The debate continues over whether the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to job losses, especially in specific industries. One area where AI could play a significant role is in the admissions offices of colleges and universities.
The Current Landscape
The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources conducted a study in April 2023. It surveyed 12,042 admissions employees at 940 institutions. These institutions have an average of over a dozen admissions staff members each. Given there are more than 4,000 degree-granting institutions in the U.S., the workforce impacted by AI may cover more than 40,000 employees. Although not all jobs will disappear, the potential for AI to replace many roles is significant.
Why Admissions Officers?
The admissions process involves extensive paperwork and numerical data, including test scores, GPAs, essays, resumes, and recommendations. Almost all applicants seek a fair process. AI excels at sorting and analyzing large volumes of data quickly. This efficiency can be especially beneficial in examining resumes for truthfulness, quality, and sincerity. It can also check essays for originality and outside assistance.
“AI isn’t just a problem, it’s a solution. Some people are already making the most of it.”
Factors Beyond Academics
AI can consider legitimate factors beyond academics, like in-state status, gender, family income, and geographic diversity. It can also assess performance based on the applicant’s previous school or college. AI can be programmed to exclude prohibited considerations like race, ethnicity, or religion, following federal law and Supreme Court guidelines.
Athletic ability, legacy status, and talents like music or theater are also factors AI can weigh. Ultimately, AI might predict better outcomes for applicant success both on campus and in future careers.
Assuring Transparency and Fairness
AI might assure various stakeholders that the admissions process is free from prohibited biases. Institutions could present their AI models as proof of compliance with legal standards. Although AI results might not replace all decisions in admissions, they serve as additional evidence of fairness.
The Future of Admissions Work
The current admissions staff primarily sort, sift, and make recommendations. This process sometimes allows personal biases to affect decisions. Objective evaluations by AI might benefit all involved by minimizing subjective judgments. Implementing AI could involve running parallel admissions processes to compare results. This comparison might offer valuable insights into acceptance decisions.
AI’s potential to handle vast data objectively should be seen as an opportunity. Colleges can improve accuracy and trust in the admissions process.