Education Leaders Discuss AI’s Implications in Historic Gathering

Tuesday’s KeyBank Speaker Series—FutureEd: Harnessing the Power of AI in Academic Innovation—was a historic gathering of Westchester County’s college and university leaders, who gathered for the first time to discuss artificial intelligence’s implications for higher education.

As part of the BCW’s yearlong AI Alliance 360° program, the leaders described how their institutions are innovating and adapting their practices to AI, which poses challenges to inclusion, academic authenticity, ethics, and security, among other issues.

Panelists included Dr. Seamus Carey, President of Iona University; Marc M. Jerome, President of Monroe College; Jonathan Hill, Dean of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University; Dr. Belinda Miles, President of Westchester Community College; Susan Parish, President of Mercy University; Dr. Milly Peña, President of Purchase College; Frank Sanchez, President of Manhattanville University; Karen J. Smith, President of The College of Westchester; and Tania Tetlow, President of Fordham University.

“As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of academia, it is imperative to glean insights from these visionary leaders who are shaping the future of learning in our rapidly advancing world,” said BCW Executive Vice President & COO John Ravitz, who moderated the panel. “Embracing innovation and harnessing the power of AI in education isn’t just a choice. Now it’s a necessity.”

Sanchez said AI has already changed how Manhattanville University operates. “In the services we provide, not just curriculum development, but the operations, are dramatically changing the type of actionable intelligence we’re gathering now to inform draft policies,” said Sanchez. “It’s right now already dramatically impacting our institution.”

Miles said that as her institution enrolls an increasingly diverse student body, AI helps educators understand who is in the classroom. “It helps us recognize patterns within our student population so we can have some analytics to understand how best to serve,” said Miles. “(AI helps to) track progress and provide supports and interventions in a timely way to help students stay on track towards their goals.”

Tetlow noted the democratizing power of AI. “You can have this personal online tutor who teaches you in a very specific way not just that you made a mistake, but exactly why you made the mistake and therefore what to learn about it,” said Tetlow, adding that AI cannot replace the residential campus experience. “But if it helps us make (college) more affordable, if it helps us navigate the increasing expense of that support by replacing some of that with technology, that really could transform lives.”

Carey said that AI will redefine our understanding of knowledge and research. “You see professors in biology, for example, who spent three years on a research project that can be done in 5 minutes by AI. That calls into question what the role of future research will be,” said Carey. “The way we meet this moment in higher education is going to shape what the future looks like…. Students and professors alike are going to be faced with questions of meaning.”

Hill said AI will create new opportunities. “We have a message of optimism. AI is not coming for your job. It’s going to create lots of jobs for computer programmers, for philosophers, marketers, financiers, nurses, and doctors and across the spectrum so the potential is very exciting,” said Hill, whose school will require all first-year students to take an AI course.

Parish said AI will help schools grapple with the affordability of higher education. “I’m really excited about how AI can help us to evolve the business end of what we do…not just what happens in the classroom, but all of our operations from procurement and hiring and training,” said Parish.

Smith said The College of Westchester is consulting with its advisory councils for guidance on AI and career preparation. “We’re asking them within each discipline that we teach, what is it that you need in the workforce? And yes, AI is going to be exponentially disruptive to everything we do,” said Smith.

Jerome said that AI will help Monroe College deliver greater access to higher education. “The county has changed dramatically. The number of Spanish-speaking students and foreign language students has increased. AI can help with providing them with access,” said Jerome.

Peña said that her students will lead the innovation with AI in the areas of animation and media. “As a college that really is at the forefront of art and innovation, AI will have an incredible role to play in regard to what will come out of that talent,” said Peña.

The next AI Alliance 360° Program is Securing Tomorrow: AI in Cybersecurity on May 23 at Pace University’s Gottesman Room. Click here to register.