This book brings together faculty, instructional designers, technologists, and academic leaders who offer honest reflections, practical examples, and thoughtful perspectives on how AI is influencing course design, assessment, student support, policy, and leadership.
AI is reshaping higher education—fast. This book brings together faculty, instructional designers, technologists, and academic leaders who are on the front lines of that change. Their chapters offer honest reflections, practical examples, and thoughtful perspectives on how AI is influencing course design, assessment, student support, policy, and leadership. Rather than hype or fear, the contributors offer grounded insight: what it takes to integrate AI in ways that are ethical, equitable, and truly student-centered. They explore both opportunities and risks, with an eye toward long-term impact—not just short-term solutions. Whether you're charting an institutional AI strategy or simply trying to understand what’s ahead, this collection is a timely guide. It doesn’t treat AI as a magic fix, but as a tool—one that, when used wisely, can help higher education become more human, not less.
Arvustused
This timely volume provides a systemic overview of the multiple ways AI can empower higher education. Its perspective is student-focused (recruitment, support, retention, quality of learning and assessment), with emphasis on how AI can enable operational factors (instructional design, management, finance). Descriptions are balanced between opportunities and challenges, highlighting difficulties in ethics, transparency, and trust. Most important, its discussion goes beyond doing things better (enhancing current practices) to doing better things (transformative cultural shifts, key decisions that could reshape higher educations future).
Chris Dede, Senior Research Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Associate Director for Research, National AI Institute for Adult Learning and Online Education (AI-ALOE)
I am truly impressed with the breadth, focus, and flow of this work. The topics are on point and are approached with diverse voices. Yet, unlike other similar works that incorporate multiple authors, the work is connected and follows a consistent path. Although the destination is satisfying, the true joy of the work is the numerous rewarding side roads along the journey.
Dave Cillay, Ph.D., Chancellor, Global Campus, Washington State University
This book offers a grounded, thoughtful, and actionable roadmap for integrating AI in online higher education. It sidesteps the hype and focuses instead on institutional strategy, ethics, and practical impact. It is a must-read for leaders looking to innovate responsibly and sustainably.
Asim Ali, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, Auburn University
Section 1: Foundations of AI in Online Learning
1. How AI is
Transforming the Online Learning Landscape
2. The Economics of AI-Driven
Online Learning: Cost Structures and ROI
3. Ethical Considerations and
Challenges in AI-Enhanced Online Learning Section 2: AI-Powered Student
Recruitment, Enrollment, and Onboarding
4. Artificial Intelligence Employed
in Student Recruitment
5. AI-Assisted Admissions and Enrollment Management
6.
Optimizing Student Onboarding with AI Section 3: AI-Enhanced Student
Engagement, Retention, and Success
7. Personalized Learning Experiences with
AI
8. AI-Powered Student Support and Advising in Online Higher Education
9.
AI, Retention, and the Changing Face of Student Success Section 4: AI-Driven
Instructional Design, Content Creation, and Assessment
10. AI-Assisted Course
Design and Development
11. Leveraging AI Chatbots to Support Authentic and
Inclusive Learning Experiences
12. AI-Enhanced Assessment and Feedback
Section 5: AI-Powered Institutional Transformation and Future Trends
13. A4L:
An Architecture for AI-Augmented Learning
14. Developing a Culture of AI
Readiness in Higher Education
15. Operational Considerations for AI
Implementation in Higher Education
16. Future Trends and Emerging
Technologies for AI in Online Learning
Kathleen S. Ives, D.M. Kathleen Ives is Chief Business Development Officer and Senior Vice President at UPCEA, where she leads strategy across membership, partnerships, research, finance, and HR. A former CEO of the Online Learning Consortium, she has spent her career at the forefront of emerging technology in both higher education and the corporate world. Kathleen has co-edited two books on ROI and eLearning transformation, and, in addition to this volume, she brings decades of leadership to digital innovation in education.
Marie A. Cini, Ph.D. Marie Cini is a leader in innovation and adult learning in higher ed. She currently serves as Provost at the University of the People, a nonprofit, tuition-free, online institution dedicated to expanding educational access worldwide. She previously served as Provost at University of Maryland Global Campus and was the president of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). Marie has received several honors in her career including the 2025 Ray Schroeder Leadership Award for the Advancement of Digital Learning, presented by UPCEA.
Ray Schroeder, M.S. Ray Schroeder is an internationally recognized expert in online learning and AI in higher education. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois Springfield and Senior Fellow at UPCEA. Author of the bi-weekly column "Online: Trending Now" in Inside Higher Ed, Ray regularly advises institutions and speaks at global conferences. His blog-distributed curated reading lists and LinkedIn commentary reflect decades of leadership at the intersection of tech, teaching, and learning.
