Initiative Overview
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming higher education, creating new opportunities to enhance teaching, research and administrative efficiency. Through the provost’s Artificial Intelligence Initiative, UT San Antonio is taking a proactive approach to integrate AI responsibly and strategically across the academic enterprise. This effort will guide how we empower faculty, staff and students to use AI with confidence, competence and integrity—strengthening our role as a national leader in innovation and student success.
Charge
The task force will identify ways of empowering faculty, staff and students to use AI with confidence, competence, and integrity. Examining factors such as opportunities for skill development, policy and process improvements, ethical considerations, and potential pathways to collaborate with the College of AI, Cyber and Computing, the task force will make recommendations to the provost on integrating AI strategically and responsibly to support excellence in teaching, research and operations.
Goals
The task force recommendations will:
- Explore ways to integrate AI strategically into faculty, staff and college workplans to enhance teaching, research and operations.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen the university’s role as a thought leader through storytelling and sharing of best practices.
- Examine ways to improve efficiency by streamlining guidance and practices around AI use in academic and administrative settings.
- Assess current AI tools, user experiences, and workforce readiness needs to inform future planning.
- Explore best practices from higher education and industry, including analysis of the vendor and technology landscape.
Timeline
The task force will commence in October 2025 and present its recommendations to the provost in March 2026.
Task Force Members
| Steve Wilkerson Senior Vice Provost for Strategic Analytics and Integrated Systems Co-chair |
| Glenn Martinez Dean, College of Liberal and Fine Arts Co-chair |
| Posie Aagaard Senior Associate Vice Provost for Scholarly Resources, Libraries and Collections |
| Lynn Barnes Senior Vice Provost, Strategic Enrollment |
| Rebecca Bria Assistant Professor, College of Liberal and Fine Arts |
| Amy Buechler-Steubing Associate Vice Provost, Strategic Initiatives and Learning Innovation, Student Success |
| Jiannan Cai Assistant Professor, Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design |
| Jessica Dawson Associate Dean of Students - Involvement, Student Affairs |
| Mary Dixson Professor of Instruction and Faculty Advisory Council Representative, College of Liberal and Fine Arts |
| Alex Hennel Student, Cyber Security, SGA Treasurer |
| Joe Houpt Professor, College for Health, Community and Policy |
| Don Lien Professor, Statistics and Data Science, College of AI, Cyber and Computing |
| Charles Liu Professor and Department Chairs Council Representative, College of AI, Cyber and Computing |
| Nadia Lopez Program Manager, People Excellence |
| Vittorio Marone Professor, College of Education and Human Development |
| Kelly Nash Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs, Faculty Success |
| Debra Pena Associate Professor of Instruction and Program Director, Writing Program, University College |
| Becky Sanchez Senior Director Financial Analysis & Business Intelligence, Office of Financial Affairs |
| Fidel Santamaria Professor, College of Sciences |
| Dan Sass Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Associate Professor, Alvarez College of Business |
| Michael Schnabel Vice President and Chief Information Officer, University Technology Services |
| Jennifer Swoyer Professor of Instruction and Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Representative, College of Education and Human Development |
| Melissa Vito Vice Provost, Academic Innovation |
| Xiaoyin Wang Professor and Graduate Faculty Committee Representative, College of AI, Cyber and Computing |
Resource Members
| Sondra Cooper Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives, Operations and Initiatives, Academic Affairs |
| Rebecca Luther Senior Director, Academic Strategic Communications, Academic Affairs |
| Sarah Soulek Faculty Evaluations Coordinator, Faculty Success, Academic Affairs |
