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.

Focus Areas

SHAPE AI’s work is structured around four key areas of opportunity and risk. For each of these areas, we have convened a working group of subject matter experts to inform the work and develop new strategies to ensure student protections.

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

    Working Group Members:

    • Jay Bozman, EdTech Investor

    • Alessandra Cipriani-Detres, National College Attainment Network (NCAN) 

    • Sameer Gadkaree, Former TICAS President

    • David Hawkins, Former Chief Education and Policy Officer at the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)

    • Phillip Honenberger, Center for Equitable AI & Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS), Morgan State University

    • Cameron Howell, University of South Carolina

    • Jonathan Joshua, Joshua Law Firm

    • Robert Luo, Admission Officer at Stanford University

    • Michael Meotti, Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)

    • Melanie Muenzer, Empowered Higher Education Consulting

    • Staci Pennington, University of Tulsa

    • Annie Reznik, Ed Advancement

    • Matt Sessa, Ed Advancement

    • Dr. Ka’rin Thornburg, Ed Advancement

    • Joya Wheatfall-Melvin, McCourt School of Public Policy Alumna

    • Sarah Zearfoss, University of Michigan Law School

    Working group members participate in their individual capacities, not as representatives of their employers.

  • 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.

    Working Group Members:

    • Saanvi Arora, Youth Power Project

    • Laura Bernhard, California Competes

    • Dr. Julian Capel, Ed Advancement

    • Sameer Gadkaree, Former TICAS President

    • Jackie Gardina, AGB

    • Craig Hayward, California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office

    • Alex Krulic, Guild Education

    • Martin Kurzweil, Ithaka S+R

    • Annie Reznik, Ed Advancement

    • Roberto Rodriguez, Georgetown University

    • Matt Sessa, Ed Advancement

    • Stacey Shears, California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office

    • Joy Silvern, former Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Education

    • Paige Swanstein, Student Basic Needs Coalition

    • Mayu Tobin-Miyaji, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)

    • Claire Viall, Strada Foundation

    • John Ward, American University

    • Ronda Westry, Alabama State University

    Working group members participate in their individual capacities, not as representatives of their employers.

  • 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.

    Working Group Members:

    • Jenni Abbott, California Community College Chancellor's Office

    • Bryan Alexander, Georgetown University

    • Alessandra Cipriani-Detres, National College Attainment Network (NCAN) 

    • Regina Curran, American University 

    • Dan Harrison, The University of North Carolina System

    • Nancy Morgan, Cantellus Group

    • Carlota Ocampo, Trinity Washington University

    • Hironao Okahana, American Council on Education

    • Roberto Rodriguez, Georgetown University

    • Joseph South, ISTE+ASCD

    • Alison Thomas, American University

    • C. Edward Watson, AAC&U

    Working group members participate in their individual capacities, not as representatives of their employers.

  • 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.

    Working Group Members:

    • Jenni Abbott, California Community College Chancellor's Office

    • Mohamed Abdel-Kader, Radial Global Advisory

    • Bryan Alexander, Georgetown University

    • Cameron Benham, InnovateEDU

    • Jessie Brown, American Council on Education

    • Emily Caplan, Cantellus Group

    • Don Daves-Rougeaux, California Community College Chancellor's Office

    • Kemi Jona, University of Virginia

    • Mairead Jones-Kennelly, State University of New York

    • James Kvaal, Carnegie Corporation of New York

    • Martin Kurzweil, Ithaka S+R

    • Nancy Morgan, Cantellus Group

    • Erin Mote, EDSAFE AI Alliance/InnovateEDU

    • Roberto Rodriguez, Georgetown University

    Working group members participate in their individual capacities, not as representatives of their employers.

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

  • Craig Hayward

    Vice Chancellor of AI Strategy and Digital Transformation, California Community Colleges

  • 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)

  • David Nahmias

    Director of Programs & Policy, Omidyar Network

  • 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

    Alumna, 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

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