Op-ed: Why Institutions Must Fix Their Data Before AI Defines Them

As the use of generative AI tools accelerates, higher education institutions face an emerging risk that few are talking about: AI-powered search engines misrepresenting degrees and credentials due to outdated, inconsistent, or inaccessible data. 

In a new op-ed published in Getting Smart, Credential Engine CEO Scott Cheney urges colleges and universities to take control of how their programs are represented by ensuring their data is published in structured and open formats. Drawing on Credential Engine’s work to advance credential transparency across the country, Cheney explains how tools like the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) can help institutions ensure their credentials are recognized and accurately represented as AI becomes the primary way students and families research college and career pathways. 

Read the article on Getting Smart

The piece offers timely insight for institutional leaders, policymakers, and data stewards looking to ensure their programs don’t fall through the cracks in an AI-shaped information economy. Cheney also highlights promising examples of systems like the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, which uses CTDL to structure and publish data on over 1,000 programs, courses, and competencies across its 18 community colleges. 

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Learn more about the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) 

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