Trine team to work with national experts in AI Institute

Trine University has been selected to be part of a national program to help campuses respond to the challenges and opportunities artificial intelligence (AI) presents for courses, curricula and higher education in general.

A university team will be part of the 2026-2027 Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities.

Trine team members are Keirsten Eberts, vice president of online and international studies; Lexie Staten, vice president of academic affairs; Amy Heavin, Ph.D., vice president of student affairs; Samantha Fulton, assistant dean for academics; Brittni Desmond, assistant vice president and dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies; Josh Pranger, executive director of academic operations, College of Graduate and Professional Studies; and Kodi Buell, senior director of online learning.

Design and execution

The Institute is a seven-month program that helps campuses respond to the challenges and opportunities artificial intelligence presents for teaching, learning, student success and institutional operations.

“Trine University already has been working for several years to assess the impact AI will have on teaching and learning, in order to integrate it into the curriculum in a way that will best prepare our students to use it in their careers,” said Staten. “We’re grateful for this additional resource to help develop and implement plans that will help our administration, faculty and students implement AI in the most effective ways possible.”

It kicks off Sept. 10-11 with a remote learning event and concludes with a capstone closing on April 5-6, 2027.

Participating teams of faculty, staff and administrators will design and implement teaching, curriculum and operational strategies to address the evolving challenges and opportunities presented by AI.

The Trine team will receive guidance from national experts in AI, pedagogy and organizational change as they evaluate the impact of AI on curriculum design, teaching practices, assessment methods, student AI literacy, academic integrity and administrative processes.

“We will collaborate with national experts and peer institutions to identify best practices and develop an AI action plan aligned with Trine's mission and strategic priorities,” said Eberts.

She said areas of focus will likely include expanding AI literacy and competency development for students; identifying opportunities to enhance teaching, learning and assessment using AI; ensuring ethical and responsible uses of AI; evaluating policies, guidance and governance related to AI; and identifying operational efficiencies and support opportunities through AI-enabled tools.

“The outcome will be a roadmap that positions Trine as a leader in responsible AI adoption while ensuring our students are prepared for a workforce in which AI skills are increasingly important,” she said.