Colleges and universities are confronting an acceleration of AI‑enabled cyber threats even as they deploy AI for detection and response. Campus IT officials reported a rise in AI‑generated phishing, identity fraud and deepfakes that bypass traditional controls; institutions are increasingly adopting Zero Trust models, tighter vendor oversight and AI risk assessments to protect sprawling networks. Security leaders highlighted that AI can both magnify threats and provide scalable detection — but stressed that governance, model inventories and human oversight are now critical. CIOs at several institutions said they are mapping where AI runs on campus and formalizing policies to govern data access, third‑party models and lifecycle monitoring. Industry vendors and standards bodies are racing to provide certifications and frameworks as campuses seek pragmatic controls that balance research openness with operational security.