Episodi
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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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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.AIâs 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 AIâs 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 isnât 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 âAI championsâ 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 AIâs 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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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Episodi mancanti?
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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 donât 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 siteâs 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 âLaunch JobsGPTâ
Then, upload your job description or enter your job title and use the prompt âHow will AI impact my job?â Then you can go on to ask follow-up questions like âWhat tools should I be testing?â âHow can ChatGPT help me be more effective and more efficient in my current role?â
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 AIâs transformative potential into practical strategies that streamline operations and, crucially, free up time for richer human connections.
Claireâs 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, Claireâs passions extend beyond AI. When she's not picking up LEGO or discussing the intricacies of Minecraft, youâll 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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, Mariaâs 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 alumnaâs 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 toolâs 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 isnât perfect, but it doesnât 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 professionalâs timeâup to 70-80%âis 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?AIâs 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 AIâs imperfections, such as hallucinations or errors. He argued that AI doesnât need to be flawless to be usefulâhumans 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 impactâall 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 Adobeâs 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 contentâbreaking it into smaller pieces for distribution across platformsâwithout consuming hours of manual effort. For Brandon, this strategy aligns with a key takeaway from a previous AMA Symposium: maximizing every piece of content.AIâs 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 Auburnâs brand standards. While AI can save hours of work, it lacks the nuanced understanding of Auburnâs 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 Auburnâs social media, photo and video production, and media relations, he uses AI to free up time for tasks that require his direct involvementâlike 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 Auburnâs magazine release has been streamlined with AI. Instead of playing catch-up post-launch, Brandon has posts ready ahead of scheduleâa stark contrast to previous years.
Whatâs on the Horizon for AI in Higher Education Marketing?
Brandon is especially excited about emerging AI tools in photo and video editing, like Adobeâs beta features. These tools enable marketers to extend video clips, modify photos for multiple formats, and even generate missing framesâall 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 crunchingâa 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 âbrainstorming partnerâ 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, isnât just about content creationâitâs 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. Lauraâs 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 onceâanalyst, content creator, and brainstorming partnerâespecially 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 Universityâs 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 MissouriâColumbia.
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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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 Pennâs 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 lengthâŠfor 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 Canvasâą and Scalable Prompt Engineeringâą. 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 SkillsBuilderâą 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 Pennâs 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 Vanderbiltâs 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 usedâand misusedâin 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
AIâs 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 donât 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 doesnât 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 itâs 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 Universityâs 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 Universityâs 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 Stateâs 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.Whatâs 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. Theyâre 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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 bonus episode of AI for U, recorded live from HighEdWeb, Jacqueline Rowe, Assistant Director of Enrollment Communications and Analytics at Stony Brook University, discusses how AI is reshaping email marketing in higher education. Jacqueline shares the challenges her small team faces in managing personalized email campaigns and the tools they use to streamline communication, including AI-driven solutions like Slate and Gemini. She also touches on the role of AI in improving SEO and data analysis at Stony Brook.â
Key Takeaways
AI helps small teams manage large-scale personalized email communications without relying on expensive third-party vendors.Stony Brook University uses AI tools like Slate and Gemini to enhance email content, ensuring it resonates with target audiences.AI can be leveraged for SEO analysis, helping institutions identify key search terms driving traffic and optimizing content accordingly.Personalization and content assessment are the next frontiers for AI in higher education marketing, focusing on what truly engages different audiences.How is AI being used in email marketing at Stony Brook University?
Jacqueline Rowe from Stony Brook University explains that her team uses AI to create more effective and personalized email campaigns, especially in a higher education landscape saturated with communication. With a team of just four managing all enrollment communications, Stony Brook's enrollment team needed a solution to stop outsourcing email creation to vendors. Instead, they brought the process in-house, using AI tools like Slateâs integrated AI feature and Gemini. These tools help refine email content, making it more engaging and tailored to specific audiences, such as prospective students and their parents.What AI tools are Stony Brook using to streamline marketing communications?
Stony Brook relies on two primary AI tools for their email marketing efforts. The first is the AI feature integrated into Slate, their CRM. This tool helps Jacquelineâs team refine messaging by suggesting changes when communications become repetitive or less impactful. This is particularly useful when managing numerous inquiries and campaigns targeting different student populations. The second tool is Googleâs Gemini, which Jacqueline prefers over other AI platforms like ChatGPT. Gemini allows her to tweak existing email content to make it more engaging and audience-specific, ensuring the language resonates with younger prospective students or their parents.How does AI improve SEO and data analysis at Stony Brook?
Beyond email communications, Jacqueline is also exploring how AI can improve Stony Brook's SEO strategy. Her team uses AI to analyze how prospective students search for programs and other university-related information online. For instance, they discovered that terms like âStony Brook acceptance rateâ and lesser-known program names rank highly in search results. By understanding these search trends through AI-driven analysis, Stony Brook aims to enhance its SEO and ensure that relevant content reaches prospective students searching for the university.What are the future goals for AI in marketing at Stony Brook?
Jacqueline sees personalization and content assessment as the next big steps for AI in higher education marketing. She hopes AI will help further tailor communication based on what resonates with specific audiences, and she plans to use AI tools to assess the effectiveness of these personalized campaigns. Additionally, she aims to integrate AI more deeply into SEO efforts, using data-driven insights to improve Stony Brookâs digital visibility and engagement. Her ultimate goal is to ensure that every marketing effort, from email communications to SEO strategies, is backed by data and tailored to the audienceâs needs.
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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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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, recorded live at HighEdWeb, Lisa Nguyen from UC Davisâ Graduate School of Management shares how AI is revolutionizing her work as a digital marketer. Lisa delves into the innovative ways her team is utilizing tools like ChatGPT to analyze enrollment data, streamline marketing efforts, and improve student engagement. The episode also touches on the importance of privacy and ethics when using AI, highlighting best practices for implementing AI in higher education.
Key Takeaways
AI can significantly streamline data analysis, offering actionable insights without the need for additional staff or consultants.ChatGPT and other AI tools allow for more data-driven marketing decisions by identifying optimal times to promote programs based on historical data.When integrating AI into marketing strategies, it's essential to work closely with legal teams to ensure privacy, ethics, and security compliance.UC Davis is piloting AI-driven marketing efforts with their part-time MBA programs, with plans to expand to other degree programs in the future.How is UC Davis using AI in its marketing strategies?
Lisa Nguyen, a digital marketer at UC Davis, reveals how AI, specifically ChatGPT, is helping her team analyze application data to improve marketing efforts for part-time MBA programs. With enrollments declining, Nguyenâs team was tasked with finding the optimal times to market their programs. Using data from their CRM, such as application deadlines and submission times, Nguyen employed ChatGPT to analyze trends and suggest the best months for marketing. Historically, the team relied on anecdotal insights from program directors, but AI has enabled more data-driven decisions, which they are now incorporating into their strategies.What data points were analyzed using ChatGPT?
Nguyen's team fed ChatGPT application data without including personal identifiers. The data encompassed several key stages: when a record was created, when the application process began, when it was submitted, and when decisions were made. By combining this information with application deadlines, ChatGPT provided insights into the optimal months to target potential applicants. This shift from anecdotal to data-backed insights marks a significant improvement in how the UC Davis marketing team plans its campaigns.âHow does UC Davis ensure ethical AI usage?
As Lisa Nguyen emphasizes, itâs crucial to consult legal teams before diving into AI usage, ensuring privacy and security standards are met. For example, Nguyen ensured that no personal identifying information (PII) was included in the data she uploaded to ChatGPT. Moreover, she advised others to stay ahead of evolving policies regarding AI usage in higher education and ensure compliance with institutional guidelines. This careful approach has allowed UC Davis to innovate responsibly in their AI-driven marketing.âWhat are the next steps for AI integration in UC Davis' marketing?
Currently, UC Davis is piloting AI usage with two part-time MBA programs, but the plans donât stop there. Nguyen hopes to extend AI capabilities to evaluate content performance across their marketing channels, particularly in email campaigns. By analyzing which topics prospective students engage with and at what times, her team can better tailor the customer journey. This expansion of AI into content evaluation promises even more personalized and efficient student engagement strategies in the future.
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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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 the 2024 HighEdWeb Conference, Brian interviews Tina Miller from Arizona State University (ASU). Tina shares exciting insights about ASUâs partnership with OpenAI and how they are using ChatGPT to drive innovation across the university. With over 500 proposals submitted and 250 projects actively using ChatGPT, ASU is pushing the boundaries of AI integration in higher education.
Key Takeaways:
ASU partnered with OpenAI to explore impactful uses of ChatGPT across teaching, research, and operations.Over 500 proposals were submitted, with 250 projects currently active.Projects are focused on student success, societal research, and business operations, ensuring measurable outcomes.Institutions starting with AI should build literacy, form a committee, and adopt digital trust guidelines to explore AI's potential.âWhat is ASU doing with AI, and how did the partnership with OpenAI come about?
Tina shared that Arizona State University partnered with OpenAI to explore innovative ways to use ChatGPT to enhance higher education. OpenAI approached ASU to help them understand how ChatGPT could make an impact, and the university launched an innovation challenge to test various use cases. Faculty, staff, and researchers were invited to submit proposals in three areas: teaching and student success, societal research, and business operations. In exchange for access to ChatGPT licenses, participants were required to measure and report the impact of their projects. Since launching the challenge, ASU has approved over 250 projects, demonstrating a wide variety of applications for AI in higher ed.Can you provide examples of successful projects?
One standout project Tina highlighted was a "language buddy" developed by an assistant professor for her German language students. The AI-powered bot allowed students to practice German in real-time, simulating conversational scenarios and helping students improve comprehension. Due to its success, the project is now evolving into an intermediate level, demonstrating how scalable these AI solutions can be. Tina believes projects like this have the potential to expand far beyond the classroom and could be implemented for larger student communities or even broader applications like travel preparation.How can institutions without ASU's resources get started with AI?
For schools just beginning their AI journey, Tina recommends starting with small steps. Forming an AI committee and setting up digital trust guidelines is essential. Institutions should first focus on AI literacy, understanding the tools and identifying relevant use cases that can provide measurable results. Attending conferences and networking with other higher ed professionals is another great way to gather insights and build momentum for AI adoption. Even without the vast resources of a school like ASU, smaller institutions can experiment and gradually integrate AI into their administrative and academic workflows.To learn more about how AI is transforming higher education and to hear more about ASUâs cutting-edge initiatives, be sure to check out the full episode. Subscribe to AI for U to stay up to date on the latest developments in AI for higher ed!
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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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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, we sit down with Janet Spriggs, President of Forsyth Technical Community College, to explore:
How AI is transforming the administrative side of higher educationThe importance of building a culture of curiosityHow to overcome resistance to changeThe ethical considerations surrounding AI adoptionJanet also shares her insights on leveraging AI for personalized student support, predictive analytics in enrollment management, and operational efficiency.
Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to deepen your understanding, this conversation offers valuable strategies and practical advice for higher ed administrators.
Christopher Pennâs RACE model for prompting: https://www.trustinsights.ai/insights/instant-insights/instant-insights-trust-insights-race-ai-framework/
Episode prompt: "You are an expert in [XX].
I'm going to ask you to provide feedback on [document, article, social post, script, etc.]. I want you to provide insights, and recommendations, identify any gaps or red flags, and give your professional opinion on the validity and impact of the content. Ask any questions, one at a time, to help you gather all the information you need to make the most effective recommendations.
Here are helpful resources [URLs or uploaded data].
And here is the document [paste it in or upload it and identify it by name].
Please provide your feedback. Take your time."
Guest Name: Dr. Janet Spriggs, President, Forsyth Technical Community College
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetnspriggs/
Guest Bio: Dr. Janet N. Spriggs is the seventh President of Forsyth Technical Community College, assuming her role on January 1, 2019. With nearly three decades of leadership within the North Carolina Community College System, she has served in significant roles, including Chief Operating Officer at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Carteret Community College. Dr. Spriggs' leadership has been nationally recognized, including twice being named an Aspen Presidential Fellow.
A former community college student herself, Dr. Spriggs is deeply passionate about the transformative power of education. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University, along with degrees from Nova Southeastern University and Roger Williams University. Dr. Spriggs is committed to advancing student success, equity, and economic development through education.
Beyond her presidency, Dr. Spriggs serves on several boards and commissions, including the executive committee for Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. She is also Vice President of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges. In her personal life, Janet enjoys golf, photography, crochet, and spending time with her husband, five children, and five grandchildren. She invites dialogue on leadership and education through her website, JanetSpriggs.com.
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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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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 conversation with Jaime Hunt, we look at various ways that different higher ed teams are using generative AI to become more efficient and effective.
Christopher Pennâs RACE model for prompting: https://www.trustinsights.ai/insights/instant-insights/instant-insights-trust-insights-race-ai-framework/
Episode prompt: You are an expert content marketer. I'm going to ask you to take an existing piece of content and create a [type of content - blog, video script, social post, etc.] for [channel - TikTok, Youtube, etc.] for [specific audience - potential undergraduate students, alumni, etc.]. The content is attached [or in a link].
Here is more context [links to content about topic, channel, audience, challenges, goals, etc.].
Please create the [content] for [channel] targeting [audience]. Take your time.
Guest Name: Jaime Hunt, President, Solve Higher Ed Marketing
Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
Guest Bio:
https://www.solvehighered.com/about
After a 20-year career in higher education, including nine years as a chief marketing officer, Jaime Hunt launched Solve Higher Ed Marketing in 2024. To this consultancy, Jaime brings a passion for building brands, telling stories, and leading with empathy.
After beginning her career in 1997 in print journalism, Jaime began working in higher education in 2004. Since that time, she has been responsible for media relations, marketing, creative direction, crisis communications, branding, digital communications, reputation/issues management, multimedia, photography, public radio, enrollment/admissions communications, and government relations.
From 2015-2024, she served in vice president/chief communications and marketing officer roles at Old Dominion University (large, public R1), Miami University (large, public R2), and Winston-Salem State University (small, public HBCU). Prior to those positions, Jaime served in marketing, web strategy, branding, and media relations leadership roles at Radford University, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and Northwestern Health Sciences University.
Throughout her career, Jaime has been a highly visible leader with volunteer service for a number of professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association, the Public Relations Society of America, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, HigherEdWeb, the College Communicators of the Carolinas, and the Womenâs Fund of Winston-Salem. She has presented at regional, national, and international conferences on a wide range of marketing communications topics. Her work has earned more than 40 industry awards.
Jaime holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University. She is also a graduate of the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership.
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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 youâll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Mastering the Next.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 â 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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