Colleges can use the latest AI tools to make their operations more efficient, with greater cost savings and more satisfied faculty and students
Colleges are supposed to prepare students for successful careers and real-world challenges with cutting-edge education. However, outdated IT systems, manual workflows, and rising operational costs often stand in the way, making it harder for institutions to deliver on that promise.
New technological tools promote the educational process and enable higher education administrators to do their jobs more efficiently. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming campus operations, helping to optimize budgets, provide better student support services, improve facility and resource management, and do much more.
To build a future-ready infrastructure, more and more schools of higher learning are turning to an advanced technology partner with proven expertise in leveraging AI tools for a cutting-edge digital transformation of their old and tired setup.
Key Areas Where AI Enhances Campus Operations
AI streamlines administrative workflows in higher education, touching upon almost every aspect of operations. As one major university puts it, “We’re revolutionizing IT support, streamlining processes, and advancing ethical generative AI, all to enhance how students, faculty, and staff engage with technology. Our AI solutions are reshaping daily operations, boosting efficiency, and unlocking new possibilities to propel [us] to the forefront of the digital age.”
Most colleges want to claim the same territory. Some of the key administrative areas enhanced by AI tools include:
Admissions and Enrollment
AI can help automate application reviews, flagging ones that require closer attention and speeding up responses to applicants. Predictive analytics can also highlight candidates who are more likely to succeed at the school. AI-automated tasks can include scheduling interviews, sending acceptance letters, and managing student records. AI-powered essay reviews can help spot grammatical errors and plagiarism in admission essays.
Student Support Services
AI chatbots can provide 24/7 support services to students, helping with administrative tasks such as fee payments or answering frequently asked questions. They can provide information on internships, job placements, and much more. Colleges can also analyze the types of questions that students are asking chatbots to fine-tune their services and minimize the kinds of issues learners face. The chatbots can also play a role in evaluating students’ learning histories to provide learning advice, study tips, useful resources, and feedback on assignments.
Finance Management
AI tools can help colleges optimize budgets, distribute financial aid, and track expenses. Finance teams can spend more time on strategic thinking and analysis, as AI handles repetitive tasks such as planning, data entry, and routine financial reporting. AI can also leverage the vast amount of data yielded by colleges and universities to gain new insights into financial and student outlooks. The information can also be used to forecast future financial scenarios so colleges can plan and allocate resources effectively.
Facility and Resource Management
Colleges can use AI systems to evaluate the use of facilities and adjust lighting, heating, and cooling systems to minimize energy consumption (saving money) while keeping conditions comfortable for users. AI can also monitor HVAC systems, lighting, and other equipment, predicting when they need maintenance or to be replaced, so breakdowns are avoided and things can run optimally.
Security and Scalability
AI can help to identify, analyze, and prevent or contain cyber security threats, keeping university and student data safe. With the increasing number of devices connected to colleges’ networks, schools must have AI-powered endpoint security solutions in place. Since the types of cyberattacks are constantly evolving, AI tools are required to monitor the global threat landscape continuously. AI systems can also “scale”—that is, they can handle mushrooming workloads, data, and complexity without damaging performance or efficiency.
Benefits of AI-Powered Administrative Workflows
Some of the advantages that AI tools offer college administrators include:
- Reduced manual workloads and human error
- Enhanced student and faculty satisfaction through faster service
- Staff freed up to focus on high-value tasks
- Cost savings through optimized resource allocation and automated tasks
- Increased efficiency and productivity
- Enhanced writing and communication with AI-powered language tools
- Better data security and privacy
- Improved decision-making with data analytics
How NRI Supports AI Integration in Higher Education
NRI has a long and successful history of implementing AI solutions tailored to different school needs. We partner with the world’s premier K-12 and higher education institutions, using cutting-edge technology to discover new ways of learning, teaching, and excelling in a fast-changing world.
For example, in 2024, we were approached by a leading Midwest community college that wanted help to reverse their declining student enrollment. NRI worked with the client with a plan to boost enrollment by re-engaging with former students who had left the college before earning their associate’s degree or technical diploma.
While the college had a wealth of data about these former students, they didn’t have the means to turn it into actionable insights. In order to equip school administrators with the tools required to analyze, visualize, and share data across individuals and teams, NRI implemented a solution involving Microsoft Power BI and Azure Synapse.
Our data solution helped to reduce operating costs by 50%. It allowed the college to have targeted conversations with prospects based on various student demographics and degree types rather than making generic, impersonal attempts at contact. Our solution enabled it to reach out to students regularly in a consistent and meaningful way in a bid to drive up enrollment.
Do you want to streamline your administrative workflow? There’s no reason to wait for classes to begin. Contact us today so you can earn an A in AI.
