Working Smarter: How AI Can Strengthen Our Work in Higher Education

George Kuzma - Gourmet Dining, LLC
Nicholas “Nick” Valinotti - Gourmet Dining, LLC

What would you do with five extra hours a week? This 50-minute session shows how AI tools can help higher education professionals spend less time on routine work and more time on students, service and each other.

Using campus dining as the main example, the session covers how AI helps with demand forecasting, menu planning, inventory, food waste and staff scheduling. It also shows how AI tools can answer students' allergen and dietary questions instantly. It then looks at uses in finance, procurement, HR and business operations, including bid comparisons, budget narratives, contract review and month-end reporting. The session also covers how AI can speed up training for new associates and student employees and help capture institutional knowledge before it walks out the door.

The session is designed for early-career staff and seasoned professionals alike. It also covers using AI responsibly, including data privacy, accuracy and keeping people in charge of decisions.

Learning Objectives

1. Spot everyday tasks in their own work that AI can make faster
2. Apply AI to dining operations, finance, procurement and staff training
3. Use AI to meet students where they are with 24/7, mobile and personalized service
4. Follow basic guardrails for using AI safely and ethically
5. Take three simple steps to get started right away

CPE Available

• 1 Credit: Information Technology