How are the people actually responsible for technology at colleges and universities thinking about AI? Not administrators setting strategy from the top, but the CIOs, CTOs, and information security officers who have to make it all work on the ground.
To find out, The Chronicle of Higher Education surveyed 93 technology leaders at two- and four-year colleges across the country, with support from CollegeVine. The data deck released from that survey offers a revealing look at the tension tech leaders are navigating — and how wide the gap is between enthusiasm and readiness.
Broad optimism, cautious execution
The survey opens with a striking finding: 87% of campus tech leaders agree that generative AI offers a genuine opportunity for higher education to improve how it educates, operates, and conducts research. That's a remarkably strong signal of buy-in from a group that tends to be measured and skeptical by nature.
Yet when asked whether their institution is moving at the right speed, a third disagreed. Only 13% say their institution is moving full speed ahead on AI adoption. The majority 53% describe a gradual, selective approach, picking a few areas to lead with. Another 31% are still in study mode before committing.
Budget and cybersecurity top the obstacle list
When asked what's getting in the way, tech leaders named budget constraints as the single biggest obstacle, cited as a major barrier by 60% of respondents. Privacy and cybersecurity risks came in second at 42%, followed by the complexity of implementation and gaps in faculty and staff training.
Notably, staff reluctance ranked last on the obstacle list — suggesting that the biggest blockers are structural and resource-related, not cultural. The evaluation process for new AI tools is also a weak point: 52% of respondents say their institution does not have a good process for vetting AI tools from technology vendors, which creates real risk as the market for AI products continues to flood campuses.
Cybersecurity is already an active problem
One of the most striking findings in the data: 52% of campus tech leaders say their institution has already experienced AI-generated impersonation or phishing attacks. Another 34% haven't yet but are actively preparing. Only 3% say it's not currently a concern. Despite this, only 6% of institutions have significantly updated their cybersecurity protocols in response to generative AI — the majority have made only limited changes or are still planning to act.
Tech leaders want a seat at the table
69% of respondents say their institution's leadership works closely with the CTO or equivalent to make AI decisions — a solid majority, but with meaningful room for improvement. And 80% agree that institutions should be collaborating with technology companies to access and enhance AI tools, reflecting an openness to outside partnerships that stands in contrast to the skepticism sometimes expressed by faculty in other Chronicle research.
The full data deck, which will underpin an in-depth Chronicle research brief, paints a picture of a cohort that believes in AI's potential, is actively managing its risks, and is asking for better tools, clearer strategy, and more resources to do it right.
Download the report
Access the full survey data deck from The Chronicle of Higher Education.
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