America’s Colleges Cannot Afford to Fall Behind in AI and Technology Governance

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a speculative concern for higher education. It is an immediate and consequential force reshaping instruction, enrollment strategy, philanthropy, student success, and institutional operations. As colleges and universities contend with demographic contraction, sustained financial pressure, workforce realignment, and uneven public confidence, AI is increasingly embedded in decisions that shape institutional viability. Yet governance structures across higher education have not fully evolved to match the scale, complexity, and risk profile of this transformation.