Why Exceptional Admissions Leaders Will Never Be Replaced by AI
Balancing AI Efficiency with Human-Centered Leadership in Online Admissions
Online higher education institutions have welcomed artificial intelligence (AI) to better support their admissions team recruitment efforts. The rapid development of AI has forced admissions leaders to rethink and redesign their leadership approaches to maintain high performance while preserving a human connection with students.
Many remote admissions leaders are over-relying on AI, which has helped make their admissions responsibilities more efficient but not necessarily more effective. A balance between the use of AI for daily admissions responsibilities and a holistic approach to student admissions advising can create a high-performing admissions team.
Leaders must reframe and adopt AI-integrated leadership practices such as AI-summarized daily team updates for clarity and alignment, AI-powered internal knowledge systems for instant staff support, and structured “next step enforcement” in every student interaction to ensure clear actions, ownership, and deadlines. These leadership practices enable leaders to use AI as a support tool while still fostering a holistic, human-centered approach to student engagement grounded in whole-student support and transparent communication.
Leaders must consider overall organizational effectiveness and their impact on it. To lead a high-performing admissions team, they must redefine “high performance,” determine whether teams are both effective and efficient, and create a team culture that promotes trust, engagement, communication, and autonomy.
