About the Episode
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About the Episode:
Inside Higher Ed/Hanover Research 2025 Survey of Campus Chief Technology/Information Officers
EDUCAUSE Framework for AI Literacy
In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory Willsea sits down with Kellie Campbell, the newly appointed CIO at the University of Vermont, to unpack the findings of Inside Higher Ed’s 2025 survey of CTOs and CIOs. The numbers confirm what many in Higher Ed already feel — AI is rapidly advancing on campus, but governance and policy are struggling to keep pace. Kellie brings her boots-on-the-ground expertise to the conversation, sharing how she’s building AI governance from scratch while the tech is already in full flight.
Key Takeaways
- AI is outpacing governance in Higher Ed. While 33% of leaders report a significant jump in AI use, only 19% believe it's being managed well.
- Action > Perfection. Institutions don’t need perfect AI strategies to start — they need to start, and iterate toward “great.”
- Frameworks are essential tools. The EDUCAUSE Generative AI Readiness Framework provides a structured path for evaluating institutional readiness.
- Students are already ahead of the curve. Many are using AI tools before policies exist — making student engagement essential in AI governance conversations.
- CIOs must step into cross-functional leadership. At institutions like UVM, the CIO role extends well beyond IT — connecting governance, innovation, and ethics.
- Pilot programs are your friend. Creating space for experimentation — and even failure — can accelerate responsible adoption.
- Security and speed must coexist. Pre-reviewing high-interest AI tools and learning from peer institutions help balance innovation with data protection.
Episode Summary
Who’s responsible for managing AI in higher education?
According to Kellie Campbell, the role increasingly falls to CIOs — not just because of their technical oversight, but due to their ability to connect the dots across people, policy, and infrastructure. While multiple stakeholders must be involved, higher education institutions need a central quarterback, and often, that’s the CIO.
How should institutions get started with AI strategy?
Start with literacy. Kellie recommends beginning with campus-wide efforts to define and demystify AI. Workshops, demo days, and simple education efforts can lay the foundation. At UVM, Kellie’s team is using the EDUCAUSE Generative AI Readiness Framework to guide conversations and priorities, breaking AI governance into manageable pillars.
What does a successful AI governance model look like in practice?
At UVM, Kellie created a university-wide task force comprised of faculty, staff, students, and leadership. Five working groups focus on year-one priorities that are attainable — think “getting to good” on the way to great. Student leaders are directly involved, ensuring policies reflect how AI is actually being used on the ground.
How do you balance innovation with privacy and security?
Campbell acknowledges the tension: IT leaders must be gatekeepers and enablers at the same time. Her approach includes accelerating security reviews and pre-approving commonly requested tools, while encouraging departments to explore pilots with the understanding that some may not work out. The goal? Empower safe experimentation.
What advice does Kellie have for CIOs or tech leaders in the next 6-12 months?
Don’t wait. Start somewhere — even if it’s just facilitating basic AI literacy. For more mature institutions, focus on creating cross-campus connections between strategy and technology. The CIO’s job now is as much about relationship-building as it is about systems management.
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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