Explore. Build. Test. Transform.

The AIncubator is a faculty learning community facilitated by Academic Technology (AT).   A cohort of five faculty members will develop and test responsible AI applications that address meaningful challenges in teaching, learning, or research.

We are seeking faculty who have begun experimenting with AI and are ready to move from individual use toward developing more purposeful applications—including tools, agents, workflows, prototypes, and other AI-enabled solutions.

Applicants should have some experience using generative AI and a basic understanding of its capabilities and limitations. Advanced technical expertise is not required. The program is designed for faculty who are ready to deepen their knowledge through hands-on development, collaboration, user testing, and iterative improvement.

What might you explore?

AIncubator Faculty Innovators may develop projects such as:

• A course-specific AI assistant grounded in approved syllabi, readings, and other course materials
• An interactive tutor or study tool that provides guidance, examples, practice, and feedback
• A simulation or role-playing experience that allows students to explore complex scenarios
• A tool that helps students engage with difficult concepts through multiple explanations or perspectives
• An AI-supported workflow that helps students reflect on drafts, identify gaps, or prepare for discussions
• Tools that help faculty create accessible, multilingual, or alternative versions of learning materials
• AI-supported approaches to assessment, feedback, academic integrity, or authentic student work
• A research assistant that organizes project materials, searches approved knowledge sources, or identifies themes across documents
• Tools that support literature reviews, qualitative analysis, research planning, data documentation, or reproducible research workflows
• AI applications that help researchers communicate findings to different audiences

The goal is to identify a meaningful challenge and determine whether an AI-enabled solution can address it responsibly, effectively, and sustainably.

Program experience

As members of a cross-disciplinary faculty learning community, participants will develop their projects through experimentation, peer feedback, and shared problem-solving. The cohort will examine what works, what does not, and how responsible AI practices can be applied across different academic contexts.

Participants will learn how to:

• Identify opportunities where AI may provide genuine value
• Select an appropriate AI tool or approach for a particular challenge
• Design effective prompts, workflows, and agent interactions
• Connect AI solutions to reliable and approved knowledge sources
• Establish guardrails related to privacy, security, accuracy, bias, accessibility, academic integrity, and human oversight
• Evaluate the quality, usefulness, and limitations of AI-generated results
• Test prototypes with intended users
• Incorporate user feedback into subsequent versions
• Determine what is needed to responsibly support and scale a solution

Participants will share their progress and outcomes with the cohort, receive feedback from colleagues and Academic Technology staff, and contribute to a growing body of campus knowledge about effective and responsible uses of AI.

Partnership with Information Technology

A key benefit of joining the AIncubator is the opportunity to partner with IT to transform innovative ideas into scalable agentic solutions that advance teaching, learning, and research.

Academic Technology, AT Faculty Fellows, and IT partners will help participants select appropriate enterprise AI tools, integrate approved knowledge sources, design guardrails, and evaluate their prototypes. Projects with broader potential may also receive guidance on implementation and responsible scaling.

Through this partnership, participants will gain hands-on experience with the journey from idea to implementation:

Challenge → Concept → Prototype → User Testing → Evaluation → Launch or Revision

A successful outcome may be a working prototype, a tested workflow, a research tool, a set of recommendations, or a clearer understanding of where AI is—and is not—the right solution.

Compensation and time commitment

Each selected faculty member will receive $1,200 in additional pay for completing the program requirements. This compensation includes:

• Eight 1.5-hour cohort meetings, for a total of 12 meeting hours
• Approximately 10 additional hours for project development.

Who should participate?

The AIncubator is intended for faculty who:

• Have experimented with generative AI or other AI tools
• Want to develop a more purposeful AI-enabled solution
• Have a recurring challenge related to teaching, learning, or research
• Are interested in creating tools, agents, workflows, or prototypes
• Want to learn how enterprise AI solutions are designed and evaluated
• Are willing to test ideas with intended users
• Value collaboration, experimentation, and shared learning
• Are interested in the future of academic work in an AI-enabled environment

Participants do not need advanced technical skills or a background in computer science. However, applicants should have enough prior experience with AI to engage thoughtfully with the program’s hands-on activities. Faculty from all disciplines and technical backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Participation expectations

The five-member cohort will meet eight times during Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. Between sessions, participants should plan time for project development, collaboration, user testing, and preparation.

Participants will be expected to:

• Attend and actively participate in all eight sessions
• Bring a problem, idea, or opportunity to explore
• Share progress and receive feedback from colleagues
• Work with Academic Technology, Academic Technology Faculty Fellows, and IT partners
• Test an idea, prototype, or workflow with intended users
• Share lessons learned and recommendations with the AIncubator community

Apply to become an AIncubator Faculty Innovator

We invite faculty to apply if they have begun exploring AI and are ready to develop a practical, responsible solution for a teaching, learning, or research challenge.

Applications should briefly address:

• The teaching, learning, or research challenge you want to address
• Who would use or benefit from the proposed solution
• Your prior experience with AI
• The idea, workflow, or prototype you hope to explore
• How you would test the project with intended users
• What a useful outcome would look like by the end of the program

Because the cohort is limited to five faculty members, applications will be reviewed based on:

• Clarity and significance of the proposed challenge
• Potential benefit to learners, instructors, or researchers
• Feasibility within the program period
• Applicant readiness to engage in hands-on development and testing
• Attention to responsible AI practices

Please submit an application of no more than 500 words.

Applications due: Monday, October 5, 2026

Program dates: Fall 2026–Spring 2027; eight cohort meetings

Apply or learn more: https://forms.gle/yZUz3V6WDNUXiyQJ9