Reclaiming Purpose

A strategic framework for understanding how AI will transform higher education 

In Reclaiming Purpose: The University in an AI World, Paul Leblanc, former President of Southern New Hampshire University and widely recognized as one of the most innovative educators in higher education, delivers a framing perspective for understanding artificial intelligence's impact on learning institutions. The book helps educators and university leaders navigate this technological revolution with clarity and purpose. 

LeBlanc draws on doctoral research in revolutionary technological change and decades of leadership experience to provide practical guidance for institutions facing unprecedented disruption. Reclaiming Purpose offers strategic questions, actionable frameworks, and a positive yet radically different vision for what education can become when institutions embrace AI thoughtfully rather than reactively. 

Readers will also find: 

• Clear perspectives on what the AI revolution means for educators at every level, from classroom instructors to department chairs
• Strategic guidance for university leaders developing institutional responses to AI integration and policy decisions across their organizations 
• A framework for asking better questions about technology adoption that leads to more thoughtful and effective implementation strategies
• A positive vision for education's future that acknowledges radical change while offering constructive pathways forward for learning institutions 

• Insights grounded in the author's experience leading one of higher education's most innovative and adaptive university systems 

Essential for educators, administrators, and university leaders seeking to understand AI's implications for their institutions, Reclaiming Purpose provides the strategic perspective and practical guidance needed to navigate technological transformation while preserving education's core mission.