ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University is proud to announce that a multidisciplinary team of faculty and staff is participating in the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ 2025-26 Institute on AI, Pedagogy and the Curriculum, a national program designed to help institutions engage thoughtfully with the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence in higher education.

The institute brings together teams from colleges and universities across the country to explore how artificial intelligence can be integrated into teaching, learning, curriculum design and institutional strategy.

Northern’s team includes Professor Jason Knowles of the School of Fine Arts, Dr. Nicole Schutter of the Millicent Atkins School of Education, Dr. Hannah Walters of the School of Business, Professor Tanya White of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Jason Henslee of Technology Services.

The cross-campus team reflects a broad range of perspectives and will focus on strengthening the university’s ability to prepare students for a future increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence while upholding the values of equity, ethics and academic integrity.

As part of its participation in the institute, the Northern State University team will conduct research examining how students, faculty and staff understand and interact with artificial intelligence tools. Findings from that work will help inform future policy development, curriculum updates and campus support resources.

“As we prepare our students for the future workforce, understanding the wise and ethical use of AI will help position them for success,” said Northern State University President Dr. Alan LaFave. “I sincerely appreciate the participation of our Northern State University faculty and staff in this important AAC&U initiative and look forward to the insights they will bring back to campus as we continue to explore the role of this tool in teaching and learning.”

Participation in the institute reinforces Northern State University’s commitment to instructional excellence and to preparing graduates for a changing workforce. By engaging faculty and staff from across academic areas, the university is taking a collaborative approach to artificial intelligence that supports student learning, ethical implementation and long-term institutional readiness.

For more information, contact Dr. Hannah Walters at hannah.walters@northern.edu.