Higher‑education IT leaders are being urged to prioritise data readiness before deploying predictive or generative AI tools, industry analysts and EDUCAUSE programming emphasize. A sector guide argues that trust, integration and granular behavioral data are prerequisites for effective AI in enrollment, retention and student success work. EDUCAUSE’s 2025 conference will feature tracks on cybersecurity, data infrastructure and digital transformation, reflecting demand for practical guidance as campuses pilot AI projects. The message: institutions must automate, validate and document data flows now to make future AI investments reliable and actionable.