Tag: Connection

  • Carnegie Navigates Change in Higher Ed With Student Connection

    Carnegie Navigates Change in Higher Ed With Student Connection

    Carnegie announced a continued commitment to higher education that places student connection at the center of institutional strategy, aligning research, strategy, storytelling, media, and technology to help colleges and universities navigate today’s interconnected challenges. The update reflects an evolution in how Carnegie supports enrollment, trust, relevance, and student success in an era shaped by demographic change and AI-driven discovery.

    A Moment of Change for Higher Education

    As colleges and universities confront a period of sustained pressure, rising scrutiny, and rapid change, Carnegie today announced a continued commitment to how it supports higher education—placing student connection at the center of institutional strategy, decision-making, and long-term success.

    The Announcement at the 2026 Carnegie Conference

    The announcement was made on stage at the opening of the 2026 Carnegie Conference, where more than 400 higher education leaders and professionals gathered to examine the forces reshaping enrollment, reputation, strategy, and the student experience.

    More Than a Brand Update—A Strategic Evolution

    While Carnegie introduced an updated brand identity as part of the moment, company leaders emphasized that the announcement reflects a broader evolution in how the company is responding to the realities facing institutions today. 

    Carnegie is aligning its strategy around integrated, innovative approaches—bringing together research, data, AI-enabled technology, and strategy—to help leaders address challenges that are increasingly interconnected and complex.

    Why This Shift Matters Now

    “Higher education leaders are operating in an environment where the stakes are higher and the margin for error is smaller,” said Gary Colen, chief executive officer of Carnegie. “Our responsibility is to innovate with purpose—delivering clarity, focus, and solutions that help institutions make decisions that lead to better outcomes for students.”

    Student Connection as a Strategic Imperative

    Carnegie’s work is grounded in a single belief: when students succeed, higher education thrives—and the world wins. 

    As demographic shifts, changing learner expectations, technological disruption, and public accountability reshape the sector, Carnegie has aligned its strategy around helping higher ed institutions build meaningful, lasting connections with today’s diverse learners.

    Meeting the Moment Higher Education Leaders Are Facing

    According to Michael Mish, Chief Growth Officer, the timing of the announcement reflects what the company is hearing from campus leaders. “Higher education leaders need partners who deliver strategic expertise and forward-thinking innovation,” Mish said. “Our evolution is about connecting strategy and innovation in practical ways—so institutions can address today’s challenges while preparing for what’s next.”

    What the Updated Carnegie Brand Represents

    The updated brand brings greater cohesion to how Carnegie delivers research, strategy, storytelling, media, and technology—reinforcing its role as a strategic higher education partner focused on trust, relevance, and results rather than short-term wins.

    A More Integrated Approach to Research, Strategy, and Execution

    “Our intent wasn’t to make a statement about ourselves,” said Tyler Borders, Chief Brand Officer. “It was to be more precise about our role and our responsibility in this moment. The brand reflects how our work has evolved and the standard we expect of ourselves as a partner to higher education.”

    What’s Launching Next

    As part of the rollout, Carnegie has launched an updated digital experience and will introduce new research, offerings, and insights. 

    New Research and Insights

    This week, the company is releasing a comprehensive research report focused on online learners. In February, Carnegie will debut an updated Carnegie Intelligence newsletter, expanding how it shares perspective and practical guidance with higher education leaders.

    Introducing Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)

    Carnegie is also introducing a new Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) solution designed to help higher education institutions improve visibility in AI-powered search experiences—ensuring institutions are accurately represented as students increasingly rely on AI to answer questions about programs, outcomes, cost, and fit.

    Navigating the Now and the Next—Together

    “This is ongoing work,” Colen added. “Our commitment is to keep earning trust—by helping institutions navigate what’s next without losing sight of what matters most: changing students’ lives for good.”

    For every college and university facing urgent and complex challenges, Carnegie is the student connection company that helps you navigate the now and the next in higher education. Our experts design custom strategies fueled by data, technology, and insights—empowering you to connect with today’s diverse learners and stay focused on what matters most: changing students’ lives for good. 

    Frequently Asked Questions About Carnegie and Student Connection

    Who is Carnegie in higher education?

    Carnegie is a strategic partner to colleges and universities focused on enrollment, reputation, strategy, and student success. The company helps institutions navigate complex, interconnected challenges by aligning research, strategy, storytelling, media, and technology around what matters most: students.

    What does it mean to be a “student connection company”?

    Being a student connection company means helping institutions build meaningful, lasting relationships with today’s diverse learners. Carnegie focuses on connecting strategy, data, storytelling, and execution so institutions can support student success, institutional relevance, and long-term impact.

    What prompted Carnegie’s updated brand and renewed commitment?

    Carnegie’s updated brand reflects an evolution in how the company responds to the realities facing higher education today, including demographic shifts, technological disruption, and increased public accountability. The refresh clarifies Carnegie’s role as a strategic partner helping institutions navigate these interconnected challenges without losing focus on students.

    How does Carnegie help colleges and universities navigate change?

    Carnegie supports institutions through integrated research, strategic planning, brand and storytelling, media and digital marketing, and technology-enabled solutions. This approach helps leaders align enrollment goals, reputation, data, and execution to drive meaningful outcomes.

    What is Carnegie’s Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) solution?

    Carnegie’s Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) solution helps colleges and universities improve how they are represented in AI-powered search environments like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and other answer engines. The solution focuses on content clarity, factual alignment, and structured optimization so institutions are trusted sources when students ask AI-driven questions.

    Source link

  • Using generative tools to deepen, not replace, human connection in schools

    Using generative tools to deepen, not replace, human connection in schools

    Key points:

    For the last two years, conversations about AI in education have tended to fall into two camps: excitement about efficiency or fear of replacement. Teachers worry they’ll lose authenticity. Leaders worry about academic integrity. And across the country, schools are trying to make sense of a technology that feels both promising and overwhelming.

    But there’s a quieter, more human-centered opportunity emerging–one that rarely makes the headlines: AI can actually strengthen empathy and improve the quality of our interactions with students and staff.

    Not by automating relationships, but by helping us become more reflective, intentional, and attuned to the people we serve.

    As a middle school assistant principal and a higher education instructor, I’ve found that AI is most valuable not as a productivity tool, but as a perspective-taking tool. When used thoughtfully, it supports the emotional labor of teaching and leadership–the part of our work that cannot be automated.

    From efficiency to empathy

    Schools do not thrive because we write faster emails or generate quicker lesson plans. They thrive because students feel known. Teachers feel supported. Families feel included.

    AI can assist with the operational tasks, but the real potential lies in the way it can help us:

    • Reflect on tone before hitting “send” on a difficult email
    • Understand how a message may land for someone under stress
    • Role-play sensitive conversations with students or staff
    • Anticipate barriers that multilingual families might face
    • Rehearse a restorative response rather than reacting in the moment

    These are human actions–ones that require situational awareness and empathy. AI can’t perform them for us, but it can help us practice and prepare for them.

    A middle school use case: Preparing for the hard conversations

    Middle school is an emotional ecosystem. Students are forming identity, navigating social pressures, and learning how to advocate for themselves. Staff are juggling instructional demands while building trust with young adolescents whose needs shift by the week.

    Some days, the work feels like equal parts counselor, coach, and crisis navigator.

    One of the ways I’ve leveraged AI is by simulating difficult conversations before they happen. For example:

    • A student is anxious about returning to class after an incident
    • A teacher feels unsupported and frustrated
    • A family is confused about a schedule change or intervention plan

    By giving the AI a brief description and asking it to take on the perspective of the other person, I can rehearse responses that center calm, clarity, and compassion.

    This has made me more intentional in real interactions–I’m less reactive, more prepared, and more attuned to the emotions beneath the surface.

    Empathy improves when we get to “practice” it.

    Supporting newcomers and multilingual learners

    Schools like mine welcome dozens of newcomers each year, many with interrupted formal education. They bring extraordinary resilience–and significant emotional and linguistic needs.

    AI tools can support staff in ways that deepen connection, not diminish it:

    • Drafting bilingual communication with a softer, more culturally responsive tone
    • Helping teachers anticipate trauma triggers based on student histories
    • Rewriting classroom expectations in family-friendly language
    • Generating gentle scripts for welcoming a student experiencing culture shock

    The technology is not a substitute for bilingual staff or cultural competence. But it can serve as a bridge–helping educators reach families and students with more warmth, clarity, and accuracy.

    When language becomes more accessible, relationships strengthen.

    AI as a mirror for leadership

    One unexpected benefit of AI is that it acts as a mirror. When I ask it to review the clarity of a communication, or identify potential ambiguities, it often highlights blind spots:

    • “This sentence may sound punitive.”
    • “This may be interpreted as dismissing the student’s perspective.”
    • “Consider acknowledging the parent’s concern earlier in the message.”

    These are the kinds of insights reflective leaders try to surface–but in the rush of a school day, they are easy to miss.

    AI doesn’t remove responsibility; it enhances accountability. It helps us lead with more emotional intelligence, not less.

    What this looks like in teacher practice

    For teachers, AI can support empathy in similarly grounded ways:

    1. Building more inclusive lessons

    Teachers can ask AI to scan a lesson for hidden barriers–assumptions about background knowledge, vocabulary loads, or unclear steps that could frustrate students.

    2. Rewriting directions for struggling learners

    A slight shift in wording can make all the difference for a student with anxiety or processing challenges.

    3. Anticipating misconceptions before they happen

    AI can run through multiple “student responses” so teachers can see where confusion might arise.

    4. Practicing restorative language

    Teachers can try out scripts for responding to behavioral issues in ways that preserve dignity and connection.

    These aren’t shortcuts. They’re tools that elevate the craft.

    Human connection is the point

    The heart of education is human. AI doesn’t change that–in fact, it makes it more obvious.

    When we reduce the cognitive load of planning, we free up space for attunement.
    When we rehearse hard conversations, we show up with more steadiness.
    When we write in more inclusive language, more families feel seen.
    When we reflect on our tone, we build trust.

    The goal isn’t to create AI-enhanced classrooms. It’s to create relationship-centered classrooms where AI quietly supports the skills that matter most: empathy, clarity, and connection.

    Schools don’t need more automation.

    They need more humanity–and AI, used wisely, can help us get there.

    Latest posts by eSchool Media Contributors (see all)

    Source link

  • The Art of Connection Beyond the Office

    The Art of Connection Beyond the Office

    The night flowed like champagne—smooth, sparkling, and a reminder that articling isn’t just a professional chapter, but a shared celebration of growth and connection.

    Last week, our firm hosted its annual client appreciation party at Roy Thomson Hall, welcoming more than a hundred guests. It was one of those rare evenings where suits traded in their serious tones for laughter, clinking glasses, and endless trays of hors d’oeuvres that seemed to appear out of thin air. Lawyers and students from all of our regional offices came together that night, making it a true firm-wide celebration of connection and camaraderie.


    As articling students, it was an opportunity to see the people behind the email signatures—clients, insureds, adjusters, and counsel who make up the community we work with every day. 

    We dressed up, mingled, and swapped courtroom war stories for conversations about travel, family, and baseball (more on that later).

    The night didn’t end at Roy Thomson. Like any great story, there was a lively epilogue: a group of us gathered at a nearby pub, still in our formalwear, watching the Blue Jays in the championship series with the kind of collective energy only a close team can have. Between cheering, laughing, and sharing fries under dim bar lights, the lines between “colleague” and “friend” blurred in the best possible way.
    It wasn’t just a party—it was a reflection of what it means to be part of this firm. It’s the reminder that while we work hard on our files, we’re also part of something larger: a team that celebrates together, supports one another, and makes even the busiest articling year feel a little like home.

    Some nights stand out not because of the venue or the menu, but because of the people. This was one of those nights—a perfect snapshot of what it means to belong here.

    by Tiara B.

    Source link

  • The Importance of Connection in the Age of AI – Faculty Focus

    The Importance of Connection in the Age of AI – Faculty Focus

    Source link

  • The Importance of Connection in the Age of AI – Faculty Focus

    The Importance of Connection in the Age of AI – Faculty Focus

    Source link

  • SLJ Founder Alan Collinge talks about Charlie Kirk & his connection to the Student Loan Debt Crisis

    SLJ Founder Alan Collinge talks about Charlie Kirk & his connection to the Student Loan Debt Crisis







    Higher Education Inquirer : SLJ Founder Alan Collinge talks about Charlie Kirk & his connection to the Student Loan Debt Crisis




    Source link

  • Human connection still drives school attendance

    Human connection still drives school attendance

    Key points:

    At ISTE this summer, I lost count of how many times I heard “AI” as the answer to every educational challenge imaginable. Student engagement? AI-powered personalization! Teacher burnout? AI lesson planning! Parent communication? AI-generated newsletters! Chronic absenteeism? AI predictive models! But after moderating a panel on improving the high school experience, which focused squarely on human-centered approaches, one district administrator approached us with gratitude: “Thank you for NOT saying AI is the solution.”

    That moment crystallized something important that’s getting lost in our rush toward technological fixes: While we’re automating attendance tracking and building predictive models, we’re missing the fundamental truth that showing up to school is a human decision driven by authentic relationships.

    The real problem: Students going through the motions

    The scope of student disengagement is staggering. Challenge Success, affiliated with Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, analyzed data from over 270,000 high school students across 13 years and found that only 13 percent are fully engaged in their learning. Meanwhile, 45 percent are what researchers call “doing school,” going through the motions behaviorally but finding little joy or meaning in their education.

    This isn’t a post-pandemic problem–it’s been consistent for over a decade. And it directly connects to attendance issues. The California Safe and Supportive Schools initiative has identified school connectedness as fundamental to attendance. When high schoolers have even one strong connection with a teacher or staff member who understands their life beyond academics, attendance improves dramatically.

    The districts that are addressing this are using data to enable more meaningful adult connections, not just adding more tech. One California district saw 32 percent of at-risk students improve attendance after implementing targeted, relationship-based outreach. The key isn’t automated messages, but using data to help educators identify disengaged students early and reach out with genuine support.

    This isn’t to discount the impact of technology. AI tools can make project-based learning incredibly meaningful and exciting, exactly the kind of authentic engagement that might tempt chronically absent high schoolers to return. But AI works best when it amplifies personal bonds, not seeks to replace them.

    Mapping student connections

    Instead of starting with AI, start with relationship mapping. Harvard’s Making Caring Common project emphasizes that “there may be nothing more important in a child’s life than a positive and trusting relationship with a caring adult.” Rather than leave these connections to chance, relationship mapping helps districts systematically identify which students lack that crucial adult bond at school.

    The process is straightforward: Staff identify students who don’t have positive relationships with any school adults, then volunteers commit to building stronger connections with those students throughout the year. This combines the best of both worlds: Technology provides the insights about who needs support, and authentic relationships provide the motivation to show up.

    True school-family partnerships to combat chronic absenteeism need structures that prioritize student consent and agency, provide scaffolding for underrepresented students, and feature a wide range of experiences. It requires seeing students as whole people with complex lives, not just data points in an attendance algorithm.

    The choice ahead

    As we head into another school year, we face a choice. We can continue chasing the shiny startups, building ever more sophisticated systems to track and predict student disengagement. Or we can remember that attendance is ultimately about whether a young person feels connected to something meaningful at school.

    The most effective districts aren’t choosing between high-tech and high-touch–they’re using technology to enable more meaningful personal connections. They’re using AI to identify students who need support, then deploying caring adults to provide it. They’re automating the logistics so teachers can focus on relationships.

    That ISTE administrator was right to be grateful for a non-AI solution. Because while artificial intelligence can optimize many things, it can’t replace the fundamental human need to belong, to feel seen, and to believe that showing up matters.

    The solution to chronic absenteeism is in our relationships, not our servers. It’s time we started measuring and investing in both.

    Latest posts by eSchool Media Contributors (see all)

    Source link

  • Student Wellbeing in the AI Era: Stress, Confidence, and Connection – A Global Snapshot

    Student Wellbeing in the AI Era: Stress, Confidence, and Connection – A Global Snapshot

    • This HEPI blog was authored by Isabelle Bristow, Managing Director UK and Europe at Studiosity.

    Studiosity’s ninth annual Student Wellbeing Survey, conducted by YouGov in November 2024, gathered insights from university students on their experiences and concerns, and made recommendations to senior leaders. This global research included panels from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the UAE, the UK and the US (see below for the country sample size breakdown).

    The report highlights key learning on AI’s rapid integration into higher education and its impact on student wellbeing. The following are the key takeaways, specifically examining country-specific differences in student experiences with AI, alongside broader issues of stress, connection, belonging, and employability.

    AI Adoption and Its Impact

    AI is now a pervasive tool in higher education, with a significant 79% of all students reporting using AI tools for their studies. While usage is high overall, the proportion of students saying they use AI ‘regularly’ to help with assignments shows interesting variations by country:

    • UK: 17%
    • USA: 27%
    • Singapore: 31%
    • UAE: 38%

    This greater scepticism towards AI among UK students also shows up elsewhere, with students in the UK least likely among the eight countries to expect their university to offer AI tools.

    However, the widespread adoption of AI tools is linked to considerable student stress. The survey found that 68% of students report experiencing personal stress as a result of using AI tools for their coursework. From free text comments, this might be for a number of reasons, including the fear they might be unintentionally breaking the rules; there are also concerns that universities are not moving fast enough to provide AI tools, leaving students to work out for themselves how best to use AI tools. This highlights that navigating the effective and appropriate use of AI is a significant challenge that requires support.

    Furthermore, the way AI is currently being used appears to be affecting students’ confidence in their own learning. Some 61% feel only ‘moderately’ or less confident that they are genuinely learning and improving their own skills when using generative AI.

    Perhaps as a result of this uncertainty, students often seek ‘confidence’ when using university-provided AI support, desiring guided tools that help them check their understanding and validate their genuine learning progress. This motivation was particularly strong in countries like:

    • New Zealand: 31%
    • Australia: 25%
    • UK: 25%

    This suggests a tension between unstructured AI use (linked to lower learning confidence) and the student desire for confidence-building support (which AI, when properly designed for learning, offers).

    Perceptions of how well universities are adapting to AI also vary globally, with 56% of students overall feeling their institutions are adapting quickly enough. However, scepticism is notably higher in certain regions:

    • UK: 53% feel institutions are not adapting fast enough
    • Canada: 52% feel institutions are not adapting fast enough

    Conversely, students in other countries feel their university is adapting fast enough to include AI support tools for study:

    • UAE: 72%
    • Singapore: 66%
    • Saudi Arabia: 65%
    • USA: 58%

    Study Stress: Beyond AI

    While AI contributes to stress, study stress is a broader, multi-faceted challenge for student wellbeing, with frequency and causes differing significantly across countries. Students reported experiencing stress most commonly on a weekly basis (29% overall), with more students than average in Australia and New Zealand (both 33%) experiencing stress on a weekly basis. However, the intensity increases elsewhere:

    • Saudi Arabia: 27% felt stressed daily
    • Canada: 24% felt stressed daily, and a notable 17% felt stressed constantly
    • USA: 16% felt stressed constantly

    The top reasons for general study stress also vary, pointing to the diverse pressures students face:

    • ‘Fear of failing’: significantly higher in the UK (61%) compared with the global average of 52%
    • ‘Not having enough time to balance other life commitments’: significantly higher in the UK (52%) and Australia (48%)
    • ‘Difficult course content’: Singapore (38%)
    • ‘Paying for degree’: Canada (35%) and the USA (31%)
    • ‘Sticking to the rules around integrity and plagiarism’: over-indexed in the UAE (23%) and Saudi Arabia (22%)

    Belonging and Connection

    A sense of belonging is a crucial component of student wellbeing, and the survey revealed variations across countries. Students in Australia (62%) and the UK (65%) reported lower overall belonging levels compared to the global average. What contributes to belonging also differs:

    • ‘Confidence to reach out to teachers’: significantly higher factor in the UK (64%)
    • ‘A flexible schedule to help balance work and study’: dominated as a top reason in Australia (63%) and Singapore (62%)
    • ‘Ease of connecting with a student mentor’: featured prominently in Saudi Arabia (47%), UAE (48%), and USA (43%)
    • ‘Access to mental health support’: over-indexed as a key reason for belonging in Saudi Arabia (47%) and Canada (44%)

    The study also explored direct connections, addressing concerns that AI might reduce human interaction. Students were largely neutral or unsure if generative AI impacted their interactions with peers and teachers (including 63% of students in the UK and 55% in New Zealand). In contrast, students in Saudi Arabia (64%) and the UAE (61%) were most likely to report more interaction due to AI use, followed by Singapore (42%) and the USA (41%).

    Beyond AI’s influence on connection, the survey found that four in ten students (42%) were not provided a mentor in their first year, although over half (55%) would have liked one. Difficulty asking questions of other students was also mentioned by one in ten (13%) students overall. This difficulty was reported more by:

    • Female students: 14% vs 10% for males
    • Older cohorts (50+ year olds): 18% vs 13% for 18-25 year olds
    • Students in the UK (17%), Australia (17%), and New Zealand (16%) compared to other regions.

    Employability Confidence

    Employability is another key area impacting student confidence and overall wellbeing as they look towards the future. The survey found that 59% of students are confident in securing a job within six months of graduation, an increase from 55% in 2024, though concerns remain higher in Canada and the UK. Overall, 74% agree their degree is developing necessary future job skills, although Canadian students were less confident here (68%). Specific concerns about the relevance of a job within six months were more pronounced among:

    • UK students: 20% disagree they will get a related job
    • Canadian students: 14% disagree

    Conclusion

    The YouGov-Studiosity survey provides valuable data highlighting the complex reality of student wellbeing in the current higher education landscape. Rapid AI adoption brings new sources of stress and impacts confidence in learning, adding to existing pressures from general study demands, financial concerns, belonging, connection, and employability anxieties. These challenges, and what supports students most effectively, vary significantly by country. Universities must respond to this complex picture by developing tailored support frameworks that guide students in navigating AI effectively, while also bolstering their sense of belonging, facilitating connections, addressing mental health needs, and supporting their confidence in future careers, in ways responsive to diverse national contexts.

    By country totals: Australia n= 1,234: Canada n= 1,042: New Zealand n= 528: Saudi Arabia n= 511: Singapore n= 1,027: United Arab Emirates n=554: United Kingdom n= 2,328: United States n= 3,000

    You can download further Global Student Wellbeing reports by country here.

    Studiosity is a HEPI Partner. Studiosity is AI-for-Learning, not corrections – to scale student success, empower educators, and improve retention with a proven 4.4x ROI, while ensuring integrity and reducing institutional risk.

    Source link

  • Capitalism and Culture, Their Connection in Crisis Now (Richard Wolff with Henry Giroux)

    Capitalism and Culture, Their Connection in Crisis Now (Richard Wolff with Henry Giroux)

    On this week’s episode of Economic Update, Professor Wolff provides updates on Medicare advantage and “pre-authorization” as a way to reduce Medicare payments, liberals and radicals split over Mamdani, Trump’s current budget further deepens the inequality of wealth across the US, and Mexico attends the BRICS meeting in Rio de Janeiro. In the second part of today’s show, Professor Wolff interviews Professor Henry Giroux from McMaster University, Canada, on capitalism, culture, and fascism in the U.S. today.

    Source link

  • Balancing Technology and Connection in College Recruitment

    Balancing Technology and Connection in College Recruitment

    Let’s be real: college planning is not the only thing on your prospective students’ minds. They’re juggling school, jobs, relationships, social media, and, you know, just trying to figure out life. So, when we talk about AI in college planning, it’s crucial to remember that it’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

    At RNL, we’re constantly looking at the trends shaping higher education, and AI is definitely a big one. But here’s the thing: it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. To truly connect with students, you need to understand how they’re using (or not using) these tools, and meet them where they are.

    It’s all about personas

    Our latest research dives deep into student attitudes toward AI in college planning, and the results are fascinating. We’ve identified four key “AI Adoption Personas” that can help you tailor your outreach and messaging:

    Pioneers (early adopters, enthusiastic users): These digital natives are all-in on AI, using it for everything from college research to essay writing.

    • Key takeaway: Pioneers are already on board but value human guidance. 76% would feel more comfortable if a school advisor explained the benefits and risks of AI.

    Aspirers (interested but cautious adopters): Aspirers see the potential of AI but need a little nudge.

    • Key takeaway: Show them the value! 51% are motivated by easy access to free AI tools, and 41% want to see success stories from other students.

    Fence Sitters (uncertain, passive users): These students are on the fence about AI, often lacking confidence in their current college planning approach. Y

    • Key takeaway: Don’t overwhelm them. 40% haven’t even used online college planning tools! Focus on highlighting the potential of AI and offering advisor support.

    Resistors (skeptical, avoid AI in college planning): Resistors are the most reluctant to embrace AI, preferring traditional methods like guidance counselors and college websites.

    • Key takeaway: Respect their preferences, but don’t write them off entirely. 48% would feel more comfortable with an advisor explaining AI, even if they’re not ready to use it themselves.

    Beyond the bots: human connection still matters

    Image of high school students looking at the cell phones

    No matter which persona your students fall into, one thing is clear: human connection still matters. While AI can provide valuable information and streamline certain tasks, it can’t replace the empathy, guidance, and personalized support students crave.

    Think about it: choosing a college is a huge life decision, and students want to feel understood and supported throughout the process.

    Our research shows that students use a variety of resources for college planning, and these often involve human interaction:

    • College websites (often reviewed with parents or counselors)
    • Parents/family (a trusted source of advice and support)
    • Social media (connecting with current students and alumni)
    • Guidance counselors (providing expert advice and personalized recommendations)
    • Friends/peers (sharing experiences and offering encouragement)
    • Books/online articles (supplementing their knowledge and exploring different options)

    AI is just one tool in their toolbox. It’s a powerful tool, no doubt, but it works best when it complements these other resources, rather than replacing them.

    What does this mean for you?

    It means your staff—admissions counselors, enrollment specialists, and marketing team—are more important than ever. They are the human face of your institution, who can build relationships with prospective students, answer their questions, and alleviate their anxieties.

    The good news is that institutions already know this. Our 2025 Marketing Practices For Undergraduate Students Report confirms that “human-based” enrollment strategies are consistently rated highly effective, often more effective than just two years ago.

    For example, the report shows that:

    • In-person meetings remain a top strategy across all institution types (4-year private, 4-year public, and 2-year), with effectiveness ratings consistently at or near 100%.
    • Personalized videos sent directly to students have seen a significant rise in effectiveness, particularly for 4-year institutions.
    • Even with the rise of digital tools, strategies like SMS, social media, and email communications remain foundational and highly effective, largely because they enable personalized, one-on-one communication.

    These findings underscore that in an increasingly digital world, the human touch truly sets institutions apart.

    Here are a few ways to bring that human touch to your college planning efforts:

    • Invest in training for your staff. Ensure they understand AI’s benefits and limitations, and how to integrate it ethically and effectively into their work.
    • Encourage personalized communication. Don’t rely solely on automated emails and chatbots. Encourage your staff to contact students individually, offering tailored advice and support.
    • Create opportunities for connection. Host virtual or in-person events where students meet current students, faculty, and staff.
    • Highlight the human stories. Share stories of successful alumni, dedicated faculty, and supportive staff. Show prospective students what makes your institution unique.

    Ultimately, success in today’s ever-evolving higher education landscape hinges on a delicate balance: embracing the power of technology like AI while never losing sight of the fundamental importance of human connection.

    By deeply understanding your students – their individual needs, their preferred college planning resources, and their unique “AI Adoption Persona” – and leveraging data to personalize their experience, you can create an effective and genuinely human recruitment and enrollment strategy.

    It’s about blending the efficiency of AI with the empathy and guidance that only your dedicated staff can provide, ensuring that every student feels seen, supported, and confident in their college journey.

    Ready to dive deeper?

    Do you want to learn more about AI in college planning and how to connect with today’s students?

    3 Reasons to Attend the RNL National Conference

    Join us in Atlanta July 22-24 for the most comprehensive conference on enrollment and student success.

    1. Choose from more than 120 sessions on recruitment, retention, financial aid, and more.
    2. Hear the keynote from former Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona on the future of higher education.
    3. Interact with campus professionals and national experts about ways you can achieve your goals.

    See all the details

    Source link