Higher Ed's AI Gap is Growing — Here's How to Catch Up

→ Presented by Element451

Hi there,

In higher education, AI adoption lags behind student expectations...and that gap is growing. Gen Z expects instant responses, yet many colleges still take days to reply to inquiries. Students don’t wait. They move on. AI isn’t just an opportunity anymore; it’s a necessity.

That’s why we created the Agentic AI Playbook — a practical guide to deploying AI agents that proactively assist students, streamline operations, and drive real engagement.?

Download your guide today for free!

?? TL;DR — Inside This Week's Edition

• ?? Practical Applications for Advancement: How Syracuse University is using AI to transform donor engagement, alumni outreach, and marketing.
• ?? Are Students Overwhelmed by Too Many Personalized Choices?: How AI can simplify decision-making rather than overload students with endless options.
• ???What an Enrollment Leader Learned from Her Teen's College Search: A firsthand look at how the parent perspective is reshaping recruitment strategies.

?? ICYMI: New Content and Updates

• ?? Practical Applications for Advancement: Host Dan Giroux sits down with Kim Infanti, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at Syracuse University, to explore how AI is reshaping advancement marketing and communications. From leveraging AI for donor segmentation to streamlining internal workflows and even enhancing alumni engagement through platforms like Protopia, Kim shares real-world examples of how her team is embracing AI.?
• ?? Are Students Overwhelmed by Too Many Personalized Choices?: When students are presented with too many options, they can feel paralyzed instead of empowered. This phenomenon, known as the paradox of choice, can lead to decision fatigue, delaying applications or causing students to opt out entirely. So, how can enrollment marketers strike the right balance? The key lies in simplifying choices, leveraging AI as a tool for guidance rather than overload, and understanding how students process decisions.

?? Hot and Trending Podcasts This Week

• What an Enrollment Leader Learned From Her Teen’s College Search (30 minutes): Melody Ferguson, Dean of Admission at Pacific Lutheran University, shares a unique dual perspective—both as an enrollment leader and as a mom with a high school senior navigating the admissions process. In this episode, she unpacks the disconnect between what colleges think families need and what actually helps them make decisions. From communication gaps to the emotional weight of the college search, Melody reveals the blind spots that can make or break an institution’s enrollment strategy.

• Navigating Parent Engagement with CampusESP (25 minutes): Parents have more influence over college decisions than ever before, but most institutions still treat them as an afterthought. In this episode, Dave Becker, CEO and co-founder of CampusESP, shares why engaging parents early and often isn’t just helpful—it’s essential to enrollment success. From shifting expectations post-COVID to the role of AI in personalizing parent communication, Dave breaks down the strategies institutions need to get right in 2025.

? Higher Ed Hero Spotlight: Michael Bettersworth

• Application drop-off is one of the biggest barriers to enrollment growth. At Texas State Technical College, Michael Bettersworth, CMO, saw an inefficient application process was frustrating students, slowing down staff, and driving up costs. By integrating Element451’s AI-driven CRM, they cut application processing costs by 80%—from $424 to just $81 per app. When the process is easier, more students move forward, and institutions see real results.

?? Want more real-world success stories? Meet the Heroes of Higher Ed redefining student engagement with AI.