I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Technology Roundtable at P3•EDU. Alongside leaders from organizations such as OpenAI, I talked about how partnerships with organizations like Risepoint can help universities more effectively use technology to expand access to education for modern learners. Here are some of the key themes that I shared.
For more than two decades, higher education has been under pressure—financially, technologically, and demographically. Yet the institutions that serve as the backbone of opportunity in this country, especially regional universities, face the steepest challenges. They must meet rising student expectations, navigate rapid technological change, and expand access and affordability, all while operating with limited resources.
At Risepoint, our mission is to ensure those universities not only survive but thrive. The work we do every day—partnering with institutions to offer scalable programs, reach the right students, and support them through graduation—gives us a front-row seat to the transformation underway in higher education. What is clear is that technology, and AI in particular, is reshaping every stage of the student journey. But the institutions that will benefit are the ones that use these tools deliberately, rooted in mission, and paired with the right expertise.
Where AI is already delivering value
We see enormous potential for AI and emerging technologies in three core areas: how universities design and deliver education, how they reach and enroll students, and how they support learners from inquiry to completion. In each of these areas, we’re already seeing meaningful improvements in efficiency and student satisfaction.
Students today expect seamless, self-directed experiences—whether they are exploring programs, navigating enrollment, or engaging in coursework. AI-enabled tools, when implemented intentionally, allow faculty and staff to use their time where it matters most: providing personalized, high-quality instruction and support. For smaller institutions, however, the biggest challenge is not the promise of AI but the capacity to implement it. They often lack the expertise, capital, and bandwidth to keep up with the pace of innovation.
This is where partnership becomes essential. Our role is to bring the future to the many—helping regional universities adopt the same capabilities as the largest institutions, in ways that align with their mission and community.
Why technology initiatives succeed—or fail
Many technology initiatives in higher education fail because they begin with the tool instead of the problem. Implementing a new system becomes the goal, rather than solving a specific pain point for students or faculty. Even when institutions identify the right problem, they often design solutions for a single moment in the student lifecycle—like enrollment or retention—without understanding how that moment connects to the rest of the journey.
This creates more silos, more complexity, and ultimately, limited impact.
The other major barrier is underestimating the human side of transformation. Technology doesn’t deliver ROI on its own; people do. Successful change requires training, collaboration, and a unified approach across marketing, enrollment, program design, instruction, and student support. When technology is integrated across that continuum, it stops being “another initiative” and starts driving measurable outcomes.
Partnership models that actually work
At Risepoint, we operate on a simple belief: partnerships succeed when both sides commit to shared goals and mutual accountability. The most effective collaborations are built around common values—access, quality, and student success. They create capability inside the institution, not dependency.
Partnerships fail when they are purely transactional—when the focus is on short-term enrollment gains or one-off launches rather than long-term strategy. They also fail when they overlook the economic reality facing regional institutions, which often cannot pay out of pocket for the services needed to serve today’s learners.
Our approach is different. We invest alongside our partners—with capital, technology, and expertise—because we believe in the long-term importance of regional universities. We align on mission, governance, and data transparency from day one. And we work as an extension of the institution, not as a vendor.
As technology continues to evolve, what’s emerging is not a new model but a deeper form of partnership—one where universities combine their mission and faculty expertise with a partner’s scale and speed. Large technology and AI companies are critical collaborators in this ecosystem, but they’re not the full solution. They build powerful tools, but they do not redesign degrees, train faculty, or support students through graduation. That translation layer—turning innovation into real academic and student impact—is where we specialize.
Building programs that deliver real ROI
The best business models for new programs start with understanding student demand, employer needs, and the return on investment for learners. Institutions too often base pricing or program structure on internal cost models rather than market realities.
When programs are designed around outcomes that matter, the impact is clear. In an Ipsos survey of nearly 5,000 Risepoint-supported graduates, 86% said their degree was worth the investment, reporting a 19% salary increase one year after graduation, and 34% after three years. Most recouped the full cost of their degree in about 18 months. These results are only possible when pricing, delivery, and acquisition strategies are aligned with measurable value.
The biggest pitfall is focusing on short-term revenue instead of long-term sustainability. Technology should make programs more affordable to deliver and more valuable for students—not more complex.
A roadmap for institutions ready to begin
For universities early in their journey to scale technology and AI, I recommend three essential commitments:
- Start with the problem, not the tool.
Define the challenge—improving student outcomes, expanding access, increasing efficiency—before choosing a solution. - Build the right capabilities and infrastructure.
Many institutions have data everywhere but insight nowhere. Clean, connected systems are required for AI to be meaningful. So is investing in teams who understand student workflows and institutional realities. - Cultivate a culture of experimentation.
Scaling AI is not a one-time project. It requires piloting, learning, and refining—not digitizing what exists but building something better.
Our work focuses on helping partners put these foundations in place so technology drives impact rather than implementation.
What will define the next era of higher education
If I had to choose one technological shift that will dominate the years ahead, it wouldn’t be a single tool—it would be the convergence of AI and data into personalized education infrastructure. In the near future, every part of the learner experience will be powered by connected systems that anticipate student needs and personalize support at scale. This will level the playing field, giving regional universities the same sophistication as mega-institutions.
The technology itself is not the disruption; what it enables is.
Where universities must act now
If I were a university president today, my first move would be to build a real strategy around understanding and serving the modern learner. Everything else—technology, partnerships, pricing—should follow from that foundation.
The institutions that thrive will not be the biggest or the wealthiest. They will be the ones that move fastest to meet students where they are, with programs that are flexible, career-relevant, and deliver high ROI.
At Risepoint, we’re committed to helping institutions get there—bringing the future to the many and ensuring the universities that matter most to their communities remain strong for decades to come.
