Campus AI Framework

A practitioner's playbook for AI strategy and governance in higher education. Concept and content by Joe Sabado. Free to use and adapt for non-commercial purposes under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

This is an interactive application and works best with JavaScript enabled. Below is a text outline of what it contains.

The model

Eight institutional pillars, grouped into Governance (Mission & Vision, AI Principles, AI Policies & Guidelines, Governance/Risk/Compliance & Data Governance), Enablement (Engagement & Collaboration, Roles & Responsibilities), and Capabilities (Campus Readiness, Implementation & Operations); four application domains (Teaching & Learning, Research & Innovation, Operations & Infrastructure, Student & Community Engagement); and the AI Strategic Compass for prioritizing initiatives by risk and impact.

What you can do here

Find your starting point: a maturity triage (Nascent / Emerging / Established).
The first 90 days: a stage-aware action plan.
The eight pillars: concept, signals, and concrete practices for each.
Use cases & case studies: the framework applied to real campus AI initiatives.
How AI enters campus: the six pathways AI arrives and the types of AI to govern.
Maturity Assessment, Governance Guide, AI Registry: assess where you stand.
Strategic Compass, Tool Evaluation Matrix, Playbook, Adoption pathways, Run it: decide and operate.
Standards alignment: how the framework maps to NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001, the EU AI Act, OECD, UNESCO, and EDUCAUSE.

Learn more and contact the author at campusaiexchange.com.

Browse the framework as text: The eight pillars · Find your starting point · Strategic Compass · Maturity Assessment · How AI enters campus · Standards alignment.

Campus AI Framework

Start here

Find your starting point

Five quick questions to read where your campus actually stands, then a right-sized set of next steps, scaled to your maturity and capacity, with the framework as the lens. No campus should be told to do everything at once.

Question 1 of 5

Which best describes you?

Sets the lens — you'll also get a path curated for your role.

or jump in by the work you're doing

Five common scenarios

Already know what's on your plate? Pick the scenario that fits and go straight to the pillars that own it. Most efforts touch more than one.

Foundation FirstAI policy development & governanceValues, guardrails, academic integrity, data privacy, and the governance structures behind ongoing decisions.P1P2P3P4 Building the SystemEnterprise AI adoption & infrastructureVendor evaluation, procurement, data governance, and cross-divisional coordination.P4P8 Preparing PeopleAI literacy & responsible use across the curriculumEmbedding AI literacy so people know not just how to use AI, but when, why, and with what ethical considerations.P6 Enabling EducatorsFaculty development & pedagogical supportSustainable support structures, communities of practice, and momentum beyond the one-off workshop.P5P6 Scaling to PracticeAI integration in student services & operationsAdvising, tutoring, accessibility, and student-success work that enhances rather than replaces human connection.P8