Following President Janine Davidson’s recent message about Metropolitan State University of Denver’s approach to artificial intelligence, work is underway across the University, focused on three areas: preparing AI-ready graduates, supporting faculty and teaching innovation, and operational effectiveness.
While many efforts are still evolving, faculty and staff already have access to a growing set of tools, resources and opportunities.
New event series: AI @ Lunch
Beginning this summer, faculty and staff can participate in informal 30-minute AI @ Lunch sessions featuring demonstrations, discussions and practical tips. No preparation or expertise is required. Topics will range from getting started with AI to redesigning assignments and understanding safe AI use. Topics and times are listed on the AI @ Lunch RSVP form.
“Thinking Out Loud” podcast
Faculty and staff can also explore AI-related conversations through “Thinking Out Loud: Dispatches on AI and Higher Education,” an MSU Denver podcast documenting how artificial intelligence is affecting higher education and the work happening across campus. Anyone can listen on Apple podcasts or watch on YouTube.
What’s happening this summer
The AI Readiness Team-of-Teams (ARTT) is coordinating efforts across the University that will:
- IdentifyAI tools being used across campus and evaluating future needs
- Expand faculty and staff professional development opportunities
- Update the Canvas-based AI Empowerment course
- Explore AI assistants that can help employees find information and answer routine questions, building on tools already developed for the Controller’s Office and the Office of Faculty Affairs
- Developing policy and guidance for future review through the University’s shared governance process
- Planning fall 2026 AI training and professional development offerings
ARTT’s role is not to dictate how units use AI but to support experimentation, identify where these tools can help and translate lessons learned into guidance the University can act on.
How to get involved
A key opportunity for faculty engagement will be Faculty Drawing Board Day on June 15, focused on teaching and learning in an AI-present environment.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to explore the available resources, attend AI @ Lunch sessions and share questions and ideas. As this work evolves, employee participation and feedback will help inform the University’s approach.
To learn more or connect with ARTT, email [email protected].
More updates will be shared before the start of the fall semester.
Available now
AI at MSU Denver
The University’s AI hub offers resources for responsible AI use in teaching, learning and daily work, including:
- Guidance on ethical and responsible AI use and appropriate data-sharing practices
- Guidelines on course AI policies and sample syllabus language
- Resources for using AI to support work tasks and prompt engineering
- AI usage report, documenting how people at MSU Denver use AI tools and what they’re learning
Additional resources, including information on AI’s environmental impact and teaching AI concepts in courses, are planned for this summer.
AI tools
All employees have access to Microsoft Copilot. Copilot is the University’s recommended starting point for drafting, summarizing and analyzing information in day-to-day work.
Employees seeking access to paid versions of other AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude may request subscriptions through the existing ITS software request process with a completed and signed paid language model subscription request form attached.
Employees who already have paid subscriptions to AI tools are also asked to complete the paid language model subscription request form. Understanding current use and spending will help the University assess future AI-support options and inform any potential institutionwide approaches through the shared governance process.
