Optimizing Student Onboarding with AI

This chapter explores the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative tool to enhance student success in higher education, particularly during the critical onboarding period from admission to the conclusion of a student’s first year. Research highlights the significant impact of effective onboarding on engagement, satisfaction, and retention, and underscores how AI can optimize this process by enabling personalized, data-driven interventions and reducing operational inefficiencies. Specifically, this chapter examines common challenges in onboarding, such as fragmented communication across multiple departments, and offers insights into how AI can address these gaps. Case studies and a hypothetical scenario illustrate the potential of AI in improving experiences through smart course recommendations, early-warning systems, and tailored support within and beyond institutional walls. By adopting AI strategically, institutions can improve persistence, graduation rates, and student satisfaction while alleviating resource constraints, positioning themselves competitively in an increasingly challenging higher education landscape. This chapter offers valuable insights for faculty, staff, and administrators seeking to understand the advancing role of AI in shaping the future of student success.