Survey data show AI use has become ubiquitous on campuses but strategic integration has lagged. Ellucian’s survey of 779 administrators reports personal AI use at 91% and institution‑wide adoption rising from 49% to 66% in a year, yet only 43% of institutions explicitly include AI in their strategic plans. Institutional funding often sits inside general tech budgets rather than dedicated AI lines, and data privacy remains a top barrier. The result: campuses are deploying a patchwork of tools without uniform governance, risk controls or workforce training. Chief digital officers, provosts and general counsel teams now face urgent decisions about procurement standards, vendor risk, FERPA-compliant usage, and faculty development. Administrators should expect accelerated pressure from trustees and accreditors to document policy, accountability and student‑privacy safeguards as AI shifts from pilot to operational expectation.