How the University of Illinois Springfield is preparing for an AI-driven world

The following article was published by The State Journal-Register on March 24, 2024.

In an age where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries from healthcare to finance, the University of Illinois Springfield stands at the forefront of educational innovation.

By integrating AI across its curriculum, UIS breaks the mold of traditional tech-centric programs, extending its reach to all academic fields, including the liberal arts.

News Categories

Generative AI's role in higher education, inspired by Spiderman

Remember when Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility?”

That quote rings true, especially when we talk about AI in higher education.

Simply put, it means that having a lot of power means you've got a big responsibility to use it wisely. And that's exactly what we're facing with AI in universities.

On one hand, there's a rising concern on college campuses about the potential misuse of generative AI tools like ChatGPT.

UIS adjunct instructor Heath Bruce says,

News Categories

Using Artificial Intelligence and Cell Phone Tracing Data to Reevaluate Travel Demand and Investments in Public Transit

Why are fewer people riding public transit, and what do lower farebox revenues mean for state and federal government in their oversight and support of transit agencies? In an article published last year in the Municipal Finance Journal, our research team at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs developed some hypotheses for a possibly permanent decline in commuting: many workers became accustomed to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been hesitant to return to working in the office (Funderburg et al. 2023).

News Categories

Shaping the Future: Ray Schroeder's Vision for AI in Education

In the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out as a beacon of transformation. Among the pioneers in this field is Ray Schroeder, UIS professor emeritus of communication and a senior fellow at UPCEA: the online and professional education association, who has dedicated the recent years of his career exploring the intersections of AI and learning.

News Categories

State creates task force to consider merits, needed regulations for AI

The following story was published by The State Journal-Register on Sept. 4, 2023.

Joining a host of states across the country, Illinois is taking a hard look at the emerging presence of artificial intelligence — a computer technology that can perform problem-solving and decision-making typically seen by humans — by considering its possibilities while weighing its risks.

News Categories