Early Insights: How AI Is Transforming Student Success in Higher Education

Supplementing, Not Substituting, Deeper Learning

Institutions piloting AI-driven support tools are beginning to see measurable and tangible effects on teaching and learning. Case studies from Palomar College and Los Angeles Pacific University (LAPU), both early adopters of Nectir AI, point toward key lessons for colleges considering or implementing AI in their courses.

Early findings from both Palomar and LAPU highlight a crucial point: AI assistants work best as a supplement to traditional instruction, not as a replacement. While faculty concerns about academic shortcuts or reduced rigor are common, early data show that when AI is thoughtfully integrated, students benefit from using it as a tutor or learning guide. At Palomar, students engaged the AI assistant for deeper inquiry and more critical reflection. LAPU instructors observed that effective prompts and structure helped AI reinforce problem-solving and analysis.

In fact, in a survey on their experience using Nectir AI for an American Indian Studies class, one student at Palomar College reported that their Nectir AI Course Assistant pushed them to think more deeply about the Treaty of Greenville. 

“It gave me questions so I can critically think about what the Indians truly had to go through, and just realized what the U.S. truly always just did and intended from the beginning. The AI for sure raised points that I wouldn’t have thought of, for example, the true meaning behind certain phrases.”

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Measurable Gains: Academic Performance and Student Success

Quantitative and qualitative evidence is mounting that Nectir AI can yield significant improvements in student outcomes.

At Palomar, survey results showed that 73.5% of students reported an improved learning experience after using AI course assistants. A peer-reviewed study found that LAPU students who used Nectir AI 3 or more times increased their average GPA by 7.5%. (Results stayed true even after adjusting for differences in age, gender, and ethnicity.)

In a webinar with Nectir, LAPU Director of Digital Learning Solutions George Hanshaw commented on how AI in education can bolster the experience of pursuing higher education.

“When you implement AI thoughtfully and with guardrails around it, it does lead to true learning, and that’s the whole point of college.”

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Thoughtful Implementation: Bridging Initial Resistance

The path to successful AI adoption can be both a technical and a cultural process. Both case studies highlight that meaningful results depend on intentional integration:

• Communication: Clear messaging around academic integrity and the intended use of AI is essential.
• Training: Both students and faculty benefit from training to effectively leverage AI, address concerns, and maximize learning.
• Customization: Course Assistant rollouts included course-specific customization of AI assistants, coupled with student guidance on when and how to engage the technology.

Students new to using AI in class also need reassurance and support. In fact, LAPU found that increasing AI literacy skills and providing practical guidance were key to improving adoption rates, and the presence of hands-on instruction and mentorship remained just as important as access to the technology itself.

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Embracing the Future: Lessons for Institutional Leaders

For institutions considering adoption, the data from Palomar and LAPU show measurable impact on engagement, outcomes, and teaching efficiency. What do these early results suggest for the future of AI in education? The message is clear: when thoughtfully implemented, AI can be a powerful tool in advancing student achievement and educational innovation.

If you’re interested in adopting an AI tool that’s safe, scalable, and stress-free, click here to book a Nectir AI demo today: https://www.nectir.io/contact/.

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Additional Reading

For the full case studies on Palomar College's and Los Angeles Pacific University's adoption of Nectir AI, read the full case studies below.

• Palomar College: 73.5% of Students Saw Improved Learning with an AI Course Assistant (Click here for a shareable one-pager PDF)‍
• Los Angeles Pacific University: LAPU Research Shows Nectir Increased Student GPA by 7.5% (Click here for a shareable one-pager PDF)