SAN DIEGO — Colleges and universities are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance student advising in response to staffing shortages and the growing demand for personalized academic support. However, leaders at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego cautioned that an overreliance on AI could undermine student choice and agency.
During a panel discussion, institutional leaders and students expressed concerns about the implications of using AI to scale support services. “As our systems become more intelligent, more predictive, and in some cases more prescriptive, are we expanding student agency or quietly redefining it?” asked John Falchi, senior vice president for higher-education partnerships at ed-tech company LearningMate. He questioned whether guidance from AI might inadvertently act as a constraint on students’ educational paths.
Rohan Agrawal, a third-year economics and computer science student at Arizona State University (ASU), noted that students will increasingly rely on AI tools for information traditionally provided by counselors. He emphasized the inefficiencies of navigating course options through multiple web pages. “AI can do that digging for me, fact-checking suggested course schedules and potentially finding pathways advisers aren’t aware of,” he said. This capability is particularly valuable for students with interdisciplinary interests, as it can facilitate more tailored academic advice.
Maja Zelihic, assistant provost and vice president of Capella University, highlighted how AI can streamline the advising process. By automating tedious tasks, institutions can free up advisers to focus on building meaningful relationships with students. Conversely, David Ferreira, provost of Charter Oak State College (COSC), pointed out that their typically older, workforce-bound student population seeks straightforward paths to career-oriented qualifications. Ferreira stated, “For our folks, time is money. Give me just the stuff I know is tied to my career.”
COSC has incorporated AI early in the admissions process to evaluate transcripts, enabling prospective students to see how many credits will apply to their desired degree before they enroll. Ferreira underscored the importance of aligning educational goals with students’ desired outcomes, including career trajectories and cost efficiency.
Panelists shared experiences of using AI to humanize data on student engagement. Kirstie DeBiase, provost at West Coast University, described how her team struggled with large institutional data sets until she introduced AI to create a narrative around individual students, illustrating engagement levels beyond mere statistics. This approach revealed a significant number of students who were neither failing nor excelling, but rather disengaged—potentially at risk of dropping out without intervention.
“Before having AI as a tool, it was just a little bit overwhelming,” DeBiase noted. Understanding this middle ground is crucial for advising staff, as disengaged students often go unnoticed and may subsequently leave the institution.
Despite the potential benefits, panelists cautioned against the risks of AI-driven decision-making that may inadvertently limit student choices. For example, guiding students toward majors with higher completion rates could bolster institutional graduation statistics but might not support broader academic exploration. “I think it becomes incredibly important that we don’t lose sight of student agency,” said Stuart Rice, executive director of learning experience at ASU. He emphasized that while data can signal areas where students may struggle, it should not constrain their educational options.
The dialogue at the ASU+GSV Summit reflects a growing recognition among educational leaders that while AI can be a powerful tool for enhancing student support, its application must be carefully managed to foster an environment of choice and exploration, rather than one of limitation.
See also
Andrew Ng Advocates for Coding Skills Amid AI Evolution in Tech
AI’s Growing Influence in Higher Education: Balancing Innovation and Critical Thinking
AI in English Language Education: 6 Principles for Ethical Use and Human-Centered Solutions
Ghana’s Ministry of Education Launches AI Curriculum, Training 68,000 Teachers by 2025
57% of Special Educators Use AI for IEPs, Raising Legal and Ethical Concerns
