Request for Information (RFI) - AI Student Support Platform

The City University of New York (CUNY) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to explore the landscape of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics platforms aimed at enhancing student success initiatives. The primary goal is to identify solutions that assist academic advisors in pinpointing students at risk, enabling targeted interventions, and ultimately improving retention and graduation rates through early warning systems and personalized insights. CUNY is particularly interested in models that generate highly interpretable, individual-level predictions derived from longitudinal institutional data, without the necessity of building centralized data warehouses or relying on generalized regression-based models. The platforms of interest should support iterative retraining, collaborative development, and deliver transparent, practitioner-ready outputs based on analyzing a broad array of data elements—over 120 types—both academic and non-academic. This RFI is issued solely for planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation or guarantee future procurement. The contract size is estimated between five and fifteen million dollars, and responses are due by July 10, 2025. The initiative aims to gather information from nonprofit, grant-funded, and commercial providers capable of delivering solutions that meet these specifications, with a focus on open, interpretable AI models that facilitate real-time updates and continuous improvement. The information collected will guide CUNY in determining whether a formal procurement process is necessary and assist in designing subsequent solicitations. The response process involves submitting detailed documentation, including any relevant case studies, to Joanne Gill, Deputy Director at CUNY, via email. The project is based in New York State, with a focus on leveraging innovative AI tools to support student success across all NYS counties.