 54% 54%
  • Considering it 10% 10%
  • Some usage 5% 5%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 32% 32%

Using AI for proctoring

  • Not in use 42% 42%
  • Considering it 5% 5%
  • Some usage 10% 10%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 44% 44%

Using AI to check for plagiarism

  • Not in use 29% 29%
  • Considering it 2% 2%
  • Some usage 17% 17%
  • A lot of usage 7% 7%
  • Don’t know 44% 44%

Using AI for tutoring

  • Not in use 42% 42%
  • Considering it 5% 5%
  • Some usage 7% 7%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 46% 46%

Using AI to help hire instructors

  • Not in use 46% 46%
  • Considering it 2% 2%
  • Some usage 0% 0%
  • A lot of usage 0% 0%
  • Don’t know 51% 51%

The Results:

AI and Concerns

This is what the respondents told us in relation to concerns surrounding AI. They are:

Concerned about algorithmic biases

  • Not concerned 29% 29%
  • A little concerned 20% 20%
  • Somewhat concerned 17% 17%
  • Very concerned 17% 17%
  • Don’t know 17% 17%

Concerned about the ethics related to AI

  • Not concerned 32% 32%
  • A little concerned 27% 27%
  • Somewhat concerned 22% 22%
  • Very concerned 12% 12%
  • Don’t know 7% 7%

Concerned about the financial costs

  • Not concerned 12% 12%
  • A little concerned 15% 15%
  • Somewhat concerned 24% 24%
  • Very concerned 34% 34%
  • Don’t know 15% 15%

Concerned about finding a vendor / partner to work with

  • Not concerned 17% 17%
  • A little concerned 27% 27%
  • Somewhat concerned 29% 29%
  • Very concerned 15% 15%
  • Don’t know 12% 12%

Concerned about the quality and quantity of your data

  • Not concerned 17% 17%
  • A little concerned 15% 15%
  • Somewhat concerned 24% 24%
  • Very concerned 37% 37%
  • Don’t know 7% 7%

Concerned about the scalability with AI in your institution’s current environment

  • Not concerned 15% 15%
  • A little concerned 10% 10%
  • Somewhat concerned 27% 27%
  • Very concerned 34% 34%
  • Don’t know 15% 15%

Next Steps

For more information on our results or if you would like the entire data set, contact us at:

The SchoolFinder Group Team
info@schoolfindergroup.com

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