Artificial Intelligence Work at CU Denver

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and potential risks for our university and the broader society we operate in. As its presence increasingly becomes part of the everyday lives of our students, faculty, staff, and community constituents, it is imperative that we continue to interrogate both observed and potential AI impacts in our community: on cognition, learning, teaching practice, and our work. 

To begin identifying ways to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into our institution, we convened three working groups in Spring 2025 to focus on three discrete areas: Teaching and Learning, Research, and Administration and Operations. They produced final deliverables that are available for review on their individual working group webpages. Based on their work and other dialogues across the university, CU Denver developed policy recommendations and in March 2026 appointed three AI faculty fellows to carry important recommendations forward.

Aerial shot of CU Denver student center with Rocky Mountains in the background

AI Faculty Fellows

CU Denver's AI Faculty Fellows, reporting to the office of the provost, are:

  • Farnoush Banaei-Kashani, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and data researcher whose creative reasoning in AI work was featured in this recent story
  • Cameron Blevins, an associate teaching professor in history and a director of digital initiatives for CLAS who has explored the impact of generative AI on both research and teaching 
  • Soumia Bardhan, Department of Communication associate professor, director of CU Denver’s AI & Communication certificate, director of International Studies, CFDA and CETL Faculty Fellow, and AI Research Working Group member.

Dr. Banaei-Kashani and Dr. Blevins’ appointment begins this week of March 8, while Dr. Bardhan’s appointment will begin after the conclusion of the spring semester; their terms run through the end of August. 

Workstreams for AI Faculty Fellows

The AI faculty fellows will pursue the following efforts, most of which are based on AI Working Group recommendations:

Listening workstream
  • Conduct listening sessions in all schools and colleges to identify support gaps since spring 2025 AI Working Group reports were released
  • Collect information about AI guidelines and practices already in place in schools, colleges, and departments so that the campus can learn from established norms that could inform university-wide guidance and policy development
Practice workstream
  • Implement a regular series of events for faculty to come together to share AI classroom and research experiences
  • Develop recommendations for a Getting Started with AI resource center to launch in fall 2026
  • Learn what support (technical, pedagogical, etc.) faculty need to deploy AI in their work, and liaise with relevant campus offices to implement professional development, training, and support
Policy and Guidelines workstream
  • Develop a required syllabus statement on AI use, with sample variants, with the goal of approval in May and launch by the fall 2026 semester
  • Develop faculty disclosure requirements and explore whether they should be a standalone policy, integrated into an existing policy, or otherwise
  • Collaborate with the Office of Information Technology to develop and implement a transparent AI tool approval process and inventory
  • Collaborate with SESS colleagues to develop Student Guidelines for AI Use

ChatGPT EDU FAQ

As announced by the CU System, The University of Colorado has entered into a three-year agreement with OpenAI, renewable annually, to provide ChatGPT Edu systemwide to students, staff and faculty. More information can be found here. Soon, we will update this area with answers to frequently asked questions that pertain to our campus.

AI Resources Around Campus

While one anticipated 2026 AI-related workstream is to coalesce CU Denver AI-related information, many resources on the topic have been available on these pages:

  • Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (TIPS): Offers resources for faculty and students on how AI is disrupting and enhancing higher education
  • AI Learning Hub Homepage: A one-stop shop, produced by OIT's Office of Planning, Analysis, and Change, for "How To" guides, prompt templates, and the AI toolkit; OIT also offers trainings and consultation through this page
  • AI at Auraria Library: A research guide explains the purpose, benefits, limitations, and ethical considerations of using artificial intelligence in academia
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