Scaling Student Success with AI: The Power of Data, Partnerships, and Innovation

Across Maryland, higher education leaders are transforming how colleges support students – leveraging data, AI, and cross-sector partnerships to scale impact.

At the 2025 Complete College America Annual Convening (NEXT), leaders from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), Google.org, Wor-Wic Community College, and DataKind shared how aligned systems can accelerate student success statewide and beyond.

As Caitlin Augustin, PhD, VP of Product & Programs at DataKind, framed it, “Scaling student success isn’t just about implementing tools – it’s about creating a system where technology, policy, institutions, and philanthropy work together.” Her remarks grounded the session in a strategic, field-wide perspective.

Statewide Leadership: Maryland as Model

Maryland continues to stand out for its commitment to equity, innovation, and workforce outcomes.

“We see Edvise as a real gift for Maryland – a tool that strengthens our ability to support every student,” said Sanjay Rai, PhD, Secretary of MHEC. “Our goal is to create systems that are both scalable and student-centered.”

The state’s policy alignment, data infrastructure, and commitment to student-centered design have created conditions where innovation can scale – not just locally, but statewide.

Institutional Practice: Advising with Data and AI

Deborah Casey, PhD, President of Wor-Wic Community College, offered an institutional lens: “Collaboration allows innovation to stick,” she noted. “As a comprehensive community college on the Eastern Shore, we can make bold moves because we focus on students first and leverage the right partnerships.”

For Wor-Wic, AI-supported advising tools help identify student needs earlier, speed up referrals, and assess which interventions are working – all while strengthening advisor capacity.

Technology as an Enabler

Greg Wolniak, PhD, Head of Education Initiatives at DataKind, highlighted how DataKind Edvise turns decades of research into actionable insights for advisors.

“Edvise is designed to put proven practices into the hands of advisors – at scale,” he said. With support from Google.org, the platform is expanding to over 100 institutions nationwide, demonstrating how low- to no-cost AI tools can support equity, efficiency, and responsible use.

Philanthropy as a Multiplier

Jen Carter, Global Head of Technology at Google.org, emphasized philanthropy’s role in accelerating adoption: “Investing in technology is just one part of the equation. We invest in people, institutions, and partnerships.” She also highlighted the importance of shared, trusted data platforms – such as the National Student Clearinghouse – which help institutions integrate AI-supported tools like Edvise more effectively.

(Learn more about our partnership with the National Student Clearinghouse here.)

Google.org’s $8M in funding and a team of Google.org Fellows are a cornerstone of Edvise’s national expansion, enabling institutions to adopt AI responsibly and equitably.

Key Lessons for the Field

This conversation surfaces a roadmap for states, funders, and institutions looking to scale impact responsibly:

Tools drive scale, but collaboration drives impact. AI and data-informed platforms like Edvise are powerful, but meaningful results come from policy alignment, institutional adoption, and philanthropic support.
Equity must be built in from the beginning – not retrofitted later. Ensuring tools reach every student requires intentional design, trust-building, and attention to local context.
Responsible AI means enhancing, not replacing, human judgement. Data should inform practice without replacing human judgment, and AI must be used responsibly to enhance, not replace, student-facing advising.
Cross-sector partnerships accelerate adoption and sustain change. Cross-sector engagement creates opportunities for broader impact than any single organization could achieve alone.

Looking Ahead

As Augustin concluded, “Scaling student success is not about a single solution – it’s about designing systems, supporting people, and leveraging technology in ways that work together.”

Maryland’s example shows what’s possible when states, funders, institutions, and technologists work toward a common goal: ensuring every student has the support they need to complete college and thrive. With responsible AI tools like Edvise and strong partnerships across the ecosystem, the path to impact at scale is clearer than ever.

To learn more about how DataKind and our partners are scaling student success – and how your institution or organization can get involved – visit DataKind Edviseor reach out to our team at education@datakind.org.

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