Insights from the Higher Ed Experts

BY Anthony Campisi | June 26th, 2025

What’s Next for DEI? How Higher Ed is Evolving its Commitment to Inclusion

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has long been a pillar of progress in higher education — but recent legal, political, and cultural shifts have pushed institutions to rethink their approach. Rather than stepping back, many are stepping forward in new ways.

From Policy to Purpose

While some race-based practices have been challenged legally, the underlying purpose of DEI — creating an environment where all students can succeed — remains. Institutions are shifting focus from traditional frameworks to inclusive pedagogy, belonging-centered initiatives, and broader access strategies.

Rethinking Recruitment and Support

With changes to affirmative action policies, colleges are finding new ways to foster diversity. This includes:

Investing in outreach to first-gen and low-income students.
Strengthening transfer pathways.
Expanding need-based financial aid.
Building data-informed support systems to close equity gaps.

These efforts may look different on paper, but their mission remains the same: expanding opportunity.

Inclusion Beyond Admissions

DEI now extends deeper into the student experience — embedding cultural competency into curriculum, building inclusive leadership pipelines, and fostering respectful dialogue across differences. The emphasis is increasingly on outcomes, not just inputs.

A More Nuanced Conversation

Institutions are also navigating how to communicate their DEI efforts effectively — balancing transparency, legal compliance, and stakeholder expectations. There’s a growing emphasis on evidence-based impact and the language of belonging, persistence, and student success.

At GPRS, we help institutions adapt without losing sight of their values. In this evolving landscape, the question isn’t whether DEI matters — it’s how we lead it forward.

Insights from the Higher Ed Experts

BY Anthony Campisi | June 17th, 2025

Reimagining the Classroom: How AI is Transforming Teaching and Learning

Higher education is no stranger to innovation, but the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating change at a pace few could have imagined. From personalized learning experiences to AI-powered tutoring, the classroom is evolving — and so is the role of the educator.

Teaching with AI, Not Replacing It

Contrary to some fears, AI isn’t here to replace faculty. It’s augmenting their ability to teach more effectively. Tools like AI teaching assistants can answer routine student questions, freeing up faculty time for deeper instruction and mentoring. Natural language tools like ChatGPT are also helping students refine ideas, explore content more deeply, and receive immediate feedback.

Personalization at Scale

AI excels at pattern recognition, and when applied thoughtfully, it enables personalized learning paths. Adaptive platforms can now identify a student’s strengths and gaps in real time, offering customized content, assessments, and pacing. For institutions, this means improving outcomes while addressing equity and access.

The New Digital Literacy

As AI becomes more integrated into education, understanding how to use it responsibly is becoming a key skill — for both students and faculty. Institutions are revisiting academic integrity policies and offering training on ethical AI use, ensuring learners are prepared for a workforce where AI is ubiquitous.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Integrating AI is not without challenges. Bias in AI models, data privacy, and equitable access to tools are all real concerns. But for forward-looking institutions, these challenges are opportunities — to lead, to innovate, and to reimagine the student experience.

At GPRS, we help institutions make sense of the shifting higher ed landscape. AI in the classroom is just the beginning—how you lead through it makes all the difference.