Using AI to Level the Playing Field in Assessment and Accreditation

This article summarizes a panel discussion at the April 2025 Assessment in Higher Education Conference at the University of Florida. The panelists explored critical success factors for incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into assessment workflows, strategies for using AI to “level the playing field” in assessment and accreditation, and institutional approaches to adoption. The conversation underscored AI literacy, governance, and ethical use, advocating a “start small” approach that focuses on high-volume tasks while preserving human oversight. A recurring example was Walter, a rubric-aligned “AI as second reader” tool that accelerates scoring and feedback while maintaining privacy through zero data retention. The panel concluded that AI can enhance reliability and equity when criteria are explicit and oversight is robust, but that human review remains essential for validity, transparency, and trust.