8:30 a.m. 

Summit Registration Table Opens

Participants can pick up their event information and swag (and a Teaching with AI book for the first 100 registrants prior to the event) at the registration table at the top of the stairs on the second floor of the STEM Building. Morning coffee and tea to start the day will be available.

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9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

Pre-Conference Session: Unlocking AI in Teaching  

Location: STEM Building, room 216

This optional pre-conference session creates space for faculty to share experiences, questions, and examples related to generative AI. The conversation is lightly facilitated to spark ideas and ensure everyone has a chance to contribute, but the agenda remains intentionally flexible. Faculty are encouraged to bring both their concerns and their successes, with the goal of building community knowledge and practical insights before the formal program of the CHS Gen AI Teaching Summit begins. Morning coffee and tea to start the day will be available. 

Moderators

• Joshua Smith, special assistant to the dean for innovative learning and AI initiatives and Co-Founder and Chair of the Media + AI Initiative
• James Fritz, associate professor in the Department Philosophy

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9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Break 

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10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Welcome to the CHS Gen AI Teaching Summit

Location: STEM Building, room 216

Welcome: Catherine Ingrassia, Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences

Overview on Summit Program and CHS AI Initiatives: Marcus Messner, CHS Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs (Humanities and Social Sciences)

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10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Panel Session: AI Skills for College Graduates

Location: STEM Building, room 216

This panel will examine the AI skills students should be developing now, focusing on how these competencies are likely to influence job markets across a wide range of industries. While definitions of specific skills are still emerging, the discussion will highlight broad areas of workforce readiness, practical applications of AI, and strategies for preparing students to demonstrate adaptability in a rapidly changing professional landscape. The session features experts from AI Ready RVA, a group dedicated to empowering Richmond with AI for a better tomorrow.

Panelists 

• Liz Baker, Founder & Chief Advisor, Nimbology
• Caleb Snow, Chief Revenue Officer of UMIT Technologies
• William Willis, Chair of AI Ready RVA

Moderators

• Amy Rector, CHS Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs (Sciences and Mathematics)
• Joshua Smith, Special assistant to the dean for innovative learning and AI initiatives and Co-Founder and Chair of the Media + AI Initiative

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11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Break

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11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Faculty Roundtables: Teaching Generative AI Applications in Humanities and Science Classes

Location: STEM Building, room 216

This faculty roundtable session includes faculty presenters from the Humanities and Sciences who will outline their current teaching strategies, assignments and lessons learned for AI-focused classes and/or their plans for the Spring 2026 semester. Faculty participants will have a chance to meet in small groups with one presenter at a time for 20 minutes. Participants then rotate between tables to explore multiple approaches to integrating AI into the classroom during multiple rounds of presentations and discussions. Courses highlighted in the presentations are included in the new CHS Minor in AI Studies in Humanities and Sciences. 

CHS Faculty Presenters

• Caddie Alford, associate professor in the Department of English (course: ENGL 350 Digital Rhetoric)
• Frank Faries, assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy (courses: PHIL 202 Ethics of AI and PHIL 332 Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence)
• Andrew Massa, adjunct professor in the Robertson School of Communication (course: MASC 311 AI in Mass Media) 
• Allison Moore, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (courses: MATH 170 The Language of Artificial Intelligence)
• Kamilia Rahmouni, associate professor in the School of World Studies (course: ANTH/FRLG 336 Language, Society, and AI: Sociolinguistic Perspectives)
• Jennifer Rhee, associate professor in the Department of English (courses: AMST 391/HUMS 392 Critical AI Studies and ENGL 614/MATX 690 Critical AI Studies)

Moderator

• Marcus Messner, CHS Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs (Humanities and Social Sciences)

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1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch Break

Location: STEM Building, second floor common area

A lunch buffet will be available for participants. 

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1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

AI Teaching Workshops (Block I)

Location: Room assignments will be sent via a calendar invitation after registration

Participants attend one of four workshops during this time. Prior registration is necessary via the general registration for the AI Teaching Summit as each workshop is limited to 30 participants to allow for hands-on teaching and learning. Locations of the workshops will be shared after registration.

Workshop I-A: From AI Curious to AI Ready: Unlocking AI for Everyday Life and Work 

Designed to demystify artificial intelligence and show how anyone can begin using it in practical, everyday ways. Participants will learn what it means to be AI Curious, AI Literate, and ultimately AI Ready, both as individuals and within organizations. Through real-world examples and a simple five-step prompting framework, attendees will discover how AI can save time, spark creativity, and enhance productivity. This session empowers people of all backgrounds to embrace AI with confidence, curiosity, and purpose.

Facilitator

• William Willis, Chair of AI Ready RVA

Workshop I-B: GenAI’s Impact on How Students Seek, Evaluate, and Use Information for Research 

This session explores how generative AI is reshaping student research practices and provides library-supported strategies for navigating these shifts in the classroom. Presenters will give examples of using GenAI responsibly to advance learning and examples of steering students away from GenAI uses that hinder learning. 

Facilitators

• Laura Westmoreland Gariepy, Associate Dean for Research and Learning, VCU Libraries
• Julie Arendt, Science and Engineering Research Librarian
• Roy Brown, Research and Education Librarian
• Hope Kelly, Online Learning Librarian
• Oscar Keyes, Multimedia Teaching and Learning Librarian

Workshop I-C: Getting Started with AI in the classroom 

This introductory workshop is offered for faculty interested in learning about Gen AI for their classes. It is offered and hosted by Dr. Joshua Smith, Founding Fellow of the Media & AI Initiative. The workshop will provide an introduction to the licensed Gen AI tools and technologies at VCU as well as strategies on how to get started using them as teaching tools in the classroom. 

Facilitator

• Joshua Smith, Special assistant to the dean for innovative learning and AI initiatives and chair of the Media + AI Initiative

Workshop I-D: Fewer Clicks, More Teaching: Using AI as Your TA

In this hands-on, interactive workshop, you’ll explore how to use AI to be your optimal teaching assistant by offloading more tedious tasks like quiz questions, discussion prompts, and rubrics so you can focus more on teaching. You’ll leave feeling more confident, less stressed, and equipped with tools that will allow you to spend your energy where you want to.

Facilitators

• Carrie Cole and Cynthia Agyeman, Instructional Designers at the LED Studio

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2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Break

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3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

AI Teaching Workshops (Block II) 

Location: Room assignments will be sent via a calendar invitation after registration

Participants attend one of four workshops during this time. Prior registration is necessary via the general registration for the AI Teaching Summit as each workshop is limited to 25 participants to allow for hands-on teaching and learning. Locations of the workshops will be shared after registration.

Workshop II-A: Crafting a Gen AI Use Policy for Your Syllabus

With generative AI tools transforming how students approach assignments, it’s important for faculty to set clear expectations in their course syllabi. This session will help provide guidance to start crafting a Gen AI course policy that clearly communicates how these tools may be used— or restricted— in your course. You’ll learn strategies to promote academic integrity, address ethical concerns, and support transparent communication with students about AI’s role in their learning.

Facilitator

• Susan Coombes, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence

Workshop II-B: Beyond Multiple Choice: Reimagining Assessments using AI

Considering how to expand your assessment toolkit while still meeting the demands of your course? In this interactive session, you’ll discover how generative AI can help you redesign assessments that promote critical thinking, creativity, and real-world application. Explore innovative assignment types, evaluate authentic examples, and collaborate with peers to develop a fresh, AI-enhanced assessment that aligns with your course goals.

Facilitators

• Carrie Cole and Cynthia Agyeman, Instructional Designers at the LED Studio

Workshop II-C: Decoding AI policy, security and privacy 

This workshop examines the current state of AI policy at VCU and beyond. Participants will learn how institutional guidelines intersect with national conversations on data protection, security, and privacy. The session will highlight what is currently known about VCU’s processes for adopting AI tools and the safeguards in place to support responsible use. Practical takeaways will help faculty and staff evaluate tools, protect sensitive information, and align their work with emerging expectations.

Facilitator

• John Skaritza, CHS director of technology and computer support

Workshop II-D: Prompt Engineering

This workshop helps faculty explore integrating licensed generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini into teaching. Participants are encouraged to bring course materials for hands-on refinement. The session focuses on building custom, reusable prompts and leaves faculty with practical applications ready for classroom use.

Facilitator

• Joshua Smith, Special assistant to the dean for innovative learning and AI initiatives and Co-Founder and Chair of the Media + AI Initiative
  

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4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Reception & Networking

Location: STEM Building, second floor common area 

Join fellow participants for a casual reception at the end of the CHS Gen AI Teaching Summit

Register to attend the AI Teaching Summit