Leaders say AI transformative potential outweighs risks

by Presidents Forum | Nov 19, 2024 | Innovation, Working Learners

Leaders say AI transformative potential outweighs risks

Higher education leaders see AI as transformative, with opportunities outweighing risks.

Why it matters

AI has the potential to revolutionize education, personalizing learning experiences and improving efficiency.

The big picture

College presidents compare AI’s impact to other transformative technologies like computers and electricity.

Opportunities: • Personalized learning experiences • Improved student engagement • Enhanced administrative efficiency • Workforce preparation
Risks: • Cybersecurity concerns • Ensuring responsible use • Maintaining high-quality learning

The bottom line

Higher education leaders are optimistic about AI’s potential to transform learning, while acknowledging the need for responsible implementation and risk management.

AI-Driven Future: Transforming Education for Tomorrow’s Workforce

by Presidents Forum | Nov 11, 2024 | Innovation, Underserved Communities, Working Learners

By Madeline Pumariega, Miami Dade College

We are living in a world where Artificial Intelligence is profoundly influencing every aspect of our daily lives—from how we work to how we learn. As the greatest technological revolution of our time continues to unfold at an unprecedented pace, Miami Dade College is harnessing the transformative power of AI to reshape education and prepare the workforce of tomorrow through pioneering associate and bachelor’s programs that are making a significant impact in our community and beyond. Now recognized as the AI engine of Miami and a national leader, we are dedicated to continue achieving transformative results while supporting other colleges in their efforts to reshape education and cultivate skilled talent ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Stackable Credential Pathway Strengthens Talent Pipeline

Recognizing the urgency of workforce needs, the College is transforming the programs we offer by developing stackable credential pathways to expedite students’ entry into the AI field. In 2023, we launched Florida’s first Associate in Science in Applied AI, and a year later, this Fall 2024, the first Bachelor of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence. This pioneering pathway is designed to accelerate the talent pipeline with a streamlined path from certificate to associate to bachelor’s degree. From the outset, students are immersed in the ethical dimensions of AI through a foundational course on AI and Ethics. This critical first step instills in every student a commitment to integrity and social responsibility.

Since launching the Associate in Applied AI, we’ve seen remarkable interest in AI courses During 2023-2024 academic year, notably, 60% of these students are 26 or older, and 24% are 41 or older, indicating that professionals from different points in their career recognize the growing significance of AI in their future paths. Accelerating our commitment to making AI accessible to all, our program also proudly boasts a 40% female representation. The AI stackable programs’ growth trajectory is promising, with enrollment expected to double this academic year.

Inspiring Faculty Development in AI

To harness the full potential of artificial intelligence in education, Miami Dade College recognizes that empowering our faculty is paramount. As we shift the culture to one that encourages everyone to be creators, rather than resistors of new technology, MDC launched the President’s Innovation Fund, which actively supports faculty in integrating AI into their teaching practices. To date, 22 faculty-led projects focusing on AI have been funded, reflecting a commitment to drive transformative change in our educational methodologies. These projects span a variety of disciplines; examples include enhancing marketing strategies with AI, reimagining the first-year college experience, and even developing hybrid AI models that transform math instruction.

Additionally, through the “Artificial Intelligence for All” project, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the School of Engineering and Technology continually provides industry-based professional development for MDC faculty to develop and pilot AI courses and integrate AI into existing curricula. To date, over 750 full-time and adjunct faculty members have participated in AI workshops where they have received training to deepen their understanding and enhance their teaching approaches. Continuing to invest in professional development, MDC makes AI training a key part of onboarding and annual upskilling for all faculty to ensure the College remains at the forefront of AI integration across academic pathways.

Industry Partnerships Connect Talent to Opportunity

A key to fueling the pipeline of talent for the future of work is industry engagement, and through Miami Dade College’s Artificial Intelligence Business Industry Leadership Team (BILT), we are strengthening partnerships that expand real-world, work-based learning opportunities for our students. Formed with guidance from national AI experts, BILT has not only supported the development of Florida’s first undergraduate degrees in applied AI but has also laid the groundwork for active collaboration between MDC and industry leaders.

These partnerships are already creating impactful, hands-on learning experiences for students. For example, MDC students are working with Interport, a logistics company, to develop an AI model that provides the sales team with real-time quoting and estimating capabilities. With Visa, students are analyzing transaction datasets to build a fraud detection model that will flag suspicious transactions before processing. In collaboration with Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works, students are also examining transportation data to identify system gaps and recommend improvements. As we expand our program, we look forward to continue forging even more partnerships that will expose our students to even more valuable work-based learning opportunities.

State-of-the-art AI Facilities Convene Community

At the core of our mission to create an AI workforce is the recognition of the importance of innovative spaces designed to train our students and engage our community. During the 2022–23 academic year, Miami Dade College inaugurated two state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence Center facilities at two of our campuses which serve as the epicenter for engagement, curriculum-building, and collaboration.

As we work to further solidify our role as a hub for Miami’s local AI ecosystem, we are set to expand and open a third AI Center this academic year at another campus. Beyond academic functions, these centers are integral to connecting talent to industry and are becoming vital community spaces for AI enthusiasts and professionals alike. For example, hosting events like GPTuesdays, the AI Centers have emerged as a cornerstone convener uniting community members, students, faculty, and industry leaders to explore the latest advancements in AI and other emerging technologies.

Expanding AI Education Nationwide

As the first college in Florida to offer both associate and bachelor’s degrees in AI, Miami Dade College is proudly leading the vision and development of the AI technical workforce through the National Applied AI Consortium. This initiative, in partnership with Houston Community College and Maricopa County Community College District, has already received over $5 million in grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to empower community colleges nationwide to train the AI workforce.

The Consortium counts on the support of industry partners like Microsoft, AWS, Intel and Google. These companies are providing resources, funding, and curriculum to elevate the community college faculty’s capacity to teach AI. Additionally, the Consortium has established a National Business Industry Leadership Team to guide the direction of the AI programs based on the relevant skills required by industry and to develop the job descriptions of the new AI technical roles that our students will fill.

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While we have made significant progress, we recognize that the rapid evolution of AI requires us to remain agile and continuously align our programs with market demands. As we look to the future, our goal is to not only prepare our students with the skills necessary to excel in a dynamic landscape but to also cultivate a generation of ethical leaders and visionary thinkers who will go on to shape a workforce that drives innovation and societal progress.

Presidents Forum Guiding Values

by Presidents Forum | Nov 8, 2024 | Innovation, Outcomes and Accountability, Underserved Communities, Working Learners

Presidents Forum Guiding Values

Why it matters

The Presidents Forum is reshaping higher education with a focus on working learners and transparent, innovative practices.

The big picture

Executive Director Wesley Smith outlines three core values that set the Presidents Forum apart:

Putting students first: Prioritizing student success above all, especially for “working learners” with diverse needs.
Transparency: Evaluating institutions based on the financial value they provide to students and advocating for regulatory parity in distance education.
Accountable innovation: Fostering innovation that directly enhances student success, not just for its own sake.

What’s next

The Presidents Forum invites collaboration and partnership to continue reshaping higher education for today’s learners.

Seeking Solutions for Military Tuition Assistance

by Presidents Forum | Oct 29, 2024 | Policy, Underserved Communities, Working Learners

Seeking Solutions for Military Tuition Assistance

In a recent Presidents Forum podcast, Dr. Michael Nietzel, a Forbes contributor, discussed the military’s Tuition Assistance (TA) program. This insightful conversation shed light on the program’s challenges and potential solutions.

Overview of the Tuition Assistance Program

The TA program, established in the 1980s, provides college tuition support for active military and National Guard members. It supports 200,000-300,000 service members annually, funding over 600,000 courses last year. However, the program’s outdated reimbursement cap of $250 per credit hour or $4,500 per year falls short of current tuition costs, causing some institutions to reconsider their participation.

Proposed Solutions for Program Improvement

Proposed solutions include increasing the per-credit-hour cap to $450, removing or raising the annual reimbursement limit, and improving institutional support for military students through flexible scheduling and recognition of military-acquired skills.

The Presidents Forum’s Engagement and Program Importance

The Presidents Forum is actively engaged in addressing these issues, recognizing the program’s importance for both national security and educational access for underserved communities. As Dr. Nietzel noted, updating the TA program is crucial for its continued effectiveness in supporting military recruitment, retention, and professional development.

Adapting for working learners

by Presidents Forum | Oct 22, 2024 | Innovation, Working Learners

Adapting for working learners

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, the needs of working adult learners are becoming increasingly prominent. As traditional models of higher education adapt to accommodate this growing demographic, leaders in the field are sharing valuable insights on how to best serve these students.

Why it matters

As more adults pursue education while working, universities must adapt to meet their unique needs.

Go deeper

Key takeaways from higher education leaders highlight the importance of respecting students’ time, offering flexibility in scheduling and learning modalities, aligning credentials with employer needs, and providing short-term credentials as entry points. These insights collectively demonstrate a shift towards more adaptable and career-focused higher education models that better serve working adult learners.

The big picture

Universities are evolving to better serve working adults by prioritizing flexibility, employer partnerships, and career-relevant credentials.

Think outside the degree

by Presidents Forum | Sep 19, 2024 | Working Learners

By Anne Kress, NOVA

The third annual Northern Virginia Workforce Index reveals a region mirroring the struggle of many major metropolitan areas: a booming economy but a persistent talent shortage.

Companies are hiring, but workforce availability is a challenge that traditional methods of sourcing and qualifying talent are failing to meet. Over 60% of the Index’s survey respondents identified an overall shortage of interested or available candidates as the key barrier.

While we might think breaks in the talent pipeline impact only “big name” employers, the workforce shortage affects the entire ecosystem. Almost half of Virginians are employed in small businesses, which constitute over 99% of employers in the Commonwealth. The lack of a qualified and available workforce impacts quality of life locally: neighborhood shops and services, new and longtime entrepreneurs, and the small- and medium-sized enterprises that form an essential and critical supply chain for larger employers are all challenged by the talent gap.

Our market has many candidates who would be ideal for persistently vacant positions, though businesses won’t find them if they don’t change how and where they look. It’s time to rethink our approach.

Most employers rely on word-of-mouth, online job boards, and/or social media. Few are using internships and apprenticeships, two methods of recruiting and retaining a workforce that have long proved to be effective.

Since the pandemic, enrollment in NOVA’s short-term, industry-recognized credential program, Fast Forward, has grown by double digits annually. These students are telling us the idea of spending two years in college, let alone four, is unrealistic and unwelcome. Employers who are ready to make the skills-based hiring shift will find a stronger and growing talent pipeline. They benefit, and so do the employees, who, on average, increase their earnings by about 79% thanks to their Fast Forward credentials.

Employers should consider something else: Think outside the degree.

In today’s market, in-demand skills hold high value: In their responses to the Northern Virginia Workforce Index, 60% of employers say a candidate’s formal education is not important in making hiring decisions. Yet, most of these same employers identify bachelor’s degrees as very important or essential even to entry-level positions. In fact, Northern Virginia job postings are more likely (32%) to require a bachelor’s than are national postings (22%).

A move to skills-based hiring, even in part, would immediately widen the talent pathway and begin to close the workforce gap for our region and country. When employers remove what Opportunity@Work calls “the paper ceiling” of a four-year college degree, the pool of talent expands dramatically. More than 70 million adults in the U.S. are what Opportunity@Work deems “STARS“: individuals skilled through alternative routes who do not hold a bachelor’s degree. They comprise fully 50% of the U.S. workforce.

Across the country, largely in response to the lingering labor shortage, there is a national trend towards relaxing education and degree requirements to emphasize skills-based hiring instead. The Burning Glass Institute and Harvard Business School call it “the emerging degree reset,” and note it has the potential to greatly expand the labor market.

NOVA is the largest public higher education institution in Virginia and the largest provider of talent in the region. Our students have outstanding GPAs and a drive to succeed; they have completed internships, clinicals, and fieldwork; they have triumphed in the essential skill of time management; they are leaders on campus and in the community; many are military veterans, making them eligible for security clearances; and state data shows that 81% of Virginia’s community college students will stay in the Commonwealth after they graduate. Yet, the results of the 2023 Northern Virginia Workforce Index suggest despite their ongoing challenges in sourcing and retaining talent, employers are looking past these individuals time and time again.

The charge to employers is clear: change where and how you look for talent, the way you assess candidates, and how you partner with institutions dedicated to skilling, reskilling, and upskilling workers in the fastest-growing fields. Seize the opportunity to think differently about your current, future, and potential workforce. Think outside the degree.