UNC Charlotte launches AI Accelerator to address classroom challenges and expand AI curriculum
On Feb. 24, UNC Charlotte introduced the AI Accelerator within the Center for Teaching and Learning - a leadership team built to turn AI from a headline into day-to-day academic practice. The move follows a year of professional development through the American Association of Colleges & Universities' Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum, where Charlotte joined 176 institutions tackling AI integration in higher education.
With new AI academic programs slated for fall 2026, the Accelerator is positioned to connect policy, pedagogy, and program design so faculty and students keep pace with technology without losing academic integrity.
Purpose and priorities
The Accelerator's focus: align institutional strategy with an emerging AI curriculum, and raise the quality of teaching across the university. As Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jennifer Troyer put it, the work is about "accelerating, enabling and stewarding" so students build skills that "future-proof" their careers.
Translation for educators: clearer policies, stronger course design, and faculty support that meets the moment.
From policy to practice
The initiative grows out of the Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning Task Force created in 2024. Its recommendations center on ethical use in the classroom, transparent policy, and learning outcomes tied to AI competency.
Charlotte's stance is intentional: emphasize AI literacy and awareness over restricting access. The focus is responsible use, not fear-based avoidance.
Faculty readiness - progress so far
More than 1,060 faculty and instructional staff have completed AI-related training through the Center for Teaching and Learning. Sessions covered course design with AI, ethics, and practical use cases, supported by online teaching guides and examples.
This groundwork sets up the next phase: deeper integration at the course, program, and policy levels with hands-on support from the Accelerator.
New programs coming in 2026
AI-related academic programs are expected to launch in fall 2026. Between now and then, the Accelerator will broker partnerships across colleges, support syllabus and assessment redesign, and ensure students graduate with relevant AI skills.
Who's on the AI Accelerator team
- Kiran Budhrani, director of teaching and learning innovation, Center for Teaching and Learning
- Justin Cary, senior lecturer of writing studies, College of Humanities, Earth and Social Science
- Amy Kelso, senior associate general counsel, Office of Legal Affairs
- Kaela Lindquist, associate dean of students and director of student accountability and conflict resolution, Division of Student Affairs
- Cat Mahaffey, teaching professor of writing studies, CHESS
- Teresa Petty, associate provost for undergraduate education; dean, University College, Office of Undergraduate Education
- Harini Ramaprasad, associate dean for undergraduate programs and student success, CCI
- Jordan Register, instructional designer/technologist II, Center for Teaching and Learning
- Gabriel Terejanu, professor of computer science
- Catherine Tingelstad, head of instruction and curriculum engagement, J. Murrey Atkins Library
- Coral Wayland, senior associate dean for curriculum, Office of Undergraduate Education
- Leslie Zenk, associate provost and chief of staff, Office of Academic Affairs
What this means for deans, chairs, and instructors
- Set a clear, transparent AI use policy in every syllabus. Define allowed tools, disclosure expectations, and citation norms. Keep it consistent across programs where possible.
- Add AI literacy to course outcomes. Examples: prompt critique, model limitations, bias recognition, and verification workflows.
- Redesign assignments to separate process from product. Ask students to compare AI-assisted drafts with their revisions and reflect on decisions.
- Use rubrics that score responsible use: disclosure, tool choice, verification steps, and ethical considerations.
- Coordinate with your library on information literacy plus AI source-checking. Build in required fact-check passes.
- Offer structured practice. Short, low-stakes tasks that teach students how to evaluate AI output before using it at scale.
- Invest in faculty micro-trainings. Fifteen to thirty minutes on a single workflow beats a one-time marathon session.
- Create a program-level map of where AI skills appear across courses. Avoid gaps and duplication.
Ethics and responsibility stay central
"UNC Charlotte has earned a reputation as a proactive leader in regard to ethical and responsible integration and use of AI in teaching, learning and pedagogy," said Leslie Zenk, associate provost and chief of staff for Academic Affairs. That ethos shows up in policy redesign, transparent use guidelines, and assessment practices that reward honesty and verification.
Resources
- American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) - national guidance, institutes, and research on AI and pedagogy.
- AI Learning Path for Teachers - practical courses and templates to help faculty integrate AI into lesson design and assessment.
Bottom line
The Accelerator gives educators a practical path to align policy, curriculum, and classroom practice - and to do it responsibly. The goal is simple: stronger teaching today, and graduates ready for tomorrow's work.
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