The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board convened on June 13, 2025, to discuss the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education, focusing on its potential applications for student support and academic integrity. The meeting highlighted the growing use of AI bots in recruitment and advising, with participants exploring the concept of a dedicated chatbot that would accompany students throughout their academic journey. This bot could provide personalized advising, tutoring, and general support, presenting various possibilities for enhancing student engagement.

The discussion also touched on how faculty and students would prefer to interact with AI moving forward, particularly in relation to academic integrity. A potential survey was proposed to gather insights from both groups on their perspectives regarding AI's role in maintaining academic standards, a topic that has gained significant attention in recent years.

Janet, a participant in the meeting, raised concerns about the implications of AI bots posing as students, particularly in relation to financial aid fraud and institutional integrity. This led to a broader conversation about the need for robust student identity verification measures, especially in light of recent guidance from the Department of Education aimed at strengthening identity requirements.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore the dual concepts of student-facing bots and AI agents that could simulate student behavior. Participants expressed interest in continuing these discussions in future meetings, emphasizing the importance of addressing both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI in the educational landscape.