Utah sets a pro-human AI direction for higher education
The Utah Board of Higher Education's Executive Committee has approved a statewide strategy to integrate artificial intelligence across public colleges and universities. The focus: prepare students for AI-infused work, improve learning, and keep human judgment at the center.
Utah employers expect more automation, higher demand for AI-literate workers, and a rebound in job postings that call for AI skills. This resolution signals clear intent to equip both students and incumbent workers for what's next.
"As we embrace the opportunities that AI brings to education and the workforce, we must never lose sight of our responsibility to future generations," said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. "Incorporating AI doesn't just mean teaching new technical skills; it means doing so in a way that reflects Utah's values. I'm committed to working with our institutions and partners to ensure our AI-driven initiatives both equip learners for tomorrow's economy and honor our duty to invest wisely in the future of our state."
Three system-wide imperatives
- Equip every student with pro-human AI skills. Build foundational AI literacy across majors and programs. Emphasize applied practice and workforce-ready competencies alongside critical thinking, ethics, creativity, emotional intelligence, and collaboration.
- Use AI to improve education and research. Integrate AI across teaching, student services, research, and operations to raise learning outcomes, personalize support, and drive innovation and efficiency-while keeping mentorship, personal guidance, curiosity, and community intact.
- Reimagine higher education for an AI-accelerated economy. Update programs and pathways so institutions can move quickly on AI opportunities that grow human capability, community connection, and statewide prosperity. Prioritize flexible learning options and the human plus technical skills employers value.
The board underscored responsible stewardship. As AI systems scale, institutions should build strong safety and ethics guardrails. Utah campuses are already advancing this work through applied AI institutes, industry partnerships, updated curricula, short-term training, and expanded research.
Investments through USHE's Talent Ready Utah-K-12 AI pathways, AI-aligned degrees and apprenticeships, and curriculum modernization in key industries-add momentum.
"We are entering a transformative era that demands collective action," said Cydni Tetro, Utah Board of Higher Education member. "Across Utah, extraordinary faculty, researchers and innovators are already advancing AI in meaningful ways. This initiative brings their strengths together to create greater impact, aligned with the Governor's AI priorities and focused on expanding human possibilities. I deeply appreciate the institutions and teams leading this work and building on the momentum across our system."
What this means for presidents, provosts, deans, and faculty
- Create a shared AI literacy baseline. Define outcomes for all students (terminology, capabilities, limitations, ethics, responsible use). Map into general education and program outcomes.
- Update course policies and assessments. Clarify acceptable AI use, disclosure norms, and academic integrity. Redesign assignments so students show reasoning, process, and originality.
- Launch faculty development at scale. Offer micro-trainings on prompt craft, evaluation, feedback workflows, and discipline-specific tools. Recognize and reward course redesign and scholarship of teaching with AI.
- Modernize student services. Pilot AI-assisted advising, tutoring, and career services with human oversight. Track impact on access, equity, and satisfaction.
- Upgrade data, privacy, and procurement practices. Set standards for model selection, bias testing, data minimization, opt-outs, and audit logs. Require vendor transparency and security reviews.
- Expand work-based learning. Partner with employers for AI projects, apprenticeships, and capstones. Co-create rubrics that assess both technical output and human judgment.
- Offer short-form credentials. Build certificates and badges aligned to industry needs (e.g., AI for healthcare documentation, AI for small business operations, AI for data analysis).
- Support research and innovation. Provide secure sandboxes, computing access, and cross-campus collaborations. Prioritize projects that augment human capability and educator effectiveness.
- Measure what matters. Track student learning, employability, equity impacts, cost/time savings, and faculty workload. Use findings to refine policies and scale what works.
Guardrails and governance that build trust
- Adopt a risk framework and impact assessments for AI use in instruction, research, and operations. See the U.S. Department of Education's guidance on AI in teaching and learning (pdf) and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (link).
- Establish an AI review board or integrate AI expertise into existing IRB, IT, and curriculum committees.
- Document model choices, data sources, and intended use. Maintain logs for accountability and continuous improvement.
- Screen for bias and accessibility. Provide alternatives for students who opt out or need accommodations.
- Protect student well-being. Limit data collection, use human oversight for high-stakes decisions, and communicate clearly with learners.
12-month starter timeline (adapt to your campus)
- Quarter 1: Form campus AI lead team. Approve AI use policy. Select priority pilots in instruction and student services.
- Quarter 2: Deliver faculty/staff training. Launch pilots with evaluation plans. Begin employer co-design for credentials.
- Quarter 3: Review outcomes. Scale successful pilots. Stand up data governance and procurement standards.
- Quarter 4: Publish results and case studies. Expand partnerships and apprenticeships. Plan next-year investments.
Resources
- U.S. Department of Education: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning (pdf)
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework (link)
- Upskill your teams with curated AI training by role (Complete AI Training)
The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education will convene a statewide AI Task Force with board members, experts, and campus leaders. Expect recommendations that reinforce Utah's pro-human philosophy, support educator effectiveness, protect student well-being, and move the system toward practical, high-impact use of AI.
For campus leaders, the takeaway is simple: align on shared outcomes, start with focused pilots, measure impact, and keep people-students, faculty, and staff-at the center of every decision.
Your membership also unlocks:
