Artificial intelligence begins to reverse decades of growth in higher education administration

Artificial intelligence is reportedly helping to reduce the non-teaching staff at universities, reversing a long-standing trend of administrative growth. A survey by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources found that colleges reported 6.6% fewer full-time staff and 23.9% fewer part-time staff in 2025 compared to the previous year. Analysts suggest that universities, facing reduced enrollment and funding cuts, are utilizing AI to automate tasks like research, event planning, and donor relations, leading to smaller non-teaching workforces.