Framingham State University has been awarded a $330,000 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation to support faculty development and curriculum innovation focused on generative artificial intelligence (AI) and career readiness.

The grant will fund the Leading to Integrate Artificial Intelligence into Student Experiences (LIAISE) project, a two-year initiative designed to help faculty integrate AI into courses across disciplines. Building on a pilot program already underway, LIAISE will support the redesign of approximately 20 courses and directly impact more than 300 students - over 10 percent of the University’s undergraduate population. 

The grant will cover the cost of summer stipends and course releases for faculty members to redesign certain courses to meaningfully incorporate AI.

“The training will include not only career-focused applications for AI, but also the ethical and environmental implications of AI,” said Dr. Keri Ann Sather-Wagstaff, Associate Provost and Principal Investigator on the grant.

Dr. Sather-Wagstaff noted that the University is approaching AI adoption with both intention and inclusivity.

“We are figuring out how to thread that needle,” she said. “We are not just putting a stance of adoption forward, but making sure to include all voices at the table. We are being open and valuing feedback from everyone.”

At the heart of LIAISE is a faculty “community of practice” model, in which cohorts of faculty - known as LIAISE Course Redesign (LCR) Fellows - will collaborate to integrate AI into existing courses rather than creating entirely new ones. Faculty will be trained in areas such as prompt engineering, evaluating AI-generated content, and designing assignments that help students use AI responsibly and effectively. 

The goal is not simply to introduce students to AI tools, but to help them understand how those tools intersect with their fields of study and future careers. For example, students may learn how to generate and refine AI-assisted writing, critically evaluate outputs for bias or misinformation, and apply AI in ways that enhance productivity without sacrificing academic integrity.

“Careful, direct engagement with AI in students’ courses of study will clarify its application to the material and increase student engagement and preparation to use AI in their future careers,” the proposal notes. 

The initiative also reflects Framingham State’s broader institutional commitment to preparing students for a rapidly evolving workforce while maintaining its core values as a public liberal arts institution. In addition to technical skills, LIAISE emphasizes ethical reasoning, sustainability, and responsible use of emerging technologies - key competencies for graduates navigating an AI-driven world.

Importantly, the project is designed to create lasting institutional impact. Once redesigned, courses will continue to incorporate AI learning outcomes in future semesters, and faculty participants will be equipped to expand this work into additional courses. The University also plans to share findings and best practices both internally and with peer institutions, positioning Framingham State as a leader in AI-integrated teaching and learning.

The LIAISE leadership team includes Dr. Steven Courchesne, Director of Academic Technology and Instructional Design; Dr. Bartholomew Brinkman, English Professor and Director of the Center for Digital Humanities; Dr. Kimberly Arditte Hall and Dr. Nicole Rossi from the Psychology and Philosophy Department; and Dr. Maria Alessandra Bollettino, Chair of the History Department and Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship and Service (CELTSS).

Together, the team will guide the development, implementation, and assessment of the program, ensuring that AI integration at Framingham State is both innovative and grounded in research-based teaching practices.

The grant was received from the Davis Educational Foundation established by Stanton and Elisabeth Davis after Mr. Davis's retirement as chairman of Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc.

Support was also received from the CA-ROTEL project The CA-ROTEL Project (focused on Career Readiness and Artificial Intelligence) is 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, (FIPSE).  The Department does not mandate or prescribe practices, models, or other activities described or discussed in this publication. The contents of an Open Educational Resource (OER) may contain examples of, adaptations of, and links to resources created and maintained by another public or private organization. The Department does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. The contents of OER materials do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and an endorsement by the Federal Government should not be assumed.