WKU News
AI Campus Community Update
- Wednesday, March 11th, 2026
Colleagues,
As I have engaged faculty across WKU this academic year, artificial intelligence and its impact on teaching and student learning have understandably emerged as recurring themes. The questions are important and complex, but three in particular continue to surface:
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In what ways can AI meaningfully enhance teaching and learning at WKU?
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How can we explore these tools without compromising the quality, rigor, and integrity of the educational experience we provide our students?
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What implications does AI have for the knowledge, skills, and dispositions our graduates will need to thrive in their careers and communities?
There is no single “right” answer to these questions. AI technologies are evolving rapidly, and the appropriate use of these tools will vary across disciplines, programs, and even individual courses. What remains constant, however, is WKU’s commitment to academic excellence, student success, and the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. Increasingly, employers are emphasizing that these human-centered competencies—long central to a WKU education—are becoming even more valuable in an AI-influenced world.
Because faculty design and deliver the curriculum, you are uniquely positioned to determine whether and how AI can be incorporated into your courses in ways that align with your learning outcomes and disciplinary standards. Decisions about AI use in the classroom appropriately reside with you, guided by your professional judgment and academic expertise.
I write today to share campus resources that may assist you as you consider these questions. Regardless of individual perspectives on AI, engaging thoughtfully with its opportunities and challenges is an important and timely need for our academic community. WKU Libraries has developed an excellent suite of resources on AI Literacy with sections on Background and Basics, AI in Education, Sample Uses of AI, and additional materials.
WKU Information Technology Services (ITS) provides guidance on AI tools and a policy on sensitive data protection that is intentionally broad but is applicable for AI tools. Faculty are strongly encouraged to review guidance related to protecting confidential, copyrighted, and personally identifiable information in the Acceptable Use Policy (https://www.wku.edu/policies/docs/index.php?policy=78). The Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning (CITL) offers programming, consultations, and resource materials designed to support faculty exploration of generative AI in pedagogically sound ways. CITL can assist with course design considerations, syllabus language regarding AI use, assessment strategies, and academic integrity questions.
Information regarding academic integrity expectations and student responsibilities related to AI use is available through the Office of Student Conduct and existing university policies. As always, faculty retain authority to set clear parameters for AI use within their courses, consistent with university policy.
Our goal is not to prescribe whether or how AI should be used in your teaching. Rather, we encourage you to build your own AI literacy, reflect on what is most appropriate for your discipline, and engage students in informed conversations about both the promise and the limitations of these technologies. Students value your perspective, and faculty leadership in this space will be critical to preparing graduates who can use emerging tools responsibly and effectively.
We anticipate continued professional development opportunities in this area, including cross-disciplinary discussions and workshops focused on teaching effectively in an AI-informed environment. CITL will host the 2026 WKU AI Conference on March 27.
Additionally, we have formed the Artificial Intelligence Committee that will advise campus leaders on policies, use and study of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching, learning, research, and business practices. The committee is composed of the following members: Melaine Evans, Mark Ciampa, Will Perry, Qi Li, Whitney Cassity-Caywood, Brooke Gross, Blair Thomas, Andria Henry, Amelia Tucker. As the committee begins its work, I encourage you to reach out to the committee, CITL or ITS, with questions and to share relevant resources with any graduate assistants or part-time instructors teaching in your departments.
Thank you for your continued commitment to WKU’s mission and to the success of our students.
Sincerely,
Bud Fischer
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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