Faculty Focus: Updated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidelines for Faculty Faculty Focus: Updated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidelines for Faculty

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to wish you a happy new year.

As we prepare for the spring 2024 semester, I hope that you, too, are feeling a sense of excitement and fulfillment. Together, we are poised to continue advancing Kentucky. 

We will continue to share important updates with you in the Faculty Focus newsletters. This week, we want to highlight what we have available related to artificial intelligence (AI). As communicated last fall, President Capilouto charged the Office of the Provost with establishing a committee to define and develop recommendations for responsible use of generative AI at UK. This led to the creation of UK ADVANCE (Advancing Data utilization for Value in Academics for National and Campus-wide Excellence). 

Nearly 30 faculty, staff and students from across our campus contributed to the transdisciplinary ADVANCE Team, meeting throughout the fall semester to provide ongoing guidance to our community. 

This team recommended four core principles to frame the guidance for course policies:

• People-centered: Policies are student- and instructor-centered.
• Adaptability: Policies adapt to the needs and circumstances of the course.
• Effectiveness: Policies demonstrate characteristics of effective course policy.
• Awareness: Policies promote awareness and understanding of generative AI.

The team created, with input, guidelines for instructors and researchers, and they are working to create guidelines for healthcare as well. A two-day national symposium was also held on campus last year, with presentations by many of our leaders. In addition, guest speakers with expertise provided a national perspective on AI. As the field continues to grow, the team will continue to meet so we can optimize the beneficial uses of AI while understanding important cautions.

You can submit questions for the team to consider via email.

Of course, we will continue to communicate with you regarding AI-policies and guidance. We will also continue to highlight the various resources and services available in future Faculty Focus weekly newsletters.

Thank you, as always, for everything you do to advance our mission. Welcome back. 

Robert S. DiPaola, M.D. 
Provost