October 14, 2026

Vol. 1, Issue 7

From the AI & Society Research Cohort kickoff to new research on AI literacy, creativity, and career readiness, this issue highlights the many ways UTA faculty are exploring the intersections of artificial intelligence, teaching, learning, and scholarship. One of the most exciting aspects of this work is seeing colleagues from across disciplines engage with AI in thoughtful, creative, and purposeful ways. We continue to be inspired by the curiosity, innovation, and collaborative spirit that faculty bring to these conversations. As we prepare students for a rapidly changing future, our work reminds us that AI is not simply about tools. It is also about cultivating curiosity, creativity, ethical reasoning, and the distinctly human capacities that help our students thrive in an AI-shaped world. -- Peggy Semingson 

From immersive training and game design to immigrant communities and political theory, UTA presenters demonstrated just how wide-reaching conversations about AI have become. The AI & Society Research Cohort Kickoff welcomed Dr. John Symons from the University of Kansas for a keynote on interdisciplinary research and agentic AI on Friday, October 9, 2026. Kudos to all the presenters for sharing their scholarship and helping build momentum around interdisciplinary AI research.

"The research cohort presentations demonstrated just how much innovative AI-related work is already happening across our campus. I left the event energized not only by the quality of the research, but also by the new connections that formed throughout the day. Engaging with ideas and perspectives outside of my own discipline - and watching others do the same - was one of the most rewarding parts of the event." - Dr. Amy Hodges, Assistant Professor

Explore AI & Society events and opportunities

Creativity + AI: Skills for the Future Workforce

Adobe Insights on Building Creative AI Skills for Career Success

👉Read the full blog:  New Research Finds Creative and AI Skills Help Students Get Hired Faster and Thrive in the Workforce 

What skills will help students stand out in an AI-powered workplace? New research highlighted by Adobe suggests that creativity, AI literacy, communication, and adaptability are becoming increasingly important as students transition from college to careers. The research reflects a growing shift toward not only what students know, but how effectively they can apply their knowledge, communicate ideas, and work alongside emerging technologies. 

Based on insights from more than 3,000 students and early-career alumni, the study found that students who develop creative and AI skills can transform classroom experiences into practical career assets. 93% of early-career professionals who used Adobe tools discussed them during job interviews, and graduates from Adobe Creative Campuses reached full-time employment up to 15% sooner than their peers. The research also found higher reported AI literacy and stronger communication skills among Creative Campus students. 

For faculty, these findings provide an opportunity to think about how assignments can help students connect academic learning with their future careers. Creative projects, multimedia assignments, portfolios, and thoughtful uses of generative AI can give students opportunities to practice communicating ideas and developing skills they can carry beyond the classroom.

As artificial intelligence continues to change how we learn and work, is teaching students how to use AI enough? In Beyond Skills: What AI Is Really Asking of Higher Education, Samuel S. Conn, Ph.D., argues that higher education should focus not only on developing students’ skill sets, but also their mindsets. 

The article highlights four areas for developing future-ready learners: curiosity-driven research, continuous engagement with real-world problems, an entrepreneurial mindset, and global engagement. Rather than preparing students for a single job or set of tasks, the goal is to develop adaptable learners who can ask meaningful questions, experiment with ideas, collaborate across differences, and navigate continued change. 

For faculty, this shift also invites us to reconsider teaching and assessment. Conn recommends greater emphasis on process, reflection, oral defense, portfolios, and applied projects that reveal how students think. He also stresses the importance of investing in faculty development and creating opportunities for experimentation and shared learning. 

The larger question may be less about how we prepare students to use AI and more about how we prepare them to think, create, adapt, and lead in a world where AI is increasingly present.

👉 Read the full LinkedIn article: Beyond Skills: What AI Is Really Asking of Higher Education

Samuel S. Conn, Ph.D. explores how higher education can respond to AI by developing students’ skills, mindsets, and readiness for a changing world.

⭐ Najia Alameddin

Modern Languages

⭐ Heather Hewer

Mathematics

⭐Kristine Cope

Nursing - Graduate

⭐ Na-Li Kim

Faculty Success

⭐ Sharon Blackerby

Nursing - Graduate

As generative AI continues to reshape higher education, ACUE’s AI for Higher Ed Endorsement helps educators confidently integrate AI into their teaching while supporting deeper student learning. The endorsement focuses on responsible AI practices, academic rigor, student engagement, and evidence-based approaches to effective teaching with AI.

All UTA faculty and staff have free access to pursue the AI for Higher Ed Endorsement through ACUE Commons. Through Commons, participants can complete the AI Quick Study series, explore additional Quick Studies and teaching resources, and connect with a national community of faculty, staff, and higher education leaders. 

Ready to get started? Visit the ACUE AI for Higher Ed Endorsement page to learn more about the program and begin exploring the opportunities available through ACUE Commons

For 2026–2027, CRTLE is bringing faculty together through two AI-focused Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) designed to move the AI conversation beyond tools and toward thoughtful experimentation, collaboration, and teaching innovation.

The Teaching with AI Learning Community, facilitated by Dr. Amy Hodges, is designed for faculty who are newer to AI and want to explore generative AI through a pedagogy-first lens. Faculty will examine AI literacy, ethical and transparent use, assessment and assignment design, and practical ways AI can support teaching and student learning. 

For faculty ready to dig deeper, the Teaching in the Age of AI Collaborative, facilitated by Dr. Kevin Carr, explores the broader pedagogical, ethical, and disciplinary implications of AI, including its influence on assessment, workforce preparation, knowledge creation, and the future of higher education. 

Together, these communities create space for faculty to question, experiment, share what they are learning, and help shape what teaching in an AI-rich university can become.

“Our PLC members are deeply invested in ensuring student learning in the age of AI. We are investigating how faculty and universities across the country are engaging with AI, and we are rethinking what teaching and learning can look like in an age of AI.” Dr. Kevin Carr, PLC Facilitator

"What has stood out to me is how much faculty learn from one another when they have a dedicated space to discuss AI. The most valuable insights often come not from the technology itself, but from colleagues sharing what they’ve tried, what surprised them, and what questions they’re still exploring." Dr. Amy Hodges, PLC Facilitator

How are you using AI in your teaching? From innovative assignments to program-wide initiatives, we want to showcase faculty-led AI integration across UTA. Share your example with crtle@uta.edu and help inspire new ideas across campus

How are faculty really feeling about AI in higher education? In the newly published The AI Challenge: How College Faculty Assess the Present and Future of Higher Education in the Age of AI, C. Edward Watson and Lee Rainie examine faculty perspectives on generative AI, including concerns about critical thinking, student reliance on AI, academic integrity, and the changing nature of teaching. Based on a national survey of 1,057 college and university faculty members, this timely 2026 report offers plenty to consider as we rethink teaching and learning in an AI-rich environment.

Read the report through ERIC

Friday, October 30

9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Microsoft Teams Only

Designing for AI Literacy, Career Readiness, and Confident Practice. This institute is designed for instructors who want time to explore, try, redesign, and leave with something tangible and not just a “sit and get” experience. 

Get the Agenda for the institute HERE.