UM's Intentional Approach to AI
We're not rushing toward AI adoption.
We're building thoughtfully, with our community, guided by our values.
What Intentional Means at UM
We've chosen a path that prioritizes community input, academic values, and thoughtful integration over speed.
- Human-Centered
- AI augments—never replaces—the distinctly human dimensions of education and discovery
- Community-Driven
- Decisions shaped by input from students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders across campus
- Values-Based
- Grounded in academic freedom, critical thinking, ethical inquiry, and transparency
- Sustainable
- Building for long-term success while considering environmental and social impact
Explore AI at UM
Our Community-Driven Process
How we've engaged the UM community in thoughtful dialogue and deliberative planning
The Future Project
Teaching, Learning, and Work with Artificial Intelligence
A university-wide initiative launched in 2025 with support from Montana-based Craton, bringing our community together to thoughtfully explore AI's role in teaching, learning, and work—while keeping human values at the center.
Four Interconnected Lines of Effort
- How We Teach:
- Exploring faculty experiences and identifying AI tools that enhance pedagogy while safeguarding academic integrity
- What We Teach:
- Building curricula that develop both technical AI competencies and essential human-centered skills
- How We Work:
- Helping UM employees use AI to enhance productivity and creativity while addressing technological risks
- Industry Demands:
- Partnering with Montana employers to align our programs with evolving workforce needs
Why This Matters for UM
- For Students
- Ensures graduates have AI competencies and human skills that employers demand
- For Faculty
- Provides support in adapting teaching practices and maintaining academic integrity
- For Staff
- Explores AI tools to improve workflows and reduce administrative burden
- For Montana
- Positions UM as a convener for statewide AI strategy and workforce development
See what the project has produced, where the work stands now, and how to get involved
A Living Framework
Our approach continues to evolve as we learn together. This isn't a finished plan—it's a framework for ongoing growth.
How We Continue to Learn and Adapt
Ongoing Assessment
- Community feedback and surveys
- How AI is being used across campus
- Impact on learning outcomes
- Ethical considerations review
Ongoing Dialogue
- Faculty AI roundtables and AI office hours
- AI symposia and statewide events
- Department-specific discussions
- Conversations with Montana employers and partners
Join the Ongoing Dialogue
This is an evolving conversation, not a settled matter. We welcome all perspectives—including skepticism and questions.
We hear you. AI brings up real concerns for our community:
Academic concerns
Will AI make students lazy or undermine critical thinking?
Professional concerns
Will it eliminate jobs or devalue human expertise?
Fundamental concerns
Will we lose what makes education fundamentally human?
If you're skeptical about AI's place in education, or even opposed to it entirely, that perspective isn't just welcome—it's essential.
This is our campus, and these decisions should reflect our collective wisdom, not just the voices of early adopters. Real democracy means we can disagree and still work together to find our path forward.