AI is Rapidly Transforming

Higher Education

The SHAPE AI initiative is working to ensure that AI drives opportunity and works for students, not against them.

Colleges and Universities are Integrating AI into Every Facet of the Student Experience

Fast-moving advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are creating transformative opportunities in higher education. Schools across the country are already using AI to personalize learning, expand research capacity, improve advising, identify students at risk of falling behind, and even support mental health.

But as with any new technology, the rapid adoption of AI on campus presents risks. 

Schools are increasingly outsourcing core functions—from recruiting and admissions to grading and student support services—to AI. Students need guidelines and guardrails to protect them from misuse of the powerful new technology.

THE SHAPE AI ADVISORY BOARD

Shaping the Future of AI on Campus

Launched by Student Defense in September 2025, SHAPE (Safeguarding Higher-Ed Through AI Practices & Ethics) AI brings together top higher education leaders and experts to develop guidance and best practices for how colleges and universities use AI.

  • Mohamed Abdel-Kader

    Founder & Principal, Radial Global Advisory; Former Chief Innovation Officer, USAID

  • Aaron Ament

    President and Cofounder, Student Defense

  • Saanvi Arora

    Executive Director, Youth Power Project; Governance Council Member, U.S. Student Association

  • Alvaro Bedoya

    Former Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission 

  • Jessie Brown

    Executive Vice President, American Council on Education

  • Indivar Dutta-Gupta

    CEO and Founder of Blue Lotus Strategies

  • Kemi Jona

    Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation; University of Virginia

  • Mairead Jones-Kennelly

    Senior Counsel; State University of New York and the AI Legal Institute at SUNY (ALIS)

  • James Kvaal

    Former Undersecretary, U.S. Department of Education

  • Michael Meotti

    Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)

  • Hironao Okahana

    Managing Researcher and Chief of Planning and Impact, American Council on Education

  • Joy Silvern

    Former Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Education

  • Joya Wheatfall-Melvin

    Student, Master of Science in Data Science for Public Policy, McCourt School of Public Policy

  • Sarah Zearfoss

    Dean of Admissions; University of Michigan Law School

  • Daniel Zibel

    Vice President, Chief Counsel and Cofounder, Student Defense

Focus Areas

SHAPE AI’s work is structured around four key areas of opportunity and risk.

  • Ensuring ethical and equitable use of AI across the student enrollment pipeline—from initial recruitment to financial aid determinations.

  • Promoting effective and fair use of AI to support student welfare, retention, privacy, and graduation, including coaching, mental health assistance, and access to essential benefits.

  • Creating guidelines for the instructional use of AI, emphasizing student-centric access, data security, transparent procurement and deployment of AI tools, and maintaining effective human roles and responsibilities in the learning process.

  • Examining how institutions can best prepare students for the AI-infused job market by fostering AI literacy and critical thinking skills and ensuring equitable career opportunities.

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