9.11.25

Dear Faculty and Staff:

We are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence, and it is reshaping higher education, the workforce and society at large. As AI continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, it is critical that we work together to thoughtfully integrate AI into our university’s operations, teaching and research. This is not just a technical challenge; it’s a strategic opportunity to align innovation with our mission, vision and values.

This semester, we are seeking faculty and staff to engage in a two-month effort focused on developing guidelines and recommendations for using AI at UIS across five dimensions:

• Governance
• Ethics, Legal and Compliance
• Teaching & Learning
• Operational
• Research & Development

Whether you’ve already been engaged with our university’s AI Steering Committee or are ready to jump in now, I encourage you to consider this opportunity to join a Special Interest Group and help meet an important need for our university. AI is advancing by the day, and we must work together to understand how to effectively leverage it to advance our work and best prepare our students while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place.

Each of the five Special Interest Groups will be led by a chair or co-chairs and be responsible for:

• Outlining comprehensive guidelines (in draft form) for their respective dimension
• Providing university leadership with detailed information and recommendations to ensure effective implementation and alignment with the university's strategic goals

Recommendations will be due to the AI Steering Committee executive leadership team (Jessica Baumberger, Kara McElwrath, Layne Morsch) in late November. I anticipate a full rollout of the guidelines and recommendations in the Spring 2026 semester following a review by university leadership.

To apply to join an AI Special Interest Group, complete this online form by Sept. 19. Please keep in mind as you consider this opportunity: We are building teams of doers, not just advisors. This is an invitation to move from conversation to creation.

Thank you,

Janet

Janet L. Gooch, Ph.D.

Chancellor

University of Illinois Springfield