How Intermediary Organizations Are Adopting AI to Support Higher Ed—And What Comes Next
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Audrey Ellis, DM
As colleges and universities begin to explore the use of generative AI, a quieter shift is happening behind the scenes: intermediary organizations are also navigating what it means to adopt, advise on, and lead in this moment.
Intermediary organizations are mission-driven groups that work between funders, policymakers, and colleges or universities to accelerate transformation. While they don’t run campuses themselves, they provide essential support through strategy, technical assistance, tools, resources, and learning networks. Many focus on institutions that are historically under-resourced or serve excluded student populations.
T3 Advisory’s new discovery report, AI-Enhanced Intermediaries: Accelerating Student Success in Higher Education, shares findings from interviews with 13 intermediary organizations across the postsecondary sector. The report explores how these organizations are beginning to engage with generative AI—internally and in service of the institutions they support.
Key insights include:
Intermediaries are using AI across four functional areas: content creation, meeting and documentation support, data analysis, and project coordination.
Most adoption is still decentralized and staff-driven—but interest is high and use is growing.
Equity, trust, and human relationships are guiding principles. Many leaders are asking not just what to automate, but why, how, and what should remain human-led.
Some organizations are piloting more structured approaches, including customized AI bots and tools that support cross-institutional strategy.
This report is part of T3’s broader research into the role of AI in postsecondary transformation—and the unique position of intermediaries to lead in this space. It includes examples, tools, and a roadmap for organizations beginning to move from experimentation to strategy.
If you’re part of an intermediary—or work with one—this report offers a timely snapshot of where the field is headed, and the choices we’ll need to make to ensure AI adoption is equitable, ethical, and effective.
Read the full report here.
Coming Soon: AI Prompts Playbook for Intermediaries