AI@Conn

The AI@Conn initiative aims to:

• Integrate AI into Teaching and Research: Through professional development workshops, course development support, and new technologies, we will equip faculty with the tools and knowledge needed to incorporate AI into their teaching and research practices across various disciplines.
  
  
• Develop New AI-Focused Courses: Faculty members will receive stipends to create new courses and redesign existing ones to include significant AI components. By the end of the initiative, we aim to offer at least five new courses and redesign at least twenty existing ones.
  
  
• Promote Collaborative Research: The initiative will support student-faculty summer research projects focused on AI, providing stipends and resources to foster innovative research that will contribute to both teaching and scholarly work.
  
  
• Enhance External Outreach: Connecticut College will share its AI resources and expertise with peer institutions through workshops, conferences, and digital media. The initiative will culminate in a symposium on Integrating AI in the Liberal Arts, planned for fall 2025 and 2026.

A cornerstone of the AI@Conn initiative is the creation of a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Artificial Intelligence. The fellow will bring specialized knowledge to the College, supporting faculty in AI-related projects, assisting in course development, and leading summer workshops.

This initiative is generously funded by a bequest from Harold F. Wiley to the Diane Y. Williams '59 Instructional Technology Fund. We are deeply grateful for Mr. Wiley’s gift and Ms. Williams’ ongoing support, which enables Connecticut College to continue its tradition of innovation in liberal arts education.

AI@Conn is designed not only to enhance our current offerings but also to ensure the long-term sustainability of AI integration at Connecticut College. As we move forward, we will develop a strategic plan to secure additional funding, build partnerships, and integrate AI into the College’s long-term vision. By empowering our faculty and students with AI knowledge and skills, we aim to position Connecticut College as a leader in AI integration within the liberal arts.

For more information, please stay tuned for updates on workshops, course offerings, and research opportunities as we embark on this exciting journey together. A website dedicated to this initiative is in development.