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About the Episode:
Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth
Trump Signs Executive Order to Ramp Up K-12 AI Education
On this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with John Carrere, Director of Recruitment and First-Year Experience at Pitt Community College, to unpack the sweeping AI Education for American Youth executive order. As the White House pivots to an "America First" AI policy, the directive mandates K–12 and colleges to integrate AI without offering new funding or infrastructure. Carrere brings a boots-on-the-ground perspective, exploring what this means for real institutions, students, and overworked staff. This episode offers a candid and insightful look into how community colleges are adapting quickly, creatively—and often under-resourced—to meet AI demands.
Key Takeaways
- The AI Education for American Youth executive order mandates AI integration across all levels of education but lacks accompanying funding or implementation guidance.
- Community colleges like Pitt are leveraging AI tools for quick wins in career advising and academic planning, enhancing the student experience.
- AI is already reducing call center loads through conversational agents, but there’s cautious optimism about automation’s limits.
- Faculty training and academic integrity are key pressure points as institutions scramble to define ethical, effective AI usage.
- Community colleges may be uniquely positioned to adapt due to their flexibility and workforce-oriented curricula.
- Enrollment and student success teams must adopt AI without automating human connection out of the experience.
Episode Summary
What is the AI Education for American Youth Executive Order—and what does it require?
Signed on April 23rd, the AI Education for American Youth executive order directs federal agencies to embed AI into education from kindergarten through college. It emphasizes new courses, workforce pipelines, and public-private partnerships—especially targeting community colleges and adult learners. However, the directive arrives without new funding, infrastructure, or clear implementation pathways. Institutions must figure out how to act on it—fast.
How are real campuses like Pitt Community College responding?
John Carrere shares that his initial reaction was personal—thinking about how this will impact his own children. But professionally, he sees both opportunity and burden. The campus is already using AI chatbots to ease communication workloads, particularly with prospective students. AI tools are also being explored for academic advising, helping students chart clearer paths to graduation. But Carrere cautions against over-automation, urging institutions not to lose sight of the human element that builds trust and connection.
What are the most promising use cases for AI in student success?
According to Carrere, career exploration and advising are ripe for AI-powered transformation. At Pitt, AI agents are helping students assess career goals conversationally—replacing rigid, outdated intake forms. Academic advising is another area where AI is being piloted to offer on-demand answers and help students understand their course timelines more clearly. These tools aim to make services faster and more personalized without replacing human advisors.
What challenges are institutions facing with implementation?
Lack of funding is the elephant in the room. AI expectations are growing, but campus budgets aren’t. Training faculty on how to ethically and effectively use AI in classrooms is another major hurdle. Institutions must walk a fine line—leveraging automation to support staff and students while avoiding over-reliance on tools that may erode academic integrity or human connection. As Carrere puts it, AI should help staff “become better professionals and even happier people”—not just replace them.
Are community colleges better positioned to adapt?
Mallory raises an important point—community colleges might actually be the secret winners here. Carrere agrees, highlighting their ability to move quickly and design curricula based on workforce demands. Unlike traditional four-year institutions, community colleges often build programs in direct response to local industry needs. This nimbleness gives them a leg up in integrating AI into both coursework and student services.
What’s Carrere’s top advice for enrollment leaders exploring AI?
Start with a margarita—but then get serious. Carrere urges higher ed teams not to obsess over automating everything. Instead, focus on using AI to remove friction in tasks so staff can invest more in meaningful student interactions. The goal isn't to replace people—it's to give them time back so they can do the work that really matters.
Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea
About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.
Enrollify is produced by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
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