At Montclair State University, administrators have formed a cross-divisional Artificial Intelligence Working Group (AIWG) to focus on policy, curriculum development and faculty support on AI.
Commissioned by Chief Operating Officer Ben Durant and Interim Provost Fatma Mili, AIWG includes faculty such as Co-Chairs Suresh Murugan (Interim Chief Information Officer) and Emily Isaacs (Senior Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs).
The working group has a significant faculty presence, including cross-departmental representation from computer science, the humanities and business operations, which are also involved in exploring AI’s role in improving business processes.
Isaacs explained the group as an effort to connect and highlight AI-related activities across the university, aiming to make the various AI courses being developed in different colleges across Montclair State visible.
“There’s tons of work in AI happening all over campus,” Isaacs said. “We seek to make connections and illuminate what’s happening with AI for internal purposes, so that people know what courses are being developed in this college and what courses are being developed in that college and to support connections.”
Emily Isaacs, AI Working Group co-chair and senior associate provost for faculty affairs in her office located in Susan A. Cole Hall at Montclair State University. Emely Ramirez I The Montclarion
The group has five subcommittees:
- AI Curricular Development, explores AI’s impact on knowledge, curriculum and professional expectations, plans AI-related curricular activity across Montclair State and engages with campus community in AI curriculum discussions.
- AI Fluency and Competency Development defines AI literacy, competency and fluency, aligns them across academic and professional contexts and recommends professional development workshops and events.
- AI Opportunities develops a structure and process to prioritize AI opportunities at Montclair State.
- AI Policies focuses on the university’s overall policy regarding AI and works together with the syllabus committee on campus to help faculty integrate AI into courses.
- AI Website and Database Development develops and maintains the digital infrastructure for Montclair State’s AI initiatives, expanding and refining this work with other committees and partners.
Isaacs explained the importance of a structured approach to AI for better coordination and safety. Highlighting the involvement of budget, finance and legal teams is essential for addressing AI-related challenges.
“It’s always good when the right hand knows what the left hand is doing,” Isaacs said. “There are ways in which we’re very connected, we’re all connected by certain systems…I think that’s really important, to have the [IT folks], budget folks, the finance folks, the lawyer folks, in the room together with maybe some of the creative people that are excited about things they can do.”
The broader ethical concerns around AI use in higher education also apply to Montclair State. Isaacs identified privacy as a major ethical concern, including student and employee data privacy.
“I think that’s a huge concern for everybody, [student data privacy] and employee privacy,” Isaacs said. “It’s making sure that wrong data isn’t put into systems and sold to others, doing everything we can to manage that, I think that’s a major concern.”
Various departments, such as the Office for Faculty Excellence and the Center for Teaching and Academic Innovation are involved in AI integration. Isaacs shared how Montclair State supports faculty and staff in adapting to AI by providing resources for faculty and staff.
“The university has been running an AI faculty showcase for three or four years, and this year was faculty and staff, but that’s been a place where faculty are sharing,” Isaacs said. “The faculty are [adapting] because every day they’re encountering AI, either by choice or not.”
Isaacs discussed the expected changes for students, including strategies to support their career and intellectual pursuits. Including hiring new faculty members who are knowledgeable about AI, which will enhance the curriculum.
“It’s pretty cool to think of courses which brings in folks from different disciplines talking about AI,” Isaacs said. “If this AI working group, in a small way, can support what I see as investment that the university is making in the faculty we hire. We hire 30 new full time faculty or so every year, a great number of them are thinking about AI from their disciplinary perspective, and they’re going to bring that new knowledge to their colleagues.”
Isaacs acknowledged the existence of students who are against using AI and suggests a more guardrail approach. She believes that AI is ubiquitous and difficult to avoid, even for those who try to minimize its use.
“I think it’s a risky decision to make for life,” Isaacs said. “I would prefer, perhaps somebody in that position. I wonder if they would consider a more guardrail approach. I think a better approach is to develop more ethical AI systems.”
