Liberal Arts Education in the Age of AI Colloquium

Schedule

• Welcome (8:45 – 9:00 a.m.)

  Betty Tipton Room

  Garrett Dancik (Computer Science)

  Emily Todd (Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences)

• Keynote Address (9:00 – 9:50 a.m.)

  Betty Tipton Room

  Introduction: Julia DeLapp (Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment)

  We Didn't Ask for This: A Pragmatist's Guide to AI and Teaching

  Dr. Lewis Ludwig (Professor of Mathematics, Denison University, and AI Faculty Educator)

  Three years in, the novelty of generative AI has worn off — and for many faculty, what remains is a mix of frustration, uncertainty, and a growing sense that no one is telling them the truth about any of it. This keynote starts there. Rather than cheerleading for a technology that arrived without our consent, we'll take an honest look at what AI can and can't do, why the gap between free and paid tools matters more than most people realize, and how the real challenge isn't students versus faculty — it's all of us figuring this out together. Along the way, we'll explore how AI can actually support the evidence-based teaching practices you already know and value, without requiring you to become a technologist. You'll leave not with a mandate to change everything, but with a few practical handholds and, hopefully, a little genuine hope. Note: this keynote will be delivered virtually.

• Parallel Presentations (10:00 – 10:50 a.m.)

  Teaching in the Age of AI

  Student Center Theatre

  Session Chair: Sudha Swaminathan (Education)

  The Controlled Use of AI Resources in Teams for Multi-Media Warfare Research on Topics of Mutual Interest

  John Murphy (Communication, Film, & Theatre)

  Designing and Assessing AI Agents in the Undergraduate Curriculum: A Model from BUS 461

  Greg Kane (Business Administration)

  From Blank Page to Open Textbook: Integrating Generative AI into OER-Enabled Pedagogy

  Nicolas Simon (Sociology, Anthroplogy, Criminology, and Social Work)

  Research and Creative Activity in the Age of AI

  Student Center room 219

  Session Chair: Barbara Murdoch (Biology)

  Using AI to Generate Traffic Scenarios for Hazard Response Research

  Stanislaw Kolek and the PRNDL (Psychological Science)

  From Data to Insight: Leveraging AI to Advance Healthcare Operations Research

  Fatma Pakdil (Business Administration)

  Preserving Human Intellect: Using Artificial Intelligence as Cognitive Augmentation

  Joel Weymouth (Computer Science)

• Student Panel on Generative AI (11:00 – 11:45 a.m.)

  Student Center Theatre

  Moderator: Garrett Dancik (Computer Science)
  

  • Joshua Aziz (Major: Communication, Minor: Music)
  • Sean Crisci (Major: English, Minor: Communications)
  • Michael Freeman (Major: Biochemistry, Minor: Bioinformatics)
  • Neo Gomes (Major: Computer Science, Minor: Mathematics)
  • Rylee LeClair (Major: Data Science, Minor: Business Analytics and Women’s Studies)

• Faculty Panel -Digging Out of a Slop Pile: Three Disciplinary Perspectives on Generative AI (11:50 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.)

   Student Center Theatre

  Moderator: Sarah Tasneem (Computer Science)

  • Jordan Youngblood (English)
  • Sarah Tasneem (Computer Science)
  • Patty Szczys (Environmental Earth Science

• Lunch and Roundtable Discussions (12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Pre-Registration Required)

  Betty Tipton Room

  Roundtable Discussion Topics and Facilitators

  • Beyond Chatbots: Building Sustainable AI Support for Teaching and Learning (table 1)
    • Greg Kane (Business Administration)
  • AI and the Arts (table 2) 
    • Travis Houldcroft (Communication, Film, and Theatre)
  • AI and Assessment of Student Learning (table 3)
    • David Iscoe (English)
  • Using AI in Research (table 4)
    • Stanislaw Kolek (Psychological Science)
  • AI Literacy: Teaching Discernment in a Democracy (table 5)
    • Marisol Garcia (Geography)
  • AI and Open Educational Resources (table 6)
    • Nicolas Simon (Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work)
    • David Stoloff (Education)
  • AI and the Environment (table 7)
    • Patricia Szczys (Environmental Earth Science)
  • Re-emphasizing Analog Tools and Approaches in the Classroom (table 8)
    • Jordan Youngblood (English)
  • AI and Evidence-Based Decision Making (table 9)
    • Niti Pandey (Education & Professional Studies)
  • Learning with AI in the Classroom (table 10)
    • Joel Weymouth (Computer Science)

• Parallel Presentations (1:30 – 2:20 p.m.)

  Teaching in the Age of AI

  Student Center room 219

  Session Chair: Julia DeLapp (Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment)

  Combatting AI Through Obviation: How Cutting Certain Requirements Has Yielded Higher-Quality, Higher-Integrity Work

  David Iscoe (English)

  Integrating AI Into the Classroom

  Amanda Leiss (Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, and Social Work) 

  Augmented Imagination and Modes of Engagement: Supporting Explorers for the Future

  David Stoloff (Education)

  Research and Creative Activity in the Age of AI

  Student Center Theatre

  Session Chair: Sudha Swaminathan (Education)

  Integrating AI into the Research Process: From Idea Generation to Final Manuscript

  Li Liang (Economics and Finance)

  Cross-disciplinary Research and Upskilling with AI

  Wayne Buck (Business Administration)

• Faculty Panel - From Expectations to Reflections: Faculty Perspectives on an NEH AI Grant (2:20 – 2:55 p.m.)

  Student Center Theatre

  Moderator: Emily Todd (Arts & Sciences)

  • Maeve Doyle (Art & Art History)
  • Christine Garcia (English)
  • Okon Hwang (Music)

• Industry & Professional Panel on AI (3:00 – 3:55 p.m.)

  Student Center Theatre

  Moderator: Sarah Tasneem (Computer Science)

  • Jennifer Barry, CEO, Optimal HR Solutions
  • Candace Carlson, Senior Director, Innovation & Informatics Operations, Hartford Healthcare
  • Jasmine Daly, Principal Consultant & Founder, Daly Analytics
  • Jim Haddadin, Investigative editor, Connecticut Public

• P-12 Educators Panel on AI (4:00 – 4:55 p.m.)

  Student Center Theatre

  Moderator: Sudha Swaminathan (Education)

  • Jaqulyn Calkin, 5th Grade Teacher, Orchard Hill Elementary School, South Windsor
  • Anthony Girasoli, Director of Information Technology, Norwich Free Academy
  • Kathleen Koljian, Department of English, Windham High School
  • Nick Kukla, Science Instructor, Windham Technical High School, CTECS

• Closing Remarks (4:55 – 5:00 p.m.)

  Student Center Theatre

  Garrett Dancik (Computer Science)