Compendium of AI Applications in Higher Education
35+ case studies of AI applications for college and university campuses
As AI’s emergence has redefined what is possible in higher education, institutions worldwide are exploring how they can deploy generative AI applications on their campus today.
This compendium serves as a reference book of generative AI applications designed to help higher education leaders begin experimenting with and make informed decisions about AI investments. By showcasing a broad spectrum of case studies, from low-cost and easily deployable solutions to those requiring substantial investment, institutions can make informed decisions to pursue AI applications that suit their unique contexts.
EAB sourced case studies through literature review, industry conferences, and research interviews with higher education leaders (e.g., chief business officers, chief information officers, provosts). This compendium will solely focus on generative AI applications.
Preview 35+ AI applications of AI below or download the full resource.
The compendium is structured into three primary sections, categorized by the type of AI application profiled and the depth of each case study:
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A quick start guide for free and low-cost tools
Discover how institutions are using free or low-cost AI tools or to drive team and department-level gains.
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Case studies of AI applications
Explore AI applications across the spectrum that institutions have either developed internally or licensed from a vendor partner.
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In-depth explorations of select AI applications
Dive into detailed examinations of how institutions developed their own AI applications, covering all phase from development to deployment.
Section 1: A quick start guide for free and low-cost AI tools
See how institutions are creatively using free or low-cost AI tools to drive team and department-level gains through these use cases:
- Outline and drafts strategic plan components
- Draft policies and policy manuals
- Produce and iterate on product designs
- Design art installations
- Generate project visuals for facilities planning
- Produce personalized advancement outreach at scale
- Copyedit and fine-tune enrollment outreach
- Create scripts and compositions for media content
- Edit marketing images
- Craft speeches
- Produce social media content
Section 2: Case studies of AI applications
Explore AI applications across the spectrum that institutions have either developed internally or licensed from a vendor partner.
Each case study is evaluated on four variables:
- Status: Is the application readily available on campus? Is it still in development or being trialed?
- Impact: How significant are the measurable benefits (e.g., productivity, learning outcomes) of deploying this application on campus?
- Implementation Effort: How much institutional effort is required to operationalize the application, from development to deployment?
- Resource Cost: What is the cost (e.g., staffing, financial investment) of implementing the application?
Click each of the eight categories below to view case studies of AI applications within that area.
Teaching and learning
- Deliver real-time assignment feedback
- Score free-response questions for large-scale assessments
- Supply 24/7 personalized real-time tutoring
Student success
- Provide a 24/7 assistant for all student support-related inquiries
- Offer a one-stop assistant for students’ everyday tasks
Campus support
- Create a general campus aide for staff, faculty, and student support
Information technology
- Create a sandbox to familiarize campus with AI tools
- Build a platform that extends capabilities of generative AI models to users
- Triage IT help desk tickets
- Resolve IT help desk inquiries
- Monitor email security threats
Human resources
- Support staff with customized payroll assistance
Admissions
- Review admission application essays
- Automate transcript review
Enrollment
- Answer enrollment-related questions for students and families
- Generate tailored degree recommendations
- Field and resolve student registration questions
- Generate personalized student recruitment campaigns
Research
- Assist researchers in navigating grant funding regulations
- Facilitate cross-disciplinary grant writing
- Build AI tool environment secure for healthcare practice and research
Section 3: In-depth exploration of select AI applications
Delve into detailed examinations of how institutions are developing their own AI applications, covering every step in their journey from technical development to deployment.
These profiles provide insight into many of the questions institutions who are considering pursuing AI applications themselves are facing:
- How does this AI application serve the needs of our institution? What is the cost-benefit of pursuing this application?
- How do we develop the application from a technical standpoint to ensure accuracy and minimize risks?
- How do we go from proof-of-concept to production? Who do we need to involve?
- What are the development and hosting costs? How can we finance the project?
| Institution | AI Applications Profiled |
|---|---|
| Ithaca College |
Ithaca Insights: Prospective Student AI Chatbot IT and Analytics AI Agent |
| University of South Florida | AI-Powered IT Service Desk |
| Arizona State University | AI Degree Recommendation Engine |
| University of California San Diego | TritonGPT |
| New York University |
Enrollment Management Student Success Chatbot Research Finance Support Allowable Costs Chatbot |
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