Faculty friends and colleagues,

The rapid development, infusion, and adoption of artificial intelligence puts us on the brink of dramatic change. We can’t predict the breadth and depth of AI’s impact but its reach into our personal and professional lives is here and deepening. We’ve seen displaced professions, new modes of business and research, and disruption in the creative arts. But I’ve seen enough from our talented faculty community to know that this is a space in which WashU can lead with strength and agility.

As we begin the spring semester, I’m writing to give you an early view of fast-moving efforts on behalf of the academic mission on our Danforth Campus. Through high levels of faculty engagement, exploration, and experimentation, we will discern how the use of AI and other emerging digital tools can advance the success of our students, elevate the teaching of our faculty, expand opportunities for research, and increase our impact within our region and beyond. 

At least three aspects of the project are critical if we are to achieve success. First, this initiative is squarely academic, grounded in faculty leadership. Second, our approach is experimental and iterative; feedback and continuous improvement will be critical if we are to succeed in a rapidly changing field. Finally, situating the project in our academic mission necessitates that we encourage the responsible use of AI and its alignment with human values, and accordingly, we seek differing points of view on the viability and application of our technological tools. 

To ensure that the project maintains its academic focus, I have activated a set of our colleagues, Betsy Sinclair (A&S), Nathan Jacobs (McKelvey), Jen Smith (A&S), and Peter Boumgarden (Olin) to lead the project. Under their leadership, we will collaborate across the university with important partners such as WUIT, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), WashU Libraries, and the Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI2) Accelerator.

In phased stages, WashU will provide Danforth students and faculty with access to a set of generative AI tools and seek feedback as to how these tools can support the work of our community. These foundational platforms will underpin and enable our efforts, focused first on undergraduate student learning, curriculum development, and innovative pedagogies with an emphasis on equitable access for students and protection of privacy.

The first wave of activity is intended to increase undergraduate student AI literacy and fluency. As Jen Smith shared in December, the “AI Literacy for the WashU Scholar” Canvas module has been produced jointly between CTL and DI2, with faculty contributions from A&S, McKelvey, and the School of Medicine. This module will be released to Danforth faculty for use in your spring undergraduate classes before the start of the semester. We hope that you will use this module within your courses to help us build a student body that is equipped to navigate the challenges of AI while understanding the need for responsible and ethical use. 

Simultaneously, we will invite faculty to form an AI Curriculum Corps. The Curriculum Corps will help integrate AI into courses across disciplines where these tools can advance learning and will develop mechanisms to evaluate students’ authentic expertise, thereby ensuring our students are prepared to contribute meaningfully in their chosen fields after graduation. We anticipate course modules and new or updated courses to be available beginning Fall 2026.

I know some of you are skeptical (you’ve told me). I have my own concerns about AI and education too, and some are significant. Still, we are at a place now at which we need to take bold—but mindful—steps.   Our mindfulness means that we aim to create space for and define an appropriate relationship with artificial intelligence, not be dominated by it. The educational experience that we provide our undergraduates will not revolve around AI as a center of gravity. Accordingly, in December, Jen and Peter introduced a new framework that counterbalances the use of large language learning tools with earned human knowledge, skills to navigate a changing world, human connections, and personal purpose. 

Now, as a community of scholars, we have both the luxury and obligation to ask why and what if. As a faculty-led initiative, we need your participation—explore, debate, discuss, and question, especially if you’re a skeptic. You can expect multiple opportunities to serve on the committees that will steer this project in the near-term and ultimately shape the way in which WashU will approach AI. Additionally, over the course of the spring semester, look for events and convenings that will bring our faculty community together to explore and debate the broad topic of artificial intelligence and this emerging work. For example, one of your first opportunities is tomorrow, at the CTL’s January 7 iTeach Conference which includes a demo of the AI Literacy module. 

It’s here that I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Betsy, Nathan, Jen, and Peter who, along with DI2 leaders, will follow up with the specifics of what you need to know for access and use of the Canvas module and participation in the AI Curriculum Corps. Please look for additional communication from this team of faculty leaders.

Onward!

Best,
Mark

Mark D. West
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs