AI Reshaping Student Success and Mental Health Support in U.S. Higher Education
Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing various aspects of student success in U.S. higher education, extending beyond academic integrity to encompass learning, emotional support, and career preparation. Colleges are exploring AI to proactively identify students who may be struggling, as exemplified by Austin Community College's Digital Twin Initiative, which uses AI and real-time student data to connect students with resources like advising and mental health services more quickly. A survey by Uwill, a digital mental health platform, indicates that high school seniors are significantly more likely than college seniors to turn to AI for emotional support, with 21% of high schoolers citing a lack of other trusted individuals to talk to. Furthermore, students express a desire for institutions to teach them how to use AI effectively and responsibly, with 56% of respondents in an Inside Higher Ed survey identifying this as a key institutional responsibility. Institutions like Santa Clara University a...
