AM26: The AI Investment Decision: Build, Buy, or Shared Services?

As AI adoption accelerates across higher education, business officers must make critical decisions about where—and how—to invest. Should your institution purchase commercial AI tools, build custom solutions, or pursue shared-services models? This session will provide a practical framework for evaluating these options through the lenses of mission alignment, financial sustainability, governance, risk management, and long-term scalability. Panelists will share candid lessons learned, real-world examples, and cost considerations from institutions navigating these decisions. You’ll leave with clearer criteria for weighing trade-offs, asking the right due diligence questions, and positioning AI investments to deliver strategic value.  

Learning Objectives  

• Evaluate trade-offs among commercial AI tools, custom development, and shared-services models.   

• Assess institutional readiness, internal capacity, and partnership options when pursuing AI initiatives.  

• Formulate key questions to guide vender negotiations, internal proposals, and senior-level discussions about AI investments. 

CPE Available: 1.0 Credits in Finance 

Each individual must register and attend separately to earn credit.

NACUBO is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website www.nasbaregistry.org

Event Information

• Level: Intermediate
• Prerequisites: Minimum 1-2 years of experience as a professional in higher education or a related private industry.
• Advanced Preparation: None
• Delivery Mode: Group internet based
• Field of Study: Finance
• Length: 60 minutes

Steps to Earn CPE Credit

You can only earn credit for attending the session live. CPE credit cannot be earned for watching the recordings.

To earn CPE credit, you will complete the following tasks under the Content tab, after the session has ended:

1. Pass the CPE codeword quiz. Write down the codewords posted in the Zoom chat at random times throughout the session and complete the quiz at the end of the session. 
2. Submit the CPE check-out code displayed at the end of the session. 
3. Download your CPE certificate. 

You have until 5 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, July 21 to complete these three steps or report technology issues with this site to online@nacubo.org.

For more detailed instructions, review the CPE Instructions page.