Leading AI-Ready Programs

A Faculty-Led AI Curriculum Integration Pilot

AI is already showing up across courses. Just not always consistently, intentionally, or transparently.

Leading AI-Ready Programs is a faculty-led summer pilot that gives departments time and structure to step back, make sense of what’s happening, and prepare for more coherent, program-level conversations in the fall.

Get Involved

Summer 2026 · Hybrid (virtual + 2 in-person days in August)

Why This Matters Now

  • AI is already shaping courses, but in uneven and inconsistent ways
  • Expectations for AI use vary across programs, instructors, and sections
  • Students are navigating mixed signals, leading to confusion and anxiety
  • Employers increasingly expect AI literacy and ethical judgment
  • Programs have an opportunity to bring more clarity and coherence in AY 2026/2027

What This Is

  • A chance to step back and assess what’s already happening with AI in your program
  • Dedicated time over the summer to think ahead before the fall semester
  • A structured, low-pressure way to compare perspectives across disciplines
  • An introduction to the ACORN toolkit and where it may be useful

What This Is Not

  • A curriculum redesign process
  • A mandate to adopt AI tools or practices
  • Training on specific AI technologies
  • A top-down decision-making process for faculty

What participants will actually do

Take stock of where AI is already showing up: in assignments, student work, and faculty expectations (whether explicit or not).

Identify where expectations are aligned, where they vary, and what that means for your program.

Surface the questions, concerns, and tensions likely to emerge, and think through how to engage them productively.

Leave with a clear, realistic starting point to anchor program-level conversations in the upcoming semester.

What your program gets out of it

This pilot focuses on program-level impact, helping faculty, academic leaders, and students move toward a more consistent and intentional approach to AI.

Faculty member leading a presentation titled "Teaching & Learning with ChatGPT" in front of fellow faculty

For Faculty

  • Space to think, not react
  • A clearer understanding of how colleagues are approaching AI
  • A more grounded starting point for discussions in the fall
A group of SDSU Deans and Associate Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs

For Chairs and Deans

  • Greater consistency across courses and sections
  • A structured way to support faculty without imposing top-down decisions
  • A path toward more coherent program-level expectations
A group of students seated together at a table outside studying

For Students

  • More consistent and transparent expectations around AI use
  • Reduced confusion and anxiety
  • A stronger, more intentional learning experience

Pilot Timeline

  • Summer

    (Virtual Sessions)
    Structured conversations and guided reflection with peers across campus

  • August

    (In-person Convening)
    Two on-campus days to synthesize insights and shape next steps

  • Fall

    (Follow-up Support)
    Optional support to help teams carry conversations forward within their programs

Who Should Participate?

Department- or program-level curriculum teams (e.g., chairs, program coordinators, and faculty collaborators)

About the Initiative

Leading AI-Ready Programs is a joint effort between Academic Affairs and the IT Division, building on SDSU’s broader work in AI-ready curriculum development.

The pilot draws on the ACORN (AI-Ready Curriculum Overhaul and Redesign) Toolkit, developed to support faculty in thinking through AI integration at the program level.

Get Involved

You’re also welcome to reach out to discuss whether this pilot is a good fit for your program.