Can higher education institutions reap the full benefit of artificial intelligence without the buy-in of the entire campus community? That’s the question higher ed IT leaders are grappling with as AI continues to reveal itself as transformational across campuses. As AI makes its way into nearly every college and university technology environment, IT leaders are looking for ways to earn the trust and support of their stakeholders.
In the new CDW Artificial Intelligence Research Report, 88% of education respondents said they have a documented AI strategy that is either complete or in progress. Meanwhile, 13% cited insufficient staffing and skills as the primary reason for the failure of an AI project — the most popular response selected.
Students are looking for more AI education in the classroom to prepare them for the workforce, but that means faculty members must be equipped to teach them. In the 2025 EDUCAUSE AI Landscape Study, higher education IT leaders note that the most popular elements of their AI strategies involve training to help faculty and staff learn AI skills.
However, several CDW survey participants from the education sector noted in their open-ended responses that getting administration, faculty and staff to support AI initiatives is the biggest pain point their institution faces when planning, implementing and completing AI projects.
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Support for AI Implementation Requires Education and Training
Getting support from stakeholders and end users when implementing a new technology often requires education and reassurance that the new tool is safe and ethical.
“Guidelines foster innovation,” says Elizabeth Reilley, executive director of AI acceleration for ASU Enterprise Technology at Arizona State University. “When people don’t have guidance on what’s safe, they’re often afraid to do anything.”
The University of Texas at Austin aims to quell some of these fears by offering training through their partnership with Grammarly. “Two years ago, we knew there was a real need to have balance between encouraging use but also being responsible in the adoption of AI on campus and providing support for our faculty,” says Julie Schell, assistant vice provost and director of the Office of Academic Technology. After working through what responsibility looks like, the university has safely adopted generative AI and has created a faculty guide for using it in the classroom.
DISCOVER: Ask these questions before adopting a new AI tool.
Amarda Shehu, George Mason University’s chief AI officer, believes higher education institutions have a responsibility to stay at the forefront of technology innovations to remain competitive. “Technology disruptions happen all the time, whether we choose to participate or not,” she says.
As AI continues to forge ahead in the IT department, classroom, back office and elsewhere across campus, it is more crucial than ever to provide the resources your campus needs to stay one step ahead.
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