On October 7, students, faculty, campus leadership, and community partners celebrated the opening of the CU Denver AI Hub, a shared environment where students across campus can explore how people and artificial intelligence can work together to address real-world challenges.

The project was initiated and led by the College of Engineering, Design and Computing (CEDC) and brought to fruition through collaborations with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Office of Information Technology, with generous support from the Clarence V. LaGuardia Foundation.

The 2,000-square-foot space on the first floor of the North Classroom provides a visible and accessible setting for students from engineering, the sciences, health, the humanities, policy, and creative fields to learn, experiment, and collaborate.

Preparing Students for an AI-Enabled Future

The CU Denver AI Hub is organized around three connected goals: helping students develop fluency in artificial intelligence, strengthening ethical and responsible approaches to AI, and providing leadership and support for the wider campus community.

“It’s increasingly crucial for CU Denver to explore innovative and responsible approaches to artificial intelligence in our academic community, and that we foster meaningful intersections across students, faculty, and staff,” said Karen Marrongelle, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs (pictured at right). “This new AI hub will guide thoughtful exploration to enhance teaching, learning, creativity, and productivity, while remaining grounded in our academic values.”

Planned programming includes applied AI learning experiences, interdisciplinary collaborations, student innovation projects, and hackathons. Students will have opportunities to explore practical uses of AI, consider questions related to ethics and responsible use, and develop skills connected to changing academic and professional environments.

Student employees will also serve as AI Hub Fellows, who will help operate the space, mentor their peers, and support other students as they learn to work with AI tools. The positions will provide work-based learning opportunities while helping students gain experience in leadership, technical support, and peer education. Student feedback will also help shape future programming as the Hub continues to develop.

Philanthropy as a Catalyst

The Clarence V. LaGuardia Foundation’s support allowed CU Denver to move quickly from an initial idea toward design and implementation. The foundation’s generous commitment helped the university expand the project’s reach and develop a more ambitious campuswide vision.

This investment supports more than a physical renovation. It is helping establish the technology, staffing, programming, and student opportunities needed to make the hub a contemporary, active learning environment.

The Clarence V. LaGuardia Foundation has a history of supporting opportunity for CU Denver students, including a number of scholarships in CEDC it has funded since 2012. Its support of the CU Denver AI Hub extends that commitment at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how the world works and the skills graduates will need to navigate a new landscape.