The Ohio State University has announced an ambitious new initiative to ensure that every student graduates with the AI proficiencies necessary to compete and lead now. Launching this fall for first-year students, Ohio State’s AI Fluency initiative will embed AI education into the core of every undergraduate curriculum, equipping students with the ability to not only use AI tools but also understand, question, and innovate with them, regardless of their major.
This will result in graduates who not only possess technical AI skills but also have a deep understanding of how the ethical and secure use of AI tools can be harnessed for the greater good across various disciplines, including healthcare, computer science, agriculture, and the humanities. Starting with the Class of 2029, every Buckeye graduate will be fluent in AI and its responsible application to advance their field.
AI is a major priority of the Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan that Carter is developing. And the plan aims to redefine the future of higher education, focusing on academic excellence and a spirit of adaptability and innovation throughout the institution to meet the needs of the next generation.
AI literacy and experiential learning will become foundational expectations for undergraduate students, regardless of major. The initial steps will begin in autumn 2025:
- All undergraduates will be introduced to generative AI basics in the required General Education Launch Seminar.
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GenAI workshops will be integrated into the First Year Success Series, part of the university’s required survey course that helps students acclimate to college life. Additional workshops will be offered to equip students at all levels with experience in AI tools and applications.
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The new “Unlocking Generative AI” course will be offered and open to all majors. And students will gain essential skills to interact effectively with AI, craft prompts that inspire creativity, and explore AI’s impact on society.
Integrating AI into General Education will ensure that students in all fields build a foundational understanding of AI’s impact and ethical considerations. And Ohio State’s colleges will be critical partners in integrating AI Fluency across the university’s programs and courses, as they will expand their existing AI-based offerings that enable students to build advanced skills and critical thinking across disciplines. Colleges will also have opportunities to infuse AI into courses and programs serving graduate and professional students.
AI Fluency will support Ohio State’s faculty and instructors as they innovate and integrate AI tools and applications into their classrooms and learning spaces. And the university will increase resources and support for instructors to build and modify courses, enabling the thoughtful integration of AI into degree pathways and allowing every discipline to benefit from AI-augmented courses.
The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning will expand its resources to help faculty integrate AI into their teaching, including the launch of a fund that provides financial and advisory support to instructors. And additional details on the fund and an initial request for proposals will be available at the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year. The expertise from the Center for Software Innovation and other Ohio State units will also ensure this effort can be led at scale.
This initiative will also support faculty in navigating practical questions about the future of learning, such as the ethical and responsible use of AI in the classroom, as well as the evolution of student exams and assessments in an AI-driven world.
AI Fluency builds on the existing strength and distinction of Ohio State’s faculty, who are driving the future of AI research, development, and discovery to improve people’s lives today and build a brighter future.
KEY QUOTES:
“Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we live, work, teach and learn. In the not-so-distant future, every job, in every industry, is going to be impacted in some way by AI. Ohio State has an opportunity and responsibility to prepare students to not just keep up, but lead in this workforce of the future. I’m so pleased that we are taking this bold step forward to set our students up for success and keep Ohio competitive for the long term. We have a strong foundation on which to build, and the AI Fluency initiative will only accelerate our momentum in mission-driven AI research and education.”
Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.
“Through AI Fluency, Ohio State students will be ‘bilingual’ — fluent in both their major field of study and the application of AI in that area. Grounded with a strong sense of responsibility and possibility, we will prepare Ohio State’s students to harness the power of AI and to lead in shaping its future of their area of study.”
Ravi V. Bellamkonda, executive vice president and provost
“Ohio State’s faculty have long been pioneers in exploring the transformative potential of AI, driving innovation both in research and education. Our university is leading the way in a multidisciplinary approach to harnessing AI’s benefits, significantly shaping the future of learning and discovery.”
Peter Mohler, executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge
