It all started with a spark of curiosity. Melissa Vito, vice provost for UTSA Academic Innovation, was sitting in a salon chair when her phone pinged. It was a news alert notification about the release of something called ChatGPT. As a stylist tended to her hair, Vito read about ChatGPT’s rollout and began to ponder the profound possibilities of generative artificial intelligence (AI). In a matter of minutes, she began to contemplate the potential opportunities for higher education innovation and messaged Marcela Ramirez, the associate vice provost for Teaching, Learning, and Digital Transformation (TLDT), UTSA’s hub for academic technologies and instructional design support.
That initial text from a salon evolved into a gathering of visionary UTSA faculty, staff and students and then into a global community of practice.
After just two years of exploration and development, UTSA Academic Innovation is helping lead the next generation of teaching and learning strategies in the era of generative AI.
Vito’s multifaceted perspective on university operations has long emphasized technology, faculty support, innovative student success initiatives and more than a dash of entrepreneurial spirit. When the office of Academic Innovation was founded at UTSA in 2018, Vito consolidated the offices of Teaching & Learning and Digital Learning into TLDT. As a result, faculty development has come together with instructional design support, aligned with national best practices and tailored to UTSA’s unique student population.
The close partnership between TLDT, UTSA Online and UTSA Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) has allowed for dynamic course creation and student engagement. In fact, UTSA Online has experienced record enrollment growth year-over-year but has also climbed higher in the U.S. News and World Report annual rankings.
Building upon those efforts, UTSA Academic Innovation nimbly began working with faculty to leverage the power of AI and prepare students for a future where it would be ubiquitous.
Empowering students to lead in AI
The latest initiative to spring from this collaboration is the Student Artificial Intelligence (AI) Partner Internship. This innovative program offers 18 students the unique opportunity to lead the exploration and testing of AI tools while providing essential support to the broader university community. During part of the internship, students provided direct support to faculty, staff and their peers as they work together to creatively use generative AI across the university. They even contributed updates and enhancements to the refreshed student guidelines in Fall 2024.
“Over the past 28 months, our collaboration with faculty and UTSA partners has laid the groundwork for this internship program,” Vito says. “Student input and faculty collaboration have been critical in creating programs and activities that lead to academic success and allow our students to thrive in a rapidly changing, digitally connected future.”
Expanding knowledge: From local conferences to global collaboration
Academic Innovation, the UTSA division responsible for managing the university’s academic technologies, plays a pivotal role in this transformation. From the Canvas Learning Management System to cutting-edge VR, XR and Adobe tools, Academic Innovation assists faculty in making their curricula engaging and impactful.
The journey began with the launch of tools to provide vetted information to UTSA faculty, including the Generative AI Cloud Repository. This resource hub offers comprehensive insights into generative AI, its applications, ethical considerations and future trends.
Exploring teaching, learning and AI at UTSA
From hosting the 2024 UT System Conference to putting a global community of practice in place, UTSA Academic Innovation has empowered UTSA students, faculty and staff to discover and explore new possibilities in the era of generative artificial intelligence.
“Our faculty and students are co-creators in this moment,” Ramirez says. “By giving students leadership roles and fostering open dialogue, we’re building a community where everyone contributes to responsible, creative AI use.”
Leveraging its deep connections with faculty, Academic Innovation brought together those interested in AI and classroom instruction, forming the AI Peer Learning Network. This network, modeled after the award-winning UTSA faculty champions, now boasts more than 80 active members from all UTSA colleges. These members share ideas and strategies while addressing concerns about using AI tools in the classroom.
Since its inception, the AI Peer Learning Network has fostered an active community of practice. Faculty have hosted mini-conferences and webinars, including the first UT System-wide conference on generative AI teaching and learning in March 2024. This kick-off event spurred further collaboration between UTSA and other UT System institutions.
With the support of Academic Innovation and Student Success, UTSA faculty have also connected with peers worldwide. In fall 2024, UTSA hosted its first global community of practice session with faculty from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia. Presenters from both universities shared AI instructional best practices and demonstrated how they leverage AI in their curricula, ultimately sharing the session as a short case study.
“Making connections and collaborative discovery have been instrumental in fostering innovation among faculty,” says Claudia Arcolin, TLDT executive director of teaching and learning experiences and a key organizer of the peer network’s activities. “Together, we have found partners who are genuinely interested in the real-world application of AI, field-testing tools in educational settings, addressing ethical questions and ensuring our students are workforce-ready.”
Applying AI tools with a student-centered approach
Throughout these local and global dialogues, Academic Innovation and Student Success have ensured that the student voice remains central. Students are invited to sit on discussion panels and are encouraged to lead their peers and instructors in exploring AI tools.
“We’ve been focused on digital literacy and how students need to be able to pivot quickly in today’s industries,” says Amy Buechler-Steubing, UTSA associate vice provost for strategic initiatives and learning innovation. “That way, no matter what tech is different, they’ll be able to succeed because they have the skills.”
Currently, Student Success and Academic Innovation are working to demonstrate AI’s impact on student persistence and achievement. This approach mirrors the 2021 landmark study on how Adobe creative tools integrated into curricula could help students succeed academically and professionally. The divisions are examining how students in AI-integrated classes fare compared to those in traditional classes, with findings expected later in 2025.
Building momentum around AI in the classroom
Academic Innovation is dedicated to making its resources accessible to both faculty and students, fostering a partnership to navigate the transformative changes brought about by AI. This initiative is one of many that the university is undertaking to harness the power of new technology.
From the initial curiosity sparked in 2022 to the establishment of a global community in 2024, UTSA has demonstrated leadership in leveraging innovative tools and approaches for a future-focused, student-centered education.
In 2025, UTSA will launch the new College of AI, Cyber and Computing, building on the success of the School of Data Science and UTSA’s nationally-recognized Cybersecurity program. As the university continues to innovate, it remains committed to preparing students for a future where AI plays a central role in academic and professional success.
