Miami Dade College featured for AI student success tools

Miami Dade College and MDC Online were spotlighted by Presidents Forum for using AI to improve student engagement and persistence, with measurable gains cited in pass rates and retention. The recognition centers on the college’s LUCY platform and its focus on student outcomes rather than AI adoption alone.

Why it matters: - Miami Dade College is being recognized for showing how AI can support student success when the technology is tied to a clear academic need. - The spotlight underscores a broader test for higher education: whether AI tools can improve persistence, engagement and outcomes, not just add automation.

What happened: - Presidents Forum and Kyron Learning featured Miami Dade College and MDC Online in an article titled “Beyond the Hype: Measuring the Real Effectiveness of AI Learning Tools.” - The feature highlights MDC’s AI Student Success Platform, called LUCY. - The article includes an interview and podcast with Nestor Pereira, vice provost for academic and learning technologies and MDC Online at Miami Dade College. - Pereira discussed how the college developed LUCY and partnered with Kyron Learning. - The piece frames MDC’s work as an example of using AI to improve student persistence through measurable outcomes.

The details: - Students who actively used MDC’s AI learning tools showed higher pass rates and stronger persistence than comparable students who did not use the tools. - The feature also cites positive feedback from students and faculty. - MDC’s AI approach includes personalized support for learners and actionable insights for instructors. - Pereira said the college started with a student challenge, not a technology challenge. - Pereira said every decision focused on helping students persist and succeed. - More information is available in the Presidents Forum article and podcast.

Between the lines: - The recognition positions Miami Dade College as a practical case study for AI in higher education. - The focus on measurable results suggests colleges may face growing pressure to prove that AI improves academic outcomes before scaling new tools. - MDC Online’s emphasis on personalized learning support points to a model that combines student-facing help with faculty-level data.

What's next: - MDC Online is continuing to invest in its AI Student Success Platform. - The college is likely to keep using LUCY and related tools to support engagement throughout the academic journey. - The external recognition may strengthen interest in MDC’s approach from other colleges exploring AI-based student support.

The bottom line: - Miami Dade College is being cited as an example of AI in education that is judged by results, not hype.