Illustration: The Chronicle

Regional public colleges are the backbone of American higher education and, somehow, also one of its best-kept secrets. Every year, they educate nearly 5 million students, including almost half of all bachelor’s-degree-seeking students at four-year institutions and nearly half of all Black and Latino students. 

With their relatively low price, a focus on teaching, and strong connection to career majors, regional public colleges should be thriving. But in many places, that’s not the case.

Andrew Maynard has studied cutting-edge technology for nearly two decades and tracked the rise of generative artificial intelligence from the start. As interest in AI intensified, he knew he had to release an offering for students at Arizona State University—and fast.

While some institutions are banning the use of the new AI tool, others are leaning into its use and offering courses dedicated solely to navigating the new technology.

Studies show that students benefit from instructors who look like them. And while the racial and ethnic diversity of college faculty in the United States is on the rise, faculty members are still much more likely to be white.

In this interview, two professors discuss what's needed to recruit and retain faculty members who have historically been underrepresented in academia, plus the impact of faculty diversity on creating a sense of belonging for students.