At EDUCAUSE 2025 higher‑education leaders and technology advisers urged institutions to accelerate AI adoption while strengthening change management and governance. Panels stressed that AI is reshaping administrative workflows, learning design and student support; speakers urged universities to pilot, scale selectively and invest in staff development to manage rapid transformation. Concurrently, a collection of scholars argued that AI is already altering faculty work, assessment and academic norms — calling for research‑informed policies on pedagogy and credentialing. Institutions showcased campus AI policies, responsible‑use frameworks and tools for curricular redesigners to shift assessment from memorization to applied problem solving. The combined message: campuses must coordinate investments in infrastructure, workforce development and academic policy now, or risk uneven adoption that undermines learning outcomes and institutional integrity.