AI Integration in Academia: Empowering the University Community

In this session, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) explores the strategic integration of AI tools and emphasizes innovation and educational equity across our campus. Our session begins by examining how we introduced AI to UIC, starting with the Blackboard Ultra AI Design Assistant, which has been pivotal in innovating curriculum development for instructors, with a focus on how AI can be leveraged. This segment includes a broader discussion of AI’s role in curriculum development across various institutions. The second part of our session focuses on tools that promote educational equity. We utilize Anthology Ally to provide accessible content in diverse formats, catering to the needs of our commuter student population, and Grammarly acts as a 24/7 writing assistant to enhance student writing skills. We will share why these tools were chosen and the data supporting their adoption. We will initiate a dialogue about how these AI applications could enhance diversity and equity in educational settings. Finally, we will look toward the future of AI at UIC with the adoption of emerging technologies like Quivr and Video Notebook, as well as small secure Large Language Models (LLMs) which aim to boost the engagement of educational content. Participants will be encouraged to consider how these innovations might be adapted to their institutions. This part will engage participants in a discussion of effective strategies to create more equitable learning environments using AI tools.