Purpose
The purpose of this task force is to investigate and provide guidance on the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) across all areas of the college’s mission, including teaching, learning, and operations. It is incumbent upon the college to thoughtfully guide this transformation while upholding our academic and institutional values. This group will identify opportunities, assess risks, and recommend best practices, strategies, and resources to help guide the responsible adoption of AI in ways that enhance both student success and the effectiveness of college operations.
Objectives
- Investigate and provide guidance on how AI can be responsibly integrated into teaching, learning, and operations to advance the college’s mission and values.
- Identify opportunities to enhance faculty and staff capacity for using AI through professional learning, shared best practices, and innovative instructional approaches.
- Recommend policies, guidance, and governance structures that support the ethical, transparent, and effective adoption of AI technologies across the college.
- Explore ways AI can improve operational efficiency and decision-making, strengthening the college’s ability to deliver services and support students and employees.
- Promote the integration of AI literacy and skill development within the curriculum to prepare students to engage thoughtfully and effectively with AI in their academic and professional lives.
Working Groups and Charges
To accomplish its work and fulfill these objectives, the task force will operate through four focused working groups. Each group will explore specific aspects of AI integration and provide recommendations that contribute to the overall goals of the task force.
1. Teaching and Learning Innovation
Recommend strategies, resources, and professional learning opportunities that help faculty effectively integrate AI into teaching and learning. This group will explore innovative instructional approaches, share best practices, and support efforts to enhance student engagement and academic success through the responsible and creative use of AI.
2. Policy and Governance
Identify and recommend policies, guidance, and governance structures needed to support the responsible and ethical adoption of AI across the college. This group will review existing policies, assess areas that may require revision or new development, and provide recommendations to ensure that AI use aligns with institutional values, promotes transparency, and safeguards both academic and operational integrity.
3. Administrative and Operational Effectiveness
Examine how AI can enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of administrative and operational functions across the college. This group will identify opportunities to streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and support employees in their daily work through the responsible and ethical adoption of AI technologies.
4. Curriculum Integration
Identify opportunities to incorporate AI literacy and skill development within the college’s curriculum. This group will collaborate with academic departments to determine where AI concepts, tools, and applications can be appropriately embedded into courses and programs, ensuring that students are prepared to engage thoughtfully and effectively with AI in their fields of study and future careers.
Members
Tara Alatorre, Faculty Co-Chair – BTT
Arnold Yim, Faculty Co-Chair – STEM
Chris Porter, Administrative Co-Chair – Learning Resources
- B Bagby – STEM
- Tyler Byrne – STEM
- Reginia Cook – Workforce
- Chris Cummings – IET
- Kirsten DeVries – LASS
- Jason Garnett – Media Geeks
- Carrie Halpin – OLIT
- David Kasperski – Student
- Tristin Kitts – Student Affairs
- Jennifer Kurtz – LASS
- Erin Leftwich – OLIT/STEM
- Joe Nguyen – HP
- Brian Roberts – BTT
- Leisa Snidow – HP
- George Studtmann – STEM
- Bryan Walke – Workforce
- Mallory B. White – STEM
- Ray Wickersty – Student Affairs
- Wayne Williams – Student
- Bill Work – LASS
Guiding Principles for AI Implementation
- Human-Centric Approach: AI should enhance human capabilities and prioritize human health, dignity, safety, privacy, and security.
- Ethical Use: Implement rigorous ethical standards and maintain human oversight to ensure AI is used responsibly, addressing concerns such as bias, fairness, and privacy.
- Transparency and accountability: Encourage robust transparency about all uses of AI. Ensure that AI systems are transparent in their operations and decisions, with clear accountability mechanisms in place.
- Digital Inclusion: Promote equal access to AI tools and resources within and beyond educational institutions to ensure no one is left behind.
- Enhancing Education: AI should enrich the educational experience, making learning more accessible and equitable while protecting the interests of both learners and educators.
- Lifelong Learning: Encourage continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies, helping students gain hands-on skills and stay updated with AI advancements.
- Collaboration: Work with our community partners to increase public awareness and understanding of AI technologies through education and engagement initiatives, ensuring that our community is well-informed about the benefits and risks of AI.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: Foster collaboration across various disciplines to integrate diverse perspectives and expertise in AI development and implementation.
OLIT InfoGuide with AI Guidance and Resources for Faculty
As Generative AI continues to evolve and proliferate, it will probably be difficult if not impossible to restrict student access to this technology. It is therefore necessary to consider how student learning opportunities could benefit by the integration of AI in our teaching practice so that academic integrity and the quality of student learning environments is maintained. This resource is intended to offer some guidance around how to approach the use of such tools in your teaching practice.
Contact Us
Chris Porter, MS
Dean of Learning Resources & Online Learning
Brown Library B105
cporter@virginiawestern.edu
540-857-6697
