Dear USD Community,

Today we announce USD’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI). This approach is guided by our Catholic mission, our university’s values, and the profound moral framework offered in Pope Leo XIV’s recent encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. Further, the approach is built upon prior institutional efforts and implements many of the recommendations offered in the AI Steering Committee’s (AISC) final report.

The Approach

USD’s approach is about empowering people, and will be straight-forward and flexible. Specifically, it articulates nine guiding principles, and outlines several associated action steps. All of this is organized across three key pillars, and can be summarized as follows:

• Clarity & Guidance: Collaborating with faculty to clarify syllabus standards for students; working with University Senate to update relevant policies; and, creating mission-aligned educational and professional development opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.
• Incentivizing Ideation: Empowering faculty and staff through grants to develop and pursue their ideas for curricular approaches and administrative responses.
• Ongoing Dialogue: Sponsoring discussions, as well as cross-campus speakers, aimed at stimulating collective dialogue among students, faculty, and staff.

Governance and Next Steps

Central coordination of this strategy will be provided by the Provost’s Office, led by Associate Provost Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick. This fall, we will begin implementing the AI strategy by taking these first steps:

1. Appointing Faculty Fellows: We will hire two Provost’s Faculty AI Fellows who will support implementation of the AI strategy. Information on the application process for these roles will be shared shortly.
2. Seating the New AI Advisory Group: We will officially name a cross-disciplinary advisory group of faculty, staff, and students to advise strategy implementation and assessment of our efforts, and to suggest additional strategies.

A detailed document describing USD’s approach to AI is found on the AI@USD website, where you will also find the AISC’s report. Over the coming semester this website will be refined to become a one-stop resource for all USD students, faculty, and staff on issues pertaining to AI.

We look forward to working together with you to shape a future that honors our community, our mission, and our values. Thank you for your ongoing dedication to USD.

Sincerely,

James T. Harris III, DEd
President

James Antony, PhD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs