Auburn partners with Alabama Community College System to advance AI teaching and learning

As part of Auburn’s growing efforts to broaden Artificial Intelligence, or AI, training to higher education institutions, the university is now partnering with the Alabama Community College System to offer its renowned Teaching with AI course to more than 4,000 faculty teaching across the State’s 24 two-year institutions.

An expansion of the university’s AI teaching and learning initiatives, the partnership enables faculty from Alabama’s community and technical colleges to complete the online course developed by Auburn’s Biggio Center, currently available to faculty at all Southeastern Conference member institutions. The partnership is part of the System’s broader workforce readiness initiative, led by the Paths for Success Foundation, to provide advanced skills, credentials and certifications to Alabama citizens through its two-year colleges.

“Our state’s community and technical colleges boast top-tier instructors dedicated to student success, and as the world continues to change, our collaboration with Auburn’s Biggio Center and Paths for Success keeps our faculty at the forefront of technology to educate Alabama’s current and future workforce,” said Jimmy H. Baker, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System.

By completing the AI course, faculty will learn advanced AI principles and best practices by completing eight virtual, interactive modules that combine course structure with hands-on practice and collaborative tools. More than 155,000 students are currently enrolled across the State’s two-year system, pursuing academic and workforce programs through dual enrollment, technical training, adult education, and community education initiatives. By connecting AI principles and practices to their programs, faculty completing the course can earn an AUAI Explorer digital badge.

The partnership also empowers community college instructors to demystify the AI landscape and harness its abilities within the classroom and beyond. More than 50 institutions have already signed on to participate in the course, with plans for expansion to other schools. The course adoption coincides with Governor Ivey’s Executive Order 738 to establish a task force focused on advancing Generative Artificial Intelligence to benefit Alabama’s citizens.

“Auburn is pleased to partner with our two-year institutions to support our state’s higher education goals,” said Auburn Provost Vini Nathan. “Alabama’s community colleges play a key role in our higher education system and are critical to advancing our shared goals of ensuring our workforce is knowledgeable and trained in AI.”

In addition to the course, the university hopes to bring faculty from across the State to Auburn’s campus for its next On the Pl(AI)ns of Auburn: AI Day. The university hosted its first AI Day in January, where it welcomed more than 800 students, faculty and staff who participated in various seminars, workshops and presentations from industry leaders at Microsoft and Salesforce.

For more information on Auburn’s Teaching with AI course, visit Auburn’s Biggio Center website.