Afleveringen
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Host Brian chats with Tracy Playle, founder of Pickle Jar and the Content Ed community, about the role of AI in content strategy for higher education. Tracy shares how her team at Pickle Jar is using AI to enhance audience research, content co-creation, and administrative workflows. She also explores the biggest challenges institutions face when integrating AI and offers actionable advice on how schools can start experimenting with these tools. Whether you're a skeptic or an enthusiast, this episode provides a practical and thought-provoking look at AI’s impact on content and marketing in higher ed.
While AI continues to improve, Tracy believes that its real impact will come from how institutions use it, not just how powerful the technology becomes. The key will be rethinking workflows, fostering AI literacy, and integrating AI into strategic priorities rather than treating it as a quick-fix tool.
Episode prompt:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mikekaput\_you-can-use-ai-to-level-up-your-speaking-activity-7288952513226031104--ST5
https://aistudio.google.com/
You are an expert public speaking coach specializing in delivery techniques. Your role is to provide detailed feedback on the delivery of a presentation, focusing on aspects such as intonation, tone, talking speed, cadence, clarity, body language (if visible), and audience engagement. You provide constructive criticism and actionable advice while highlighting strengths.
I will provide you with a video or audio recording of my presentation. Your task is to analyze my delivery and provide expert feedback. Focus on the following elements:
Intonation and expressiveness: Does my tone engage the audience?
Cadence and talking speed: Is my pacing too fast, too slow, or just right?
Clarity and articulation: Are my words easy to understand?
Audience engagement: Does my delivery hold attention effectively?
Professionalism: Do I come across as confident and credible?
Your Response Should Include:
Strengths: Highlight specific moments where my delivery shines and explain why they work well.
Areas for Improvement: Point out specific moments or patterns that could use improvement. Provide actionable techniques or exercises to address these areas (e.g., breathing techniques, pacing drills).
Overall Grade: Give a grade on a scale of 1–10 for my delivery, along with a brief explanation for the score.
General Tips: Summarize a few tips or exercises to enhance my overall delivery.
Example Format:
Strengths: "Your intonation is excellent; it varied naturally and kept the audience engaged. For example, at 1:45, your tone became more dynamic as you introduced an important point, which emphasized its significance."
Areas for Improvement: "Your speaking speed is slightly too fast between 2:00–3:00, which made it harder to follow. Try practicing deliberate pauses at the end of each sentence to improve pacing."
Grade: 8/10.
Tips: "Record yourself practicing with intentional pauses. Work on controlling your tone by practicing modulation exercises like reading aloud dramatically."
Key Notes:
Take your time and provide detailed, step-by-step feedback for each element of my delivery.
If anything is unclear in the video or audio, let me know, and I'll clarify or provide more context.
When you deliver the feedback, ensure it is constructive, specific, and actionable.
Key TakeawaysAI enhances content strategy – AI can help process audience research, identify trends, and develop content architectures.Co-creation, not replacement – AI is best used as a collaborator, accelerating brainstorming and ideation rather than replacing human creativity.Overcoming barriers to AI adoption – The biggest challenges in higher ed include lack of time, slow policy development, and messy data.Change management is key – AI adoption requires leadership buy-in and a shift in mindset toward workflow transformation.Start small and iterate – Institutions new to AI should begin with low-risk tasks like reformatting documents or summarizing meeting notes before scaling up.Structured content is essential – AI-driven personalization requires highly structured content and robust taxonomy frameworks.AI literacy is a must – Institutions should invest in training and hiring for AI proficiency to fully leverage its potential.How Pickle Jar Uses AI to Enhance Higher Ed Content Strategy AI in Audience Research and Content StrategyTracy’s team at Pickle Jar heavily relies on AI for audience research—one of the most critical components of content strategy. AI tools help process vast amounts of data, from survey responses to interview transcripts, identifying key themes and trends more efficiently than manual analysis.
One of the biggest advantages AI provides is the ability to generate audience personas and "motivational tribes." By analyzing patterns in student and stakeholder behaviors, AI helps marketers design content architectures that better align with user needs. This ensures that institutions are delivering the right messages to the right people at the right time.
For higher ed marketers, AI offers an opportunity to shift from intuition-based decisions to data-driven strategies. Institutions that integrate AI into their research processes will be better equipped to create content that resonates with prospective students and stakeholders.
The Power of AI in Content Co-CreationTracy describes her use of AI as a “second shower” for creativity—meaning it accelerates the ideation process much like those moments of inspiration that happen in the shower. Instead of waiting for the perfect idea to strike, AI tools can quickly generate options that Tracy and her team can refine.
Rather than relying on AI to write content from scratch, she uses it as a collaborator. For example, when working on brand messaging for a client, Tracy briefed ChatGPT to generate multiple versions of the same message with different tones—bold, moderate, and subtle. This kind of AI-assisted content iteration speeds up the creative process and provides fresh perspectives.
AI can also enhance storytelling. Tracy frequently uses it to find compelling anecdotes and case studies to strengthen her presentations and talks. This allows her to focus on crafting a narrative rather than spending hours searching for the perfect example.
Overcoming AI Adoption Challenges in Higher EdDespite AI’s potential, higher education institutions often struggle with adoption. Tracy identifies three major barriers:
Time and Space to Experiment – Staff are overwhelmed with growing workloads and shrinking resources, making it difficult to carve out time to explore AI tools. Ironically, AI could be the solution to these productivity challenges, but institutions need to invest time upfront to see the long-term benefits.Slow Policy Development – Universities tend to wait for formal policies before implementing AI. Tracy argues that this cautious approach stifles innovation. Instead, institutions should encourage hands-on experimentation to inform policy development, rather than delaying progress.Data Quality Issues – Higher ed has a wealth of data, but much of it is unstructured or outdated. AI works best with clean, well-organized data. Institutions must improve their data governance practices to fully capitalize on AI’s capabilities.Tracy also emphasizes the importance of educating senior leadership on AI’s potential and limitations. Many university leaders have unrealistic expectations about what AI can do, assuming that it can instantly create highly personalized content experiences. However, without structured content, robust taxonomies, and audience insights, AI-driven personalization simply isn’t possible.
How Institutions Can Get Started with AIFor universities looking to integrate AI into their workflows, Tracy recommends starting small and focusing on six key task areas:
Repetitive Tasks – Automate administrative work like formatting documents or summarizing meeting notes.Boring Tasks – Use AI for routine work that human employees find tedious, freeing them up for more strategic efforts.24/7 Availability – Implement AI chatbots to provide instant responses to FAQs for students and prospective applicants.Easily Trainable Tasks – Identify tasks that AI can be trained to handle quickly and efficiently.Low-Risk Activities – Begin with AI applications where errors won’t have significant negative consequences.Complex Data Analysis – Leverage AI to analyze large datasets and uncover insights that human analysts might miss.By identifying opportunities within these areas, institutions can ease into AI adoption without feeling overwhelmed.
The Future of AI in Higher EducationLooking ahead, Tracy predicts that AI in higher education will evolve in three major ways:
More Advanced Multimedia Capabilities – AI-driven video editing and voice synthesis will enhance content creation and accessibility, including seamless language translation for international students.Specialized AI Applications – Instead of generic AI models, institutions will see more AI tools tailored for specific higher ed functions like SEO optimization, student engagement, and course design.Agentic AI Growth – AI will shift from being a passive tool to an active assistant, capable of performing complex tasks and making decisions within defined parameters.Guest Name: Tracy Playle, CEO and Chief Content Officer, PickleJar Communications
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyplayle/
Guest Bio: Tracy is CEO and Chief Content Strategist at Pickle Jar Communications. She is also a public speaker and coach.
Since founding Pickle Jar Communications she has worked with over 300 education institutions around the world to help them advance their approach to content strategy, content design and content marketing.
The best version of Tracy comes out to play when she’s running workshops, training sessions, coaching individuals and teams or delivering presentations and conference keynotes. She dedicates herself to develop others to become powerful content professionals.
Before founding Pickle Jar Communications in 2007, Tracy worked in-house at the University of Warwick, latterly as Head of Research-TV. She chose to become a consultant so that she could have an impact across the education sector, not just within a single institution, and to have greater breadth and variety in her work.
She is also the founder of ContentEd and Utterly Content. And she is the author of "The Connected Campus: Creating a content strategy to drive engagement with your university" (2020).
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Host Brian Piper sits down with Dave Hunt, Executive Creative Director of Strategic Enrollment Management at Old Dominion University (ODU), to explore how AI is revolutionizing marketing, admissions, and advising. From AI-powered project management tools to the creation of custom GPTs, Dave shares how his team is integrating AI into daily workflows, saving time, and enhancing efficiency. They also discuss AI adoption trends in higher education, challenges institutions face, and what the future holds for AI-driven marketing and operations.
Episode prompt:
You are a higher education social media expert.
I’m going to ask you to come up with post ideas for the month for [insert platform of choice here] targeting [insert target audience here]. Generate at least 20 post ideas for the month. Make them timely, valuable, and relevant to our target audience.
Use the attached brand guidelines [or provide an online link], important dates and events, personas, key messages, and strategic priorities [use whatever examples, information, and resources you have that are relevant]. Look at the existing posts at [insert your social channel page URL] to better understand our brand voice for the channel.
Generate the posts, please. Take your time.
Key TakeawaysAI is already deeply embedded in marketing workflows – From design tools like Adobe Creative Suite to AI-powered project management in monday.com, automation is streamlining repetitive tasks.Custom GPTs are a game-changer for enrollment marketing – ODU’s brand-specific AI assistant helps with content creation, strategic planning, and even leadership tasks like performance management.Higher education is still in the early stages of AI adoption – While some institutions embrace AI, many face challenges due to procurement policies, IT concerns, and change resistance.AI can enhance—not replace—human roles – By automating routine tasks, AI frees up time for more strategic and human-centered work, such as personalization in student engagement.The future of AI in higher ed includes AI agents and deeper integration – AI-powered assistants could soon help manage workflows, track strategic goals, and provide real-time insights.How ODU is Integrating AI in Marketing and EnrollmentAI-Powered Tools Are Enhancing EfficiencyAt ODU, Dave Hunt and his team are leveraging AI to automate time-consuming tasks across marketing, admissions, and advising. AI-powered design tools like Photoshop and Canva are eliminating hours of manual work by enabling quick background removal and content generation. Similarly, AI features in monday.com help streamline project management by automating task creation for large-scale initiatives.
The adoption of AI isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about freeing up time for more strategic work. As Dave points out, tools like generative AI allow designers and marketers to shift their focus from production work to more creative and high-impact projects. This shift is essential in an era where personalization and responsiveness are key to engaging students.
The Rise of Custom GPTs for Enrollment MarketingOne of the most impactful AI innovations at ODU has been the development of a brand-specific GPT. By integrating ODU’s brand voice, messaging, and strategic priorities, this AI-powered assistant helps with everything from ad copy creation to leadership tasks like planning team retreats and setting performance goals.
Dave explains that this custom GPT acts as a thought partner, offering insights and recommendations that align with ODU’s mission. Whether it’s brainstorming personalized marketing campaigns or structuring professional development plans, AI ensures that marketing efforts remain consistent and strategic.
AI Adoption in Higher Education: Challenges and OpportunitiesWhile AI adoption is growing in higher ed, it’s not without challenges. Many institutions struggle with procurement hurdles, IT security concerns, and skepticism from staff who are hesitant to change long-standing workflows. However, Dave emphasizes that the key to successful AI integration is demonstrating its immediate value—starting with simple tools that save time and reduce manual work.
At conferences, Dave and his peers have observed a wide spectrum of AI adoption levels. While some institutions are actively using AI for advanced marketing strategies, others are still in the early exploration phase. He predicts that AI-powered assistants and automation tools will soon become a standard part of the higher ed marketing tech stack, helping institutions personalize outreach and scale their engagement efforts.
The Future of AI in Higher Ed MarketingLooking ahead, Dave sees AI evolving in several key ways:
AI Agents Will Become More Powerful – With advancements in AI, institutions will likely see more AI-powered virtual assistants managing workflows, analyzing data, and providing actionable insights.More Seamless Integration Across Platforms – AI will become a built-in feature across marketing, admissions, and advising platforms, further streamlining processes.Greater Focus on Strategic and Creative Work – As AI handles routine tasks, marketers will have more time to focus on storytelling, relationship-building, and high-level strategy.For those just starting to explore AI in higher ed marketing, Dave’s advice is simple: start small, focus on time-saving tools, and remain open to experimentation.
Guest Name: Dave Hunt, Executive Creative Director, Old Dominion University
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-hunt-a343048/
Guest Bio: Dave Hunt is a creative strategist with deep expertise in branding, design, writing, editing, marketing plan development, audio/video, print production, art direction and project management. He is currently the executive creative director for Old Dominion University’s Division of Digital Transformation and Technology. In his role, he oversees a team responsible for the creative expression of the ODUGlobal brand, as well as graphic design, content strategy, social media and digital marketing in support of student recruitment. Prior to his current role, he was the director of strategic digital marketing for Miami Online at Miami University, graphic design manager and art director for the Wake Forest School of Business, and director of communications for the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. A first-generation college graduate, Dave holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Brian Piper sits down with Devin Purgason from Forsyth Tech to explore how the community college is strategically integrating AI to enhance student engagement, boost enrollment, and deliver better outcomes. Devin shares the innovative ways Forsyth Tech is leveraging tools like AI chatbots, automated workflows, and Microsoft Co-Pilot to create efficiencies while maintaining the human connection that drives student success. This conversation also tackles concerns like AI hallucinations, resource allocation, and how to balance automation with personal interaction to make a meaningful impact in higher education.
Episode prompt:
Using Claude.ai: Create an app for me that takes the attached spreadsheet and does X
Key TakeawaysAI Can Enhance, Not Replace, Human Interactions
Forsyth Tech uses AI to automate routine processes, freeing up staff to focus on more complex, human-centered student needs—ultimately increasing trust and connection.The Impact of AI Chatbots in Enrollment
By integrating an AI chatbot, Forsyth Tech decreased call volume by 30%, increased call length by a minute (indicating deeper conversations), and saw a 10% rise in enrollment within six months.Human Oversight is Key to Managing AI
Forsyth Tech's success hinges on having a dedicated team member who constantly updates the AI knowledge base and monitors chat interactions to prevent errors.Start Small, Scale Strategically
Institutions new to AI should begin with small pilot projects to measure impact and refine processes before scaling larger initiatives.AI's Role in Personalization and Automation
AI tools are helping Forsyth Tech create tailored messaging, workflows, and content for prospective students, streamlining operations without losing the personal touch.How Forsyth Tech is Using AI to Meet Student Needs
Forsyth Tech's integration of AI began in 2023 with the formation of an AI task force—a forward-thinking move for a community college. One of their most successful implementations has been an AI chatbot powered by generative AI and large language models (LLMs). The chatbot, customizable to the institution’s specific needs, provides students with real-time answers to questions like office hours or deadlines. This frees up staff to tackle more complicated issues, like FAFSA support, ensuring that high-need students get the attention they deserve.Beyond chatbots, AI has been incorporated into enrollment workflows using their CRM system. Prospective students are guided through personalized journeys based on their behavior and responses. For example, if a student completes an inquiry form, they receive automated emails or text messages tailored to their actions. What sets this apart is the integration of a student care team, which adds a human touch by personally reaching out to students during key points in their journey. This balance of AI and human intervention has been pivotal in driving enrollment growth.
Addressing Concerns About AI Accuracy
One of the top challenges institutions face when adopting AI is the risk of errors—so-called "AI hallucinations." Devin acknowledges these challenges but emphasizes that no system, human or AI, is immune to mistakes. To combat inaccuracies, Forsyth Tech monitors chat interactions in real time and uses triggers to notify staff when a chat requires human intervention. They also have a dedicated team member who updates the chatbot’s knowledge base regularly to ensure accuracy.Additionally, Devin advises that institutions shouldn't expect perfection when implementing AI. The focus should be on making incremental improvements that add value while mitigating risks. By taking this pragmatic approach, Forsyth Tech has reaped significant benefits without being derailed by occasional hiccups.
The Future of AI in Higher Education
Looking ahead, Devin predicts AI will drive greater personalization across all areas of higher education. From tailored academic content in learning management systems (LMS) to customized marketing messages, AI is poised to revolutionize the way colleges interact with students. Tools like Microsoft Co-Pilot, which summarizes emails and provides real-time assistance, are already helping Forsyth Tech's staff be more efficient in administrative tasks.For enrollment marketers, Devin believes AI will make A/B testing, process automation, and personalized campaigns more accessible and effective. The goal, he notes, isn’t just to attract students but to support them throughout their journey—from inquiry to graduation—with tools that reduce barriers and create meaningful engagement.
Advice for Institutions New to AI
For institutions just starting their AI journey, Devin recommends the following steps:
Define Objectives: Clarify what you want AI to achieve—whether it’s boosting enrollment, improving learning outcomes, or streamlining administrative tasks.Invest in Training: Equip staff with the skills to use and manage AI tools effectively.Pilot Projects: Start small, evaluate impact, and scale based on what works.Balance Automation and Human Touch: Always ensure that AI complements, rather than replaces, human interaction to maintain trust and connection with students.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Brian Piper sits down with Ardis Kadiu, founder and CEO of Element451, to explore the transformative role of AI in higher education. From personalized student engagement tools to cutting-edge AI assistants, Ardis shares how AI is reshaping the student journey and breaking down barriers to success. Tune in for insights on AI adoption, overcoming institutional challenges, and the exciting possibilities ahead in 2025 and beyond.
Episode prompt:
Looker data studio dashboard template - https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/bc82429a-f580-42de-b80f-d87e7eeeffad
You are a content marketing and data expert.
I’m going to ask you to look at Google Search Console data and identify opportunities for me to optimize existing content or create new content that would be the most valuable for my target audience while also helping me meet my strategic business goals.My target audience consists of {describe target audience or upload persona resources}. And my strategic goals include {list company goals, upload a document, or point to a URL}.
Give me a list of 10 existing pieces of content to optimize and a list of 10 new pieces of content to create.
Take your time.
Key Takeaways
Transforming Student Engagement: AI-powered tools like Element451 provide tailored solutions for prospect engagement, application management, and ongoing student support.AI Agents in Higher Ed: Multi-agent AI systems mimic campus staff roles, providing specialized support while improving efficiency and the student experience.Combatting AI Misconceptions: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) ensures chatbots provide accurate, context-specific responses, addressing fears of misinformation.Leadership's Role in AI Adoption: Transformative AI adoption requires leadership-driven change management, not just grassroots experimentation.Future of AI in Higher Ed: By 2025, agent-based workflows and personalized discovery tools are poised to redefine administrative and academic processes.What is Element451, and how does it leverage AI for higher education?Element451 is an AI-first platform designed to enhance student engagement across the higher education lifecycle. From marketing to advising, its tools integrate AI to streamline processes and personalize experiences. The platform’s innovative multi-agent system simulates real-world campus roles, offering specialized assistance for admissions, financial aid, and beyond. This structure allows seamless handoffs between AI agents and human staff, ensuring students receive accurate, timely support.
How does Element451 address chatbot challenges like misinformation?Ardis explained how modern AI systems combat "hallucinations" or inaccuracies through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). By leveraging authoritative data sources such as institutional knowledge bases and websites, the AI ensures responses are contextually accurate and relevant. Educating institutions on these methodologies has been key to overcoming skepticism and building trust in AI tools.
What are the biggest challenges in adopting AI in higher education?Despite AI’s potential, many institutions view it as a tool rather than a transformational technology. Leadership often delegates AI exploration to teams without equipping them with the tools for meaningful change management. Ardis emphasized that a shift in mindset, driven by leadership, is essential for realizing AI’s full potential.
How can institutions get started with AI?Ardis advised institutions to focus on removing friction from the student experience. Start with areas like program exploration, application processes, or course catalog navigation. AI solutions can provide personalized recommendations and streamline workflows, enhancing both student satisfaction and institutional efficiency.
Why has AI adoption been slower on the administrative side?Faculty often drive institutional innovation, with academic applications of AI gaining traction due to concerns about cheating and learning outcomes. Administrative areas like enrollment and marketing lag behind, partly due to a lack of urgency and purpose-driven leadership. However, Ardis predicts a shift as institutions recognize AI’s broader organizational value.
What does the future of AI in higher education look like?Ardis forecasts 2025 as the "year of AI agents," with agent-driven workflows becoming mainstream in education and beyond. As AI models become cheaper and more powerful, institutions will move from experimentation to full-scale deployment. Personalized discovery tools, enhanced reasoning models, and advanced world models promise to revolutionize the higher education landscape.
Guest Name: Ardis Kadiu, Founder and CEO of Element451
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ardis/
Guest Bio: Ardis is the Founder and CEO of Element451, an EdTech company renowned for its AI-powered student engagement and CRM products. His expertise spans AI, technology, education, and design, making significant contributions to higher education. At Element451, Ardis has been instrumental in developing advanced personalization engines and AI features, demonstrating his deep understanding of AI's practical applications. As an educator at NYU, he has shared his knowledge in user experience design, web, and mobile development. A thought leader in the field, Ardis shares his insights on Generative AI, ChatGPT, and AI-enhanced engagement strategies at key industry events like AMA, NAGAP, EDUCAUSE, and NACAC. He also hosts the "Generation AI" podcast, exploring the impact of AI in education and marketing. Ardis Kadiu combines a rich academic foundation with professional acumen, holding an MBA in Innovation & Technology Management and Digital Media Innovation, an MS in Integrated Digital Media, and a BS in Computer Engineering, all from New York University. This educational blend underpins his practical and innovative approach in the EdTech sector.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Join us as Kellie Campbell, CIO of Vermont State Colleges System, shares insights on building AI readiness across multiple institutions. Learn about creating system-wide approaches to AI adoption, preparing institutional data foundations, and developing strategies for workforce preparation.
Episode prompt:
You are an experienced higher education HR professional specializing in job description development at [school name] [provide url if using chatGPT]. Before creating the job description, ask me the neccesary questions ONE AT A TIME in order to gather all the information needed about the job based on the sample job descriptions that have been provided. After I provide a response, ask the next relevant question. Do not move on until you have gathered the necessary information to create a new job description based on the supplied example.
Potential Information Gathering Questions:
1. Position Basics
- What is the position title?
- Which department/unit?
- Who does this position report to?
- Is this full-time, part-time, or temporary?
- What is the FLSA status (exempt/non-exempt)?
- Are there any special work arrangements (hybrid, remote, etc.)?
2. Role Context
- What is the primary purpose of this position?
- What strategic goals does this role support?
- What challenges is this role meant to address?
- What makes this role unique at your institution?
3. Team Structure
- How many direct reports (if any)?
- What other positions will they work closely with?
- What committees or working groups will they serve on?
- What stakeholders will they interact with regularly?
4. Requirements
- What required education level?
- What required years of experience?
- What specific technical skills are required?
- What certifications or licenses are needed?
- What soft skills are essential?
5. Responsibilities
- What are the primary duties?
- How is time typically divided between different duties?
- What are the key deliverables?
- What routine tasks are involved?
- What strategic initiatives will they lead?
6. Institution-Specific
- What values should be emphasized?
- Are there any special institutional requirements?
- What unique aspects of your culture should be highlighted?
- Any specific DEI commitments to include?
After gathering this information, I will:
1. Analyze your sample job description to match style and format
2. Draft a comprehensive description following your institutional template
3. Include any standard language or sections from your sample
4. Ensure all required compliance statements are included
5. Maintain consistent tone and terminology
Important Reminders:
- All language will be inclusive and unbiased
- Skills will be clearly marked as required vs. preferred
- Responsibilities will be action-oriented and specific
- Format will match institutional standards from the supplied example
- Salary range will be included if required by law
- Equal opportunity and accessibility statements will be included
Begin asking the necessary questions. Do NOT ask a question from the list above unless it is specifically required in the example job description, and then, take your time creating the new job description in the same format as the example.
Guest Name: Dr. Kellie Campbell (EdD), Chief Information Officer/Vice President, Vermont State Colleges System
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kellie-b-campbell-edd-75a83253
Guest Bio: As Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Technology for the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS), Kellie works in close partnership with the Council of Presidents to provide leadership, management, and strategy for the Information Technology (IT) shared services division. Inclusive of seven key service areas, the IT division provides direct IT services to the entire VSCS. Kellie also serves on the executive leadership team driving transformation objectives for the state colleges system. As a commissioner and committee co-chair on the Vermont Commission on Women, Kellie works with others on non-partisan issues to advance the rights and opportunity for women in the state of Vermont.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Join us as Mike Miles, Director of Web Development at MIT Sloan, shares insights on integrating AI into development workflows, fostering team collaboration, and preparing for the future of AI-assisted coding. Learn practical approaches to using tools like GitHub Copilot and strategies for optimizing web content for AI consumption.
Episode prompt:
You are an SEO expert specializing in higher education websites. Help me create optimized page titles and meta descriptions for our university webpages. Please analyze the content and context of the following page and provide recommendations that balance search visibility with our educational mission.
Consider these institutional factors:
- Primary target audience(s) for this page (e.g., prospective students, current students, faculty)
- Competitive academic programs or unique offerings
- Core institutional values and brand voice
- Search intent for different audience segments
Please generate:
1. Page Title (50-60 characters)
- Primary version optimized for search
- Alternative version emphasizing brand/value
- Mobile-friendly shortened version
2. Meta Description (130-155 characters)
- Primary version with clear call-to-action
- Alternative version focusing on unique value proposition
- Mobile-friendly shortened version
3. Provide brief explanations for:
- Key terms/phrases targeted
- Why these choices align with user intent
- How these support our SEO goals
Guidelines:
- Include location/institution name where relevant
- Avoid keyword stuffing
- Maintain academic tone while being engaging
- Consider local/regional search impact
- Follow higher ed best practices for accessibility
After analyzing the page content, please ask clarifying questions about:
- Specific program differentiators
- Target geography
- Primary conversion goals
- Competing pages/institutions
Guest Name: Mike Miles, Director of Web Development, MIT Sloan
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemiles86/
Guest Bio: Mike Miles is a web engineer with 20+ years of experience in open-source development, proficient in various languages and frameworks. As the Director of Web Development at MIT Sloan, Mike manages the team responsible for the development, maintenance, and growth of the schools public facing web properties to deliver high-quality solutions for the school's community. Mike presents talks at technical conferences around the world and is one of the organizers of the New England Drupal Camp (https://nedcamp.org).
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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In this Enrollify webinar, Balancing Bites and Bonds: How AI Can Humanize Higher Ed, Mallory Willsea and an expert panel dive deep into how artificial intelligence is transforming student engagement in higher education. Featuring AI for U host Brian Piper, Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO host Jamie Hunt, Generation AI co-host JC Bonilla, and The Hidden Gem host Maya Demishkevich, the discussion addresses the dual challenge of automating processes while maintaining meaningful, human connections. Through innovative examples, insights, and lively conversation, this episode provides a roadmap for leveraging AI to create more personalized and efficient student experiences.
Key Takeaways:
AI as a Personalization Multiplier: AI enables hyper-personalization, allowing institutions to deliver tailored experiences at scale while freeing staff for high-touch student interactions.Balancing Efficiency and Empathy: AI can handle repetitive tasks and provide instant answers, allowing human advisors to focus on meaningful, personalized connections.Student-Centric Approach: Despite concerns, students generally value efficient solutions over the origin of communication, provided their needs are met.Ethical AI Use: Transparency, data security, and empathy should be foundational to AI implementations in higher ed.AI’s Potential for Scaling Impact: Tools like virtual assistants and predictive modeling have proven success in improving outcomes, such as higher grades and retention rates.1. How does AI enhance student engagement without dehumanizing it?
Panelists agreed that AI’s strength lies in its ability to manage repetitive tasks and provide hyper-personalized interactions. For instance, Dr. JC Bonilla emphasized that AI acts as a "personalization multiplier," allowing institutions to address individual student needs with a level of nuance and efficiency impossible through manual methods alone.
AI-powered tools, such as predictive analytics, enable institutions to identify at-risk students early. Brian Piper shared a compelling example from Ivy Tech Community College, where AI monitoring alerted counselors to students in danger of failing, resulting in a 98% success rate for these students in achieving a C grade or higher.2. What are examples of successful AI use in higher education?
Georgia State University: Direct text messages powered by AI helped first-generation students improve their grades by an average of 11 percentage points.Virtual Campus Tours: Maya Demishkevich shared an example where AI-powered avatars significantly increased engagement during online campus tours, providing institutions with scalable alternatives to human guides.AI Virtual Assistants: Institutions like Forsyth Tech have saved thousands of staff hours by automating responses to routine queries, enabling human staff to focus on higher-value tasks.
Several panelists highlighted successful AI applications:3. Do students care if AI is part of their experience?
Surprisingly, the consensus was that students care more about getting their needs met efficiently than whether the solution involves AI. However, transparency remains critical. As Brian Piper pointed out, institutions should disclose when AI tools are being used to ensure trust isn’t eroded.4. What are the ethical considerations in using AI for student communications?
Panelists underscored the importance of ethical AI use, advocating for transparency, data security, and empathy as foundational principles. Jamie Hunt stressed the need to ensure AI-generated content aligns with institutional values and human oversight remains part of the decision-making process.5. How can institutions address faculty and staff fears about AI replacing jobs?
To build trust, institutions should focus on training faculty and staff to use AI tools as enhancements to their roles, not replacements. As Maya Demishkevich noted, AI can save time by automating mundane tasks, allowing employees to focus on strategic, human-centric work. JC Bonilla added that embracing the role of “AI champions” within institutions can help bridge the gap between AI skeptics and early adopters.6. What does the future of AI in higher ed look like?
Panelists agreed that AI’s future lies in hyper-personalization, advanced virtual assistants, and smaller, task-specific language models (LLMs). The emergence of AI "agents" tailored for distinct tasks will allow for even greater efficiency and impact.AI is transforming higher education by bridging the gap between efficiency and empathy. The insights shared in this episode reveal the exciting potential for AI to not only streamline processes but also amplify the human connections at the heart of higher education. To dive deeper, listen to the full episode of Balancing Bites and Bonds: How AI Can Humanize Higher Ed, and explore the possibilities for your institution.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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In this episode of AI for U, live from the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, host Brian dives into the evolving landscape of search engine optimization (SEO) with Faton Sopa, co-founder and CEO of Manaferra. Specializing in SEO for higher education, Sopa discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping search behavior, SEO practices, and the student recruitment journey. This conversation offers actionable insights for higher education marketers navigating the future of AI-driven search.
Key TakeawaysAI's Impact on SEO: AI is fundamentally disrupting traditional search behaviors and content strategies in higher education. Institutions must optimize not just for Google but for AI-driven search engines.Content Optimization: Structuring and digesting content effectively is essential for visibility in generative AI searches. Clear, authoritative, and user-focused content outperforms generic outputs.Future of SEO in Higher Ed: Institutions that adapt quickly to AI will thrive, while those that don’t risk losing visibility, traffic, and prospective student engagement.AI Tools in SEO Strategy: AI enhances content creation, technical SEO, and digital PR, enabling faster and more accurate optimizations with a necessary layer of human oversight.Importance of Trust and Authority: Link-building, digital PR, and maintaining credible, authoritative content are critical in building trust with AI-driven search algorithms.What is Manaferra, and How Does it Support Higher Ed?
Faton Sopa introduces Manaferra as an SEO agency exclusively serving the higher education sector. By leveraging expertise in search marketing, Manaferra helps colleges and universities attract students through organic search. Sopa emphasizes the importance of aligning SEO strategies with the evolving digital landscape to enhance visibility and drive meaningful traffic.How is AI Changing Search Behavior and SEO?
The rise of AI is transforming how prospective students search for information. Instead of sifting through multiple search engine results, users increasingly rely on AI tools to provide concise, relevant answers. For higher education marketers, this means fewer touchpoints in the traditional search journey but opportunities for higher-quality leads. Institutions must optimize content for AI by making it digestible, well-structured, and authoritative.How Can Higher Ed Adapt to AI-Powered Search?
Technical SEO: Ensure page speed, schema usage, and robust information architecture.Content Strategy: Focus on creating pillar pages that unify siloed information to showcase institutional expertise.AI Optimization: Make content easy for AI tools to crawl and understand, improving the chances of ranking in AI-driven search engines.
Adapting to AI requires a multi-pronged strategy:
Sopa highlights that universities adopting these strategies can position themselves as authoritative sources, maintaining visibility even as traditional traffic declines.What Role Does Trust and Authority Play in AI-Driven SEO?
Authority matters more than ever in the AI era. Sopa explains how link-building and digital PR reinforce a site’s credibility, which AI algorithms prioritize when delivering answers. By maintaining a strong presence on trusted platforms, universities can ensure their content is selected as reliable and authoritative.How Can Institutions Use AI to Enhance SEO?
Data Analysis: AI accelerates insights by processing data from tools like Google Search Console and SEMrush.Content Creation: AI generates content briefs and drafts, but human oversight is critical to ensure accuracy, relevance, and creativity.Custom Solutions: Institutions can build custom GPTs to streamline their marketing processes and improve internal efficiencies.
AI is a powerful ally for SEO professionals:
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Got a story to tell? An innovative idea to share? Fill out our guest nomination form, and let's chat!
Dr. Claire Brady shares insights from her groundbreaking report on AI integration in student affairs, offering practical frameworks for implementation, real-world use cases, and strategies for building institutional AI literacy. Learn how institutions are successfully adopting AI tools to enhance student success while maintaining educational values.
View Claire's Report
Register For The PresentationEpisode prompt:
Go to https://smarterx.ai/jobsgpt and click on “Launch JobsGPT”
Then, upload your job description or enter your job title and use the prompt “How will AI impact my job?” Then you can go on to ask follow-up questions like “What tools should I be testing?” “How can ChatGPT help me be more effective and more efficient in my current role?”
Guest Name: Dr. Claire Brady, Glass Half Full Consulting
Guest Social:https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairebradyedd/
Guest Bio: Claire Brady is a trailblazing executive with 25 years of experience driving change and innovation across the field of higher education. As President of Glass Half Full Consulting, she partners with executive leaders to navigate complex challenges and spark meaningful, lasting change. A national thought leader in AI adoption, Claire has a unique talent for translating AI’s transformative potential into practical strategies that streamline operations and, crucially, free up time for richer human connections.
Claire’s consulting work and professional development programs are crafted to empower organizations to not only embrace AI but to thrive in an AI-enhanced world. Her past executive roles include serving at Lake-Sumter State College in Florida and Ana G. Mendez University in Florida and Puerto Rico, along with teaching at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Michigan State University. Active in regional and national associations, Claire also brings her expertise to her community through board service and volunteer work.
Based in Orlando with her family, Claire’s passions extend beyond AI. When she's not picking up LEGO or discussing the intricacies of Minecraft, you’ll find her exploring new AI tools, catching Broadway shows, reading, traveling, or enjoying time with family and friends.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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In this insightful episode of AI for U, Brian dives into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is reshaping creative communications at CU Boulder. Maria Kuntz, Director of Creative Communications and Services, shares real-world use cases of how AI tools streamline administrative tasks, enhance creative workflows, and transform storytelling. Recorded live at the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, this episode offers practical inspiration for enrollment marketers looking to integrate AI into their strategies.
Key Takeaways
AI streamlines time-consuming tasks, such as synthesizing complex email threads into clear communications, saving hours of manual work.Tools like ChatGPT support creative processes, including generating article titles and SEO-optimized content, enabling teams to skip steps in brainstorming and focus on refinement.AI enhances storytelling, from uncovering "unsung hero" alumni to drafting multimedia content plans, offering marketers a head start on creative projects.Collaborative AI use reduces stigma around adopting new technology and fosters team-wide innovation.Fact-checking remains crucial when using AI, especially for storytelling and brand alignment.Episode Summary
How Is AI Streamlining Administrative Tasks?Maria shared a compelling example of using ChatGPT to consolidate and reframe a chaotic email thread into a coherent message. The thread, involving multiple contributors, pertained to supporting grant applications on campus. With AI, she quickly generated a polished draft, enabling the team to focus on fine-tuning instead of starting from scratch. This approach saved significant time and allowed Maria to provide more efficient support to her colleagues.
How Does AI Boost Creative Content Development?One standout application is AI's role in brainstorming article titles for the university magazine. Traditionally, creating headlines was a labor-intensive task, involving multiple iterations. By integrating AI, Maria’s team now pre-generates ideas, allowing brainstorming meetings to focus on refinement rather than ideation. Additionally, by layering SEO considerations into prompts, they produce dual-purpose content optimized for both print and digital audiences, demonstrating how AI aligns creative and technical goals.
Can AI Uncover Unique Storytelling Opportunities?Maria highlighted an exciting use case in alumni storytelling. Using ChatGPT, she identified CU Boulder graduates who are "unsung heroes" across various disciplines. This initial AI research provided a springboard for deeper investigation and led to richer narratives. While the results required careful fact-checking, this approach significantly accelerated the discovery process for compelling alumni stories.
What About AI in Multimedia Content Creation?AI extends beyond text-based content to multimedia, as Maria demonstrated when creating a reel for an alumna’s story. With prompts guiding shot sequences, music suggestions, and text overlays, the AI provided a ready-made storyboard, simplifying the creative process. This iterative starting point helped the team overcome creative blocks and produce engaging visual content.
How Is Collaboration Driving AI Adoption?Encouraging team-wide discussions about AI fostered a culture of innovation and reduced hesitation around its use. Group brainstorming sessions involving AI not only produced better results but also normalized the tool’s integration into daily workflows. Maria emphasized the importance of team norms and open communication in leveraging AI's potential effectively.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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This episode of AI for U captures a lively discussion from the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education with Scott Cline, an independent consultant for higher education institutions. The conversation dives deep into how AI is transforming administrative and strategic workflows in higher education, empowering professionals to focus on meaningful human interactions.
Key Takeaways
AI saves time on administrative tasks: By automating repetitive tasks, AI allows higher ed professionals to invest more time in building connections and fostering collaboration.AI isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t need to be: Leveraging AI for gap analysis and ideation improves workflows and surfaces insights that might otherwise be overlooked.Institutions must adopt a flexible approach: AI is an evolving tool, requiring ongoing adjustments and an openness to experimentation and learning.AI facilitates creative and strategic work: With AI managing groundwork, leadership teams can focus on impactful conversations, ideation, and innovation.How Is AI Transforming Administrative Work in Higher Education?Scott Cline highlighted that much of a higher ed professional’s time—up to 70-80%—is spent on administrative tasks like emails, meetings, and resource coordination. By using AI to streamline these tasks, professionals can refocus on the human side of their roles, engaging with staff, faculty, and students. Cline emphasized that this shift is not about replacing jobs but enabling more meaningful connections.
What Are the Key Benefits of Using AI for Strategic Work?AI’s ability to tackle repetitive and preparatory tasks creates opportunities for senior leadership to prioritize valuable in-person discussions, such as board meetings or team ideation sessions. While AI might not have the expertise of a seasoned professional, it can aid in generating ideas, identifying gaps, and providing fresh perspectives, helping leaders refine their strategies faster and more effectively.
Is AI Reliable Enough for Higher Ed Professionals?Cline candidly addressed common concerns about AI’s imperfections, such as hallucinations or errors. He argued that AI doesn’t need to be flawless to be useful—humans make mistakes too. The key is to use AI as a supportive tool while maintaining a process of review and iteration. For institutions, this means adopting a mindset of continuous learning and adjustment to ensure they remain responsive to both technological advances and the needs of their teams.
What Are the Barriers to AI Adoption in Higher Ed?The evolving nature of AI poses challenges for institutions, particularly in establishing policies and frameworks that account for ethical considerations and data integrity. Cline urged institutions to view AI as an evolutionary tool, not a revolutionary one, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Institutions should embrace AI iteratively, treating it as a tool that enhances rather than defines their operations.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Join us as Allie Duffney shares how Elon University is implementing AI to streamline admissions processes, create test environments, and enhance student success. Learn practical approaches to AI adoption, from interview scheduling to data analysis, and discover how to address common concerns about AI integration.
Episode prompt:
You are a technical writer specializing in higher education operations and process documentation. Help me create clear, user-friendly documentation from the following information. The goal is to make our processes easier to understand and follow.
Context:
Department: [department name]
Process: [name of process, current process steps, you can record audio of yourself walking through the process and load the transcript of that into the tool]
Primary Users: [who will use this documentation]
Current Pain Points: [list main issues/challenges]
Please transform this information into:
1. Standard Operating Procedure
Create a step-by-step guide including:
- Prerequisites (tools, access, permissions needed)
- Process overview (high-level summary)
- Detailed steps with screenshots placeholders
- Common troubleshooting scenarios
- Related processes or dependencies
- Key contacts and escalation paths
2. Quick Reference Guide
Create a condensed version with:
- Essential steps only
- Key decision points
- Critical reminders
- Common pitfalls to avoid
3. Training Elements
Include:
- Practice scenarios
- Knowledge check questions
- Common mistakes to watch for
- Tips for experienced users
4. Process Improvement Suggestions
- Identify potential bottlenecks
- Suggest automation opportunities
- Recommend ways to streamline
- Note areas needing clarification
Format Guidelines:
- Use clear, action-oriented language
- Include specific examples
- Add notes for exceptional cases
- Mark required vs. optional steps
- Include version control information
After providing the initial documentation, please ask clarifying questions about any areas that need more detail or explanation.
Guest Name: Alexandria Duffney, Elon University
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandria-duffney-37aa3620/
Guest Bio: Allie is a seasoned Higher Education enrollment professional with 16 years of experience spanning institutions from intimate liberal arts colleges to major R-1 medical center universities, specializing in graduate, adult, and professional education. Currently serving as the Dean of Graduate Admissions at Elon University, Allie has led impactful projects, including a comprehensive Slate CRM implementation and a complete revitalization of an existing Slate system. She co-administers a National Slate User Group focused on Graduate Admissions and a regional NC Slate user group, has presented at national conferences such as GNAP, NAGAP, and the Slate Summit, and was honored as a 'Top 20 Under 40' by the NEPA Business Journal.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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In this episode of AI For You, recorded live at the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, host Brian dives into a thought-provoking conversation with Brandon Etheredge, Director of Digital Content Strategy at Auburn University. Brandon shares how AI has transformed his approach to content creation and digital strategy, offering insights into leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to streamline workflows, enhance creativity, and maximize impact—all while saving valuable time.
Key TakeawaysEfficiency in Content Repurposing: Learn how AI can atomize and repurpose content for multiple platforms with minimal effort.Tools of the Trade: ChatGPT, even in its free version, is a powerful ally for content strategists and marketers.AI as a Supplement, Not a Replacement: AI accelerates tasks but requires human oversight to align with institutional culture and voice.Emerging AI Innovations: Tools like Adobe’s beta features for photo and video editing are game-changers in extending creative possibilities.Strategic Time Savings: AI allows small teams to work smarter, producing quality content while freeing up hours for high-value tasks.How is AI Being Used in Higher Education Marketing at Auburn?
Brandon Etheridge explains how AI has become integral to his daily workflow at Auburn University. By using ChatGPT, he repurposes content from interviews, articles, and videos into social posts, quotes, and other formats. The aim is to atomize content—breaking it into smaller pieces for distribution across platforms—without consuming hours of manual effort. For Brandon, this strategy aligns with a key takeaway from a previous AMA Symposium: maximizing every piece of content.AI’s efficiency shines in automating tedious tasks like reviewing transcripts and identifying key insights. For example, Brandon uses AI to highlight quotes about student experiences or alumni success, ensuring he can focus on more strategic initiatives.
What Tools and Processes Enhance AI Integration?
Brandon primarily relies on the free version of ChatGPT. He uploads transcripts, video scripts, or articles and prompts the tool to extract relevant insights or create tailored social posts. The tool acts as a "virtual team member," accelerating processes without the need for additional budget lines.However, Brandon emphasizes the need for human oversight. AI-generated drafts often serve as a starting point, requiring refinement to meet Auburn’s brand standards. While AI can save hours of work, it lacks the nuanced understanding of Auburn’s campus culture, making human editors indispensable for storytelling and strategy.
How Does AI Address Resource Limitations?
With a small and scrappy team, AI has been a game-changer for Brandon. Managing Auburn’s social media, photo and video production, and media relations, he uses AI to free up time for tasks that require his direct involvement—like event photography or media pitching. This balance allows his team to operate at a higher capacity without additional staff.For instance, preparing social media for Auburn’s magazine release has been streamlined with AI. Instead of playing catch-up post-launch, Brandon has posts ready ahead of schedule—a stark contrast to previous years.
What’s on the Horizon for AI in Higher Education Marketing?
Brandon is especially excited about emerging AI tools in photo and video editing, like Adobe’s beta features. These tools enable marketers to extend video clips, modify photos for multiple formats, and even generate missing frames—all of which enhance creative possibilities without additional resources. He anticipates these advancements will redefine how teams approach visual storytelling, further amplifying their impact.Additionally, Brandon sees potential in AI-driven analytics. Automating data extraction and visualization allows marketers to focus on strategic decisions rather than manual number crunching—a crucial advantage for teams with limited bandwidth.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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In this episode of AI for You, host Brian interviews Laura Rudolph, founder and CEO of Square One Consulting, live from the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education. Laura discusses how she uses AI to empower small schools in marketing, communications, and enrollment, making their processes more efficient and sustainable. By harnessing the capabilities of AI tools like ChatGPT, Meta AI, and others, she trains small teams to streamline their workflows, develop data-driven strategies, and personalize communication.
Key Takeaways
AI enables small schools to be more efficient by automating routine tasks, allowing teams to focus on strategic efforts.Tools like ChatGPT, Meta AI, and Canva are ideal entry points for smaller institutions to start leveraging AI in their marketing.AI can support personalized messaging, data analysis, and content ideation, acting as a versatile “brainstorming partner” for solo marketers.Implementing AI requires clear guidelines and a focus on quality prompts for meaningful outputs.Institutions should overcome fears of job displacement and learn to integrate AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement.How is AI Transforming Marketing for Small Schools?Laura shares that her consulting work focuses on helping small schools create more self-sufficient and efficient marketing practices through AI. Since small institutions often have limited staff and resources, time efficiency is critical. Laura utilizes AI tools to help her clients offload routine, time-consuming tasks, enabling them to dedicate more energy to strategic initiatives. AI, she explains, isn’t just about content creation—it’s also useful for graphic design, coding, and even technical troubleshooting, making it a versatile tool for small teams. She emphasizes that AI can help schools complete complex tasks without sacrificing quality, transforming how they approach marketing with a sustainable strategy.
What Are the Best AI Tools for Small Institutions?For smaller institutions venturing into AI, Laura recommends starting with ChatGPT, which she finds accessible and easy to learn. She uses ChatGPT for everything from content development to sentiment analysis and recommends investing in the pro version for optimal results. Additionally, she leverages Meta AI and Gemini, each with unique strengths that complement her work with various clients. She highlights that while paid tools like Canva for Schools and Beautiful.ai can enhance specific projects, she usually sticks with more affordable options to ensure institutions can maintain these tools after her consulting engagement ends. Laura’s focus on affordability and ease of use makes these tools ideal for small institutions just starting with AI.
How Do AI Tools Aid in Data Strategy and Personalization?AI can fill multiple roles at once—analyst, content creator, and brainstorming partner—especially in resource-constrained environments. Laura divides her AI applications into three core areas: data-informed strategy, content ideation, and personalization. Using AI, Laura helps institutions analyze patterns in student inquiries, perform sentiment analysis, and extract valuable insights that shape their communication strategies. When it comes to personalization, AI makes it simple to tailor messages for specific audiences, such as first-generation students or parents, while preserving brand voice and tone. Laura even sets up custom GPTs for each client, allowing her to maintain brand consistency while creating scalable, personalized messaging for diverse audiences.
What Challenges Do Institutions Face in Adopting AI?Laura notes that fear of job displacement is a common concern among institutions new to AI. To address this, she emphasizes that AI is a tool designed to enhance human efforts, not replace them. Another challenge is the misconception that AI produces low-quality work due to inadequate prompts or lack of specificity. She advocates for setting clear, high-quality prompts and using custom GPTs to maintain continuity and consistency in AI outputs. Lastly, managing AI within a team requires institutions to set boundaries and guidelines around its use, which Laura assists with by training teams on AI principles and practical application. She encourages institutions to view AI as an essential, manageable part of their tech ecosystem.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Tina Miller shows us how Arizona State University is leading the charge on AI integration and adoption. ASU has created a model that we can all use to help guide us in our AI journey. The resources Tina talked about (in the links below) have a number of inspirational AI use cases and tools that can provide ideas on how we might adapt these for our institutions.
Links from the episode:
https://ai.asu.edu - the main AI website with resourceshttps://tech.asu.edu/features/AI-Journey-24 - a look at the ASU AI journey
https://openai.com/index/asu/ - OpenAI ASU case study
Episode prompt:
You are an expert event planner.I'm going to ask you to help create an event for [type of event - fundraiser, student fair, etc.] for the [institution URL] targeting [ideal audience] with the goal of [desired outcome of event]. There are [lenght of time in weeks, months, years, etc.] before the event.
Ask any necessary questions, one at a time, to gather any additional details needed. Suggest ideas to make the event engaging for attendees and successful for the organization. Make suggestions for volunteer roles. Create a draft of a letter for potential volunteers with details around expectations, duties, and timeline. Create a draft of a letter or announcement for the target audience inviting them to the event. Create an agenda for the event. Also create a post-event survey to sent to attendees.
Create details for the event. Take your time.
Guest Name: Tina Miller, Executive Director: Creative & Communications, Arizona State University
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinamiller3/
Guest Bio: Tina Miller, Executive Director of Creative and Communications at Arizona State University’s Enterprise Technology (IT division), brings nearly three decades of experience from Fortune 500 companies, government, and academia. She spearheads initiatives highlighting the division's dedication to innovation and digital excellence, reimagining how technology enhances the human experience. Tina and her team are pioneering the future of AI-driven communications, leveraging artificial intelligence to elevate storytelling, improve efficiency, and push the boundaries of what's possible in creative design and communications. Her previous senior leadership roles include Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. and Maricopa Community College District. Tina earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix and her journalism degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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John Munsell walks us through his structured prompting model which has been integrated at LSU and shares his thoughts on integrating AI into higher education, how to convince leadership of the importance of AI, and what to do with the compressed time that AI will create.
Christopher Penn’s RACE model for prompting: https://www.trustinsights.ai/insights/instant-insights/instant-insights-trust-insights-race-ai-framework/
Episode prompt:
Getting AI to write in your voice requires training the model on your content. For an institution, the more information you can provide, the better.
You are an expert content copywriter in higher education at [your institution name and url].
I'm going to ask you to create a first draft of [the type of document you want, blog, video script, social post, etc.].
Use the style guide recommendations from [link to your style guide if available], the brand guidelines from [link to your brand standards], and use the following content examples [either upload social posts, video scripts, links to blogs/news articles, etc. the more content you can provide as an example, the better output you will get]
Create a [type of content with length…for example, an 800 word blog or a 30 second TikTok script], please. Take your time.
Guest Name: John Munsell, CEO Bizzuka, Inc., Adjunct Instructor of AI Louisiana State University
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwmunsell/
Guest Bio: John Munsell is an established figure in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry with a career that spans over 40 years. As the co-founder and CEO of Bizzuka, he has led the company to multiple appearances on the Inc 5000 and LSU 100 lists. Recognizing the potential of AI early in its evolution, John pushed to integrate AI into all business processes at Bizzuka.
In 2022, John strategically shifted Bizzuka's entire business model to help businesses grow faster and retain more employees through the appropriate use of AI. He has dedicated thousands of hours to mastering AI technologies, leading to the creation of the AI Strategy Canvas™ and Scalable Prompt Engineering™. These frameworks have revolutionized the efficiency and effectiveness of AI in business and have been embraced by forward-thinking institutions, including Louisiana State University, which has made it a mandatory part of their AI-related degree programs.
John has been influential in academia and the push to give students immediate employable skills in their use of AI. He is the Adjunct Instructor of AI at Louisiana State University and has also collaborated with LSU to develop the AI SkillsBuilder™ series to upskill the workforces of businesses across the globe.
Beyond his professional pursuits, John prioritizes his faith, family, and business, values that resonate in his work and mentorship. His dedication to both personal and professional growth makes him a respected and relatable leader in the marketing and AI sectors.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Jules White discusses the real-world applications of AI for higher ed administrators, from custom GPTs to campus-wide AI platforms. This episode offers actionable advice on adopting AI, overcoming resistance, and using technology to improve effectiveness.
Christopher Penn’s RACE model for prompting: https://www.trustinsights.ai/insights/instant-insights/instant-insights-trust-insights-race-ai-framework/
Episode prompt:
This prompt comes from a guest, Nicole Brini, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-brini-0675bb4/ who was inspired by a prompt from Liza Adams, https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizaadams/
You are an exceptional international higher education marketer. You are skilled at deeply understanding the market and deriving key insights to guide content creation and international student recruitment. You are hyper focused on ensuring that your website and promotional material are targeted to your "customers" and that you use their natural language in communicating with them. The attached excel includes inquiries from potential students interested in pursuing a programme at [your URL]. These students come from a variety of different countries both in the EU and outside of the EU [change this sentence to fit your own demographic]. Based on these inquiries only, please infer natural language top of funnel, mid funnel, and bottom of the funnel inquiries that prospects might ask. Please make sure that you use the actual words that the inquirers used. Do not paraphrase or make up words. Also include the rationale for your suggestions at each stage. Please put this info in a table. Please think about this step by step and take your time to reason. Take a deep breath. There is no need to rush. I have full confidence in your work. If I am happy with your work I'll give you a pay rise. Do you have any questions before we start?
Guest Name: Jules White, Senior Advisor to the Chancellor on Generative AI & Professor of Computer Science, Vanderbilt University
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jules-white-5717655/
Guest Bio: Dr. Jules White is Senior Advisor to the Chancellor, Director of Vanderbilt’s Initiative on the Future of Learning & Generative AI, and Professor of Computer Science in the Dept. of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University. He created one of the first online classes for Prompt Engineering (https://www.coursera.org/learn/prompt-engineering ), which is the study of how you converse with AI effectively, which has had over ~300,000 enroll. He is a National Science Foundation CAREER Award recipient. His research has won multiple Best Paper Awards. He has also published over 170 papers.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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In this episode of AI For U, live from HighEdWeb, Sarah Gilbert from GradLabs joins the show to discuss the impact of AI on higher education marketing. With her 18 years of experience in enrollment and marketing, Sarah dives deep into how AI is being used—and misused—in SEO and content generation. She also highlights the challenges institutions face when navigating AI-generated content and the ethical responsibilities universities hold in delivering accurate, trustworthy information.
Key Takeaways
AI’s Role in SEO and Marketing: AI is being used to generate massive amounts of content in seconds, which can overwhelm search engines and lead to misinformation.Ethical Concerns with AI: Institutions face a responsibility to ensure that the content they publish remains fact-based and accurate, which is particularly challenging when competing with AI-generated material.Digital Literacy is Crucial: As AI-generated deep fakes and misinformation become more prevalent, universities must play a larger role in promoting digital literacy, both within their communities and beyond.How is AI affecting SEO and marketing in higher education?
Sarah explains that AI is dramatically changing the landscape of search marketing, particularly in SEO. Some organizations are using AI to create thousands of pages of content in minutes, which can flood the internet with poorly written or inaccurate information. This creates challenges for colleges and universities, whose carefully crafted content must now compete with AI-generated material. These challenges are exacerbated by the sheer volume of content that Google indexes, making it harder for quality content to rise to the top.What ethical concerns arise from the use of AI in content generation?
One of the most pressing concerns discussed in the episode is the ethical use of AI-generated content. While AI tools like ChatGPT can produce content quickly, they often present false information with confidence, leading to potential issues for institutions that rely on fact-based, educational content. Sarah emphasizes the responsibility universities have in maintaining the integrity of their information, especially given their .edu domain, which is trusted by search engines and users alike. Universities need to ensure their content is not just optimized for SEO but is also trustworthy and accurate.How can universities stay ahead of the AI wave in marketing?
Sarah suggests that one way universities can rise above the sea of AI-generated content is through strong digital PR and promotion. By obtaining quality backlinks from reputable sources, institutions can help elevate their content in search rankings. This practice not only promotes accurate information but also helps universities stand out in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. Additionally, Sarah notes the importance of teaching digital literacy, particularly around AI and deep fakes, as institutions have a responsibility to educate their communities about the risks of misinformation.What role should universities play in promoting digital literacy?
Sarah believes that universities have a critical role to play in promoting media and digital literacy, especially as AI-generated misinformation becomes more common. Institutions should think beyond their student bodies and consider educating the broader public on the ethical use of AI, how to detect misinformation, and how to navigate a digital landscape full of AI-generated content. This kind of education will be essential for combating the spread of misinformation, whether it's in SEO, deep fakes, or other AI-driven content.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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In this episode of AI for U, live from HighEdWeb, host Brian Piper sits down with Paul Roetzer, CEO of the Marketing AI Institute and keynote speaker at the event. They discuss the rapidly advancing role of AI in higher education, touching on how institutions can use AI beyond the classroom to revolutionize admissions, fundraising, and overall administration. Paul also shares insights into how universities can begin adopting AI and the importance of experimentation and pilot programs in the AI integration process.
Key Takeaways
Higher education institutions must approach AI holistically, applying it not only in the classroom but also in areas like enrollment, fundraising, and institutional management.AI literacy and education within leadership teams are crucial for universities to understand and implement AI effectively.Starting with small, impactful pilot projects can demonstrate the value of AI without requiring significant resources upfront.The rapid pace of AI advancements, such as new capabilities in voice and AI agents, will continue to shape the future of work and higher education.How is AI impacting higher education beyond the classroom?
Paul Roetzer emphasizes that while many universities are focused on the implications of AI in the classroom, there are broader opportunities to transform institutional operations through AI. This includes areas like admissions, where AI can enable personalized communication with prospective students, and fundraising, where it can help identify and engage alumni more effectively. Roetzer shared an example of a university president frustrated by the lack of data-driven insights after meeting hundreds of prospective students. AI can solve this by providing a more intelligent, personalized approach to interactions with students and alumni.Why is AI literacy crucial for higher education leaders?
When it comes to adopting AI, Paul Roetzer advises universities to start with education and AI literacy for their leaders. He recalls a 2019 workshop at Ohio University, where the dean prioritized educating administrators and faculty about AI. This foundational knowledge empowered them to explore how AI could be applied to their specific areas. Roetzer recommends that institutions form AI councils at both the department and institutional levels to guide AI adoption, set principles, and assess the impact of AI on various functions. This step ensures that universities aren't just reacting to AI developments but are proactively shaping how AI will influence their future operations.How can universities get started with AI adoption?
Roetzer suggests that universities should begin by identifying small, impactful pilot projects. These projects don’t require massive budgets but can demonstrate the immediate value of AI. He gives the example of a university that approved a $2,000 budget to test 10 different AI tools over two months. These quick wins help build momentum and encourage broader AI adoption. Roetzer emphasizes that these pilots should focus on practical use cases that can show measurable success in a short period. For example, tools like Notebook LM can be used by students, researchers, and administrators alike to quickly process and understand complex information, making it a versatile tool across the institution.What does the future hold for AI in higher education?
While Roetzer doesn’t claim to know the future of higher education, he does believe that AI will continue to play a critical role in reshaping how institutions operate. With the pace of AI advancements accelerating, he points out that even in the week leading up to his keynote, major updates from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic were being released, showcasing just how fast AI is evolving. Universities must stay ahead of these changes by continually reassessing their AI strategies. Roetzer predicts that AI will lead to significant shifts in both the curriculum and the way institutions prepare students for the future workforce. However, he stresses that it’s up to higher education leaders to figure out how to best apply AI to their specific challenges.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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In this live episode of AI for U, recorded at HighEdWeb, Erin Wilson from Arizona State University’s Learning Enterprise shares how AI is transforming their non-credit course offerings and instructional design processes. Erin discusses the use of custom GPTs for content creation, coding support, and even persona-building for testing content strategies. With a protected version of ChatGPT, Arizona State is leveraging AI to streamline workflows, enhance course content, and explore new possibilities in AI-generated video.
Key Takeaways
Arizona State University uses custom GPTs for a wide range of tasks, from coding support to developing instructional content, making AI an essential part of their non-credit learning enterprise.AI-driven personas allow for more efficient content testing and review, replacing traditional focus groups while maintaining human oversight.The future of AI at ASU includes advancements in AI video content, with a focus on making avatars and interactive learning tools more engaging and less robotic.How is Arizona State University using AI in its non-credit learning enterprise?
Erin Wilson from Arizona State University’s Learning Enterprise explains how her team focuses on non-credit learning opportunities designed to help individuals upskill. This includes everything from individuals taking courses to company partnerships for employee training. AI has become a critical tool in this space, particularly in creating and refining educational content. Wilson highlights their partnership with OpenAI, which provides them with an EDU version of ChatGPT. This version offers enhanced security, allowing the team to safely use AI without concerns over data privacy. They rely on custom GPTs to handle a variety of tasks, such as helping with coding for instructional design or converting long faculty videos into more digestible content.What are custom GPTs and how are they used at ASU?
Arizona State’s team has created numerous custom GPTs to support specific tasks within their learning enterprise. These custom AI models are highly specialized and are designed to do one thing exceptionally well, such as developing instructional stories, creating course introductions, or assisting with coding. Wilson explains that this customization makes their workflow more efficient, particularly when creating content for non-credit courses. One unique use of these GPTs is persona-building. By feeding in data such as speeches from an executive vice president, ASU created a "Maria Bot," allowing faculty and staff to ask questions and receive responses similar to what their EVP might say. This tool saves time while providing reliable guidance.How does AI help with content testing and refinement at ASU?
Another innovative way ASU uses AI is to test content with virtual focus groups. Instead of traditional focus groups, which are expensive and time-consuming, AI can simulate different perspectives. For example, they use AI personas to simulate feedback from an expert, a novice, and someone with no background on a given subject. This approach helps ASU fine-tune their content more quickly and efficiently, ensuring that their material resonates with a broad range of learners. Wilson emphasizes that AI isn't replacing human input entirely. Instead, it assists by providing first drafts and initial feedback, which her team then edits to ensure the final output meets their high standards.What’s next for AI at Arizona State University?
Looking ahead, Wilson sees AI playing an even more significant role in content creation and interactivity at ASU. The team is particularly excited about advancements in AI video, with avatars becoming more realistic and less robotic. They’re also eager to continue building custom tools that can take on increasingly complex tasks, allowing their team to focus more on the human elements of learning and engagement. While AI cannot replace human judgment or creativity, it serves as an invaluable assistant in improving efficiency, allowing educators to spend more time on strategic and high-impact work.
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Connect With Our Host:
Brian Piper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwpiper/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
AI for U is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Attend the 2025 Engage Summit!
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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