Last week, Kresge’s Education Program team attended Achieving The Dream’s (ATD) DREAM Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a longtime partner, ATD convenes thousands of community college practitioners to exchange strategies for accelerating student success. This year, artificial intelligence (AI) clearly emerged as a central theme.
The conference explored how AI can be leveraged for personalized learning, streamline administrative tasks for faculty, and bridge employment gaps for students. Keynote speakers and panelists presented both the promise and the pitfalls of AI in academics, emphasizing the importance of proactive engagement.
Ruha Benjamin, Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and Founding Director of the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab, warned against AI replicating existing inequities. “We are pattern makers. We have the choice to weave new patterns and engage in new practices.”
Benjamin stressed the importance of educating students to challenge inequities perpetuated by technology. She argued for the inclusion of the social sciences, humanities, and arts in shaping the future.
Another prominent voice, Ethan Mollick, a Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School, argued that AI is a catalyst for reimagining teaching. “Parents are adopting it, teachers are adopting it, college instructors are adopting it. AI can do any assignment you throw at it. The homework apocalypse is already here…we’re clearly not going back.”
Mollick highlighted AI’s potential to augment educators’ work by streamlining routine tasks and serving as personalized tutors. He noted that AI can empower faculty to become more effective mentors by acting as “co-pilots,” allowing teachers to focus on critical thinking and dialogue with students
Panelists did not shy away from challenges, such as academic integrity, as traditional AI detectors can struggle to differentiate between genuine student work and AI-generated output. Concerns were raised that relying solely on these tools could be detrimental to students, especially non-native English speakers. The consensus was that AI, while helpful in processing data and delivering rapid feedback, cannot replace the nuanced understanding that educators bring to learning.
ATD President and CEO Karen A. Stout stated, “We have a responsibility to address the legitimate fears presented by AI while leveraging its promise of personalized learning and beyond.” She added, “Strategic adoption of AI can be an important tool to bridge and close the gaps in opportunity that our students face inside and outside the classroom.”
Karen Colbert, math department chair at Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College and ATD coach, stressed that it is important to “ensure that faculty work with AI centers on students’ cultural identities,” noting, “AI might be able to analyze patterns, but it lacks the wisdom that comes from lived experience.”
Kresge’s Education practice is actively considering how it can support higher education partners to keep pace with technological change and equitably enrich the academic experience for every student. Bill Moses, managing director of Kresge’s Education Program, noted, “AI is not a panacea and poses risks with algorithms that could reinforce inequities. On the other hand, we see many opportunities for AI to improve transfer and supporting students needing developmental education.”
