AI Applications in Online Higher Education Administration

Kathleen S. Ives, D.M. Kathleen Ives is Chief Business Development Officer and Senior Vice President at UPCEA, where she leads strategy across membership, partnerships, research, finance, and HR. A former CEO of the Online Learning Consortium, she has spent her career at the forefront of emerging technology in both higher education and the corporate world. Kathleen has co-edited two books on ROI and eLearning transformation, and, in addition to this volume, she brings decades of leadership to digital innovation in education.Marie A. Cini, Ph.D. Marie Cini is a leader in innovation and adult learning in higher ed. She currently serves as Provost at the University of the People, a nonprofit, tuition-free, online institution dedicated to expanding educational access worldwide. She previously served as Provost at University of Maryland Global Campus and was the president of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). Marie has received several honors in her career including the 2025 Ray Schroeder Leadership Award for the Advancement of Digital Learning, presented by UPCEA. Ray Schroeder, M.S. Ray Schroeder is an internationally recognized expert in online learning and AI in higher education. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois Springfield and Senior Fellow at UPCEA. Author of the bi-weekly column "Online: Trending Now" in Inside Higher Ed, Ray regularly advises institutions and speaks at global conferences. His blog-distributed curated reading lists and LinkedIn commentary reflect decades of leadership at the intersection of tech, teaching, and learning.

• Section 1: Foundations of AI in Online Learning 1. How AI is Transforming the Online Learning Landscape 2. The Economics of AI-Driven Online Learning: Cost Structures and ROI 3. Ethical Considerations and Challenges in AI-Enhanced Online Learning Section 2: AI-Powered Student Recruitment, Enrollment, and Onboarding 4. Artificial Intelligence Employed in Student Recruitment 5. AI-Assisted Admissions and Enrollment Management 6. Optimizing Student Onboarding with AI Section 3: AI-Enhanced Student Engagement, Retention, and Success 7. Personalized Learning Experiences with AI 8. AI-Powered Student Support and Advising in Online Higher Education 9. AI, Retention, and the Changing Face of Student Success Section 4: AI-Driven Instructional Design, Content Creation, and Assessment 10. AI-Assisted Course Design and Development 11. Leveraging AI Chatbots to Support Authentic and Inclusive Learning Experiences 12. AI-Enhanced Assessment and Feedback Section 5: AI-Powered Institutional Transformation and Future Trends 13. A4L: An Architecture for AI-Augmented Learning 14. Developing a Culture of AI Readiness in Higher Education 15. Operational Considerations for AI Implementation in Higher Education 16. Future Trends and Emerging Technologies for AI in Online Learning

“This timely volume provides a systemic overview of the multiple ways AI can empower higher education. Its perspective is student-focused (recruitment, support, retention, quality of learning and assessment), with emphasis on how AI can enable operational factors (instructional design, management, finance). Descriptions are balanced between opportunities and challenges, highlighting difficulties in ethics, transparency, and trust. Most important, its discussion goes beyond doing things better (enhancing current practices) to doing better things (transformative cultural shifts, key decisions that could reshape higher education’s future).”Chris Dede, Senior Research Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Associate Director for Research, National AI Institute for Adult Learning and Online Education (AI-ALOE)“I am truly impressed with the breadth, focus, and flow of this work. The topics are on point and are approached with diverse voices. Yet, unlike other similar works that incorporate multiple authors, the work is connected and follows a consistent path. Although the destination is satisfying, the true joy of the work is the numerous rewarding side roads along the journey.” Dave Cillay, Ph.D., Chancellor, Global Campus, Washington State University“This book offers a grounded, thoughtful, and actionable roadmap for integrating AI in online higher education. It sidesteps the hype and focuses instead on institutional strategy, ethics, and practical impact. It is a must-read for leaders looking to innovate responsibly and sustainably.”Asim Ali, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, Auburn University