Webinar | AI Return on Value: Start Where You Are

Provided by Lenovo | 2026 EDUCAUSE Mission Partner

This webinar is a part of the EDUCAUSE Industry Insights series.

AI investments in higher education are moving quickly. However, not all institutions are starting from the same place. This session explores how leaders can shift the conversation from traditional ROI to Return on Value by aligning AI investments with institutional mission, readiness, workforce needs, student success, research priorities, and operational capacity.

Drawing on perspectives from a community college, an HBCU research university, and industry, the panel will discuss how institutions can identify practical starting points, establish meaningful measures of value, and avoid one-size-fits-all approaches. Attendees will hear how leaders can match AI strategy to organizational maturity, build support across stakeholders, and create a path from experimentation to sustainable impact without requiring every institution to follow the same technology roadmap.

Learning Outcomes:

• Define Return on Value for AI investments in higher education.
• Assess institutional readiness and identify an appropriate AI starting point.
• Connect AI investments to mission, student success, workforce, research, and operations.
• Identify practical measures that demonstrate value beyond traditional financial ROI.
• Build an AI roadmap that reflects institutional priorities, capacity, and maturity.