Our CTL at UNC Charlotte has led a comprehensive AI strategy across campus partners and for faculty development with a stream of programming. Learn about the AI task force on teaching and learning, our AI institute, professional certificate on generative AI, workshops, faculty fellowships, policy, and online resources. 

Digital Transformation with AI in Higher Education

Digital transformation in higher education, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), presents an unprecedented opportunity to rethink teaching, learning, and campus operations. As universities grapple with growing expectations for personalized learning, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced student engagement, AI offers the tools necessary to foster this transformation. Implementing an AI Campus Strategy involves using AI to streamline administrative processes, provide data-driven insights for decision-making, and create adaptive learning environments that cater to individual student needs. This shift not only enhances academic outcomes but also positions institutions to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.

By harnessing AI, universities can adopt more innovative pedagogical approaches, supporting faculty in delivering enriched learning experiences. AI can be integrated into systems for course delivery, assessment, student support, and beyond, fundamentally reshaping how students engage with content and how instructors approach teaching. Digital transformation through AI allows for the reimagining of education as a dynamic, evolving process that can be continually improved by insights drawn from AI-generated data.

The Mix of Fear and Excitement for Generative AI

With the rise of Generative AI systems and platforms, universities can no longer get too comfortable. The advent of generative AI has sparked a mix of both optimism and concern within higher education. On one hand, faculty and administrators are excited about the potential for AI to revolutionize teaching by offering personalized learning experiences, streamlining administrative tasks, and expanding access to resources. This excitement stems from AI’s ability to support innovative pedagogies, enhance student engagement, and facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations. Generative AI also promises to prepare students for AI-driven industries by equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for a future shaped by automation.

On the other hand, the excitement is tempered by concerns related to privacy, ethics, cheating, and job displacement. Some faculty members worry about the technology’s potential to perpetuate biases, compromise student data privacy, or even replace traditional teaching roles. Those unfamiliar with AI may feel apprehensive about adapting to new technologies, fearing that they may not be able to keep pace with rapid advancements. Despite these challenges, the growing presence of AI in education is inevitable, and institutions must proactively address these concerns while embracing the transformative potential of AI to enhance learning and teaching outcomes.

AI-Driven Leaders

An AI-driven leader is a visionary who embraces the transformative power of artificial intelligence to shape strategic decisions, enhance learning and organizational outcomes, and foster a culture of innovation. More than just adopting new tools, this type of leader understands how to ethically and effectively integrate AI into workflows, teaching practices, and decision-making processes. They are agile thinkers who see AI not as a threat, but as a partner in reimagining what’s possible, guiding their teams to build digital fluency, ensure equitable access, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. With curiosity, courage, and compassion, AI-driven leaders inspire change, champion responsible use, and model lifelong learning in the age of intelligent technologies.

Rapid Response Leadership Across the Campus

From early 2023 to 2025, our Teaching and Learning Innovation Team at the Center for Teaching and Learning at UNC Charlotte recognized that we needed to adapt quickly to keep up with the latest developments and support faculty through their waves of uncertainty so that they can be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies in generative AI. 

Join this presentation to uncover how and why Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTL) must take on a primary leadership role in faculty development towards awareness, positive and ethical use of AI, and supporting the development of curricula that integrates AI pedagogy while driving student-centered learning approaches. We utilized a rapid response strategy to build and launch a stream of faculty development programs:

1. AI Institute: Convened the campus into a day-long conference.

2. Professional Microcredential on Generative AI: Targeted a global audience.

3. Faculty Development Workshops: Focused on prompt engineering, student study skills, and writing skills in the age of AI.

4. AI SOTL: Supported curriculum integration and research.

5. Online Resources and Templates: Aimed to support the knowledge base and development of AI skills.

6. Policy Revisions: Updated syllabus and communication guidelines

7. AI Task Force: A faculty driven task force to develop recommendations across the disciplines 

8. AI Faculty Fellows: A team of college fellows gathering use-cases across disciplines

Strategies to Support and Scale AI Across the Curriculum

Strategy 1: The Need for an AI Campus Strategic Framework  

Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTL) must take on a primary leadership role in faculty development towards raising awareness, positive and ethical use of AI, and supporting the development of curricula that integrate AI pedagogy while driving student-centered learning approaches. A culture of innovation motivates faculty to explore new teaching methods and incorporate AI technologies in the classroom. Faculty development in AI ensures that educators are prepared to teach students the skills and knowledge necessary for the workforce that are relevant to current and future skill sets. Being ahead of the curve can position your institution as an educational leader at your campus and in the field.

Strategy 2: The Need for Stakeholder Engagement 

Engaging stakeholders is crucial for the successful implementation of AI initiatives. Stakeholders include faculty, students, administrators, and industry partners. By involving these groups, CTLs can ensure that the AI initiatives align with the needs and goals of the entire academic community. This engagement fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration, which is vital for the sustainability of AI programs.

Strategy 3: The Need for Data Gathering and Feedback 

Strategic decisions were guided by early survey data, which reflected beginner (83%) and intermediate (17%) skill levels of faculty use of ChatGPT in teaching. This data informed the design and implementation of our programs, ensuring they met the actual needs and skill levels of the faculty. Regular feedback mechanisms allowed us to adjust our strategies and improve our offerings continuously. Our presentation will offer strategies to collect and analyze data about the campus and about faculty. 

Strategy 4: The Need for Policy Formulation 

Developing clear policies is essential to provide guidelines and frameworks for the ethical and effective use of AI in education. This includes policy revisions for syllabus and communication guidelines. Policies help in addressing concerns related to data privacy, intellectual property, and the ethical use of AI. Clear policies also support faculty in integrating AI into their teaching practices confidently and responsibly.

Recommendations for Integrating AI into Curriculum:

1. Establish an AI Roadmap and Implementation Plan for Teaching and Learning: Develop a comprehensive implementation roadmap, clearly outlining actionable items, timelines, and responsible parties. This roadmap will guide the university’s efforts in a phased and intentional direction

2. Establish Working Teams and Roles

   1. Team on Ethics, Policy, and Governance for AI - To develop new policies, guidelines, and governance structures at the university level for the use of AI in the classroom.   

      1. Create a university-wide AI use policy for teaching and learning that includes academic integrity, transparency, and student rights.

      2. Develop guidelines for ethical AI use in assessments, feedback systems, and content generation.

      3. Collaborate with legal and academic leadership to ensure compliance and alignment with institutional values.

   2. Team on AI Integration in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum - Accelerate AI across the curriculum by effectively aligning program and course goals with essential AI competencies for students. 

      1. Align course learning outcomes with AI competencies, such as data literacy, prompt engineering, and ethical reasoning.

      2. Identify pilot courses or programs across disciplines to embed AI concepts.

      3. Develop cross-disciplinary modules that can be used as shared learning resources.

      4. Encourage faculty innovation projects to redesign curriculum with AI in mind.

   3. Team on Technology, Training, and Support for AI - Expand access to AI tools and services, faculty support, and campus-wide AI literacy through targeted training programs and resources.

      1. Inventory existing AI tools available for faculty and students; expand access where needed.

      2. Launch training programs and workshops focused on AI literacy, tool adoption, and pedagogy.

      3. Develop microcredentials or badges for faculty and students demonstrating AI competency.

      4. Set up a central AI Teaching and Learning Hub for just-in-time resources and consultation.

3. Review Learning Outcomes - Audit programs and courses to determine where AI-related skills are: Introduced (I), Reinforced (R), Mastered (M) – to establish AI fluency benchmarks for students at different stages.

Presentation Engagement and Participation: 

1. We invite participants into a guided, interactive conversation with visual facilitation through a digital whiteboard canvas to develop a concept map for faculty development and campus strategy for curriculum integration. 

2. We map out the types of stakeholder involvement needed to implement a successful AI strategy for the campus

3. We share our lessons learned as well as challenges and will have a large group discussion on the benefits, challenges, and opportunities for adopting a campus strategy.

4. Resources and toolkits will be shared to participants via a website that they can use to implement similar programs at their institutions.