TLDR: Stony Brook University has been awarded a $55,000 grant from the State University of New York (SUNY) to establish an online community of practice. This initiative aims to equip faculty with best practices for navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic integrity and pedagogy.
Stony Brook University has announced that a dedicated team has successfully secured a $55,000 grant from the State University of New York’s (SUNY) Innovative Instruction Technology Grants (IITG) program. The funding is earmarked for a crucial project focused on developing an online community of practice designed to support faculty in addressing the evolving challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) and academic integrity within educational settings.
The project team comprises experts from Stony Brook’s Division of Undergraduate Education and the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). Rachelle Germana, Senior Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, emphasized the widespread impact of AI, stating, ‘Artificial intelligence has broken out of computer science research labs and begun to have an impact on all facets of life, including of course education.’ She further highlighted Stony Brook’s proactive stance, noting, ‘Stony Brook is leading the way, at SUNY and nationally, in developing thoughtful, impactful best practices for generative AI in curriculum and pedagogy, while ensuring that our students continue to develop the skills and understanding that will help them become responsible lifelong learners and live fulfilling lives after graduation.’
The initiative is spearheaded by Jenny Zhang, a CELT senior instructional designer. Initially, the online community will be accessible to Stony Brook faculty, providing a dedicated forum for sharing innovative ideas, discussing best practices, fostering peer learning, and staying updated on the latest developments concerning AI and academic integrity. The long-term vision for the project includes expanding this valuable resource to serve faculty and staff across all 63 SUNY campuses, thereby extending its reach and impact throughout the state university system.
Key members of the project team include Yiren Kong, CELT educational research and grant development specialist; Lei Song, CELT instructional designer; Wanda Moore, academic judiciary officer in the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE); Richard Tomczak, director of faculty engagement at DUE; and Deepa Deshpande, associate director of innovation and teaching excellence at SUNY Alfred. This collaborative effort underscores the university’s commitment to fostering responsible AI integration in education.
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The SUNY IITG program, which has awarded over $5.5 million to projects across the SUNY system since 2012, aims to promote research and enhance understanding of how new technologies can bolster academic excellence and student success. This grant to Stony Brook University is a testament to its leadership in addressing contemporary educational challenges posed by advancements in AI.
