Zoom’s AI Companion feature is a generative AI tool that allows hosts to efficiently summarize meetings including next steps, helps participants ask questions without interrupting the meeting, and summarizes long discussions in the chat. After conducting a small pilot and engaging with NU Legal, we will now be unlocking this feature at UNO. By unlocking this feature at the account level, individual users will now have the choice to go into their settings and choose whether or not they would like to enable the feature for Zoom meetings that they create. 

 

As some users across NU choose to utilize the AI Companion feature, you may notice more of your meetings using the feature. There will be a pop-up notification that you are joining a meeting where the host has chosen to enable the AI companion feature. Similar to how you indicate your acceptance of a Zoom meeting being recorded, you will click to indicate you are “ok” with the AI companion feature being utilized before you will be able to engage in the meeting. If you are not comfortable with a meeting being recorded or using the AI companion feature, you should not click “ok” and, rather, you should exit the meeting and follow up with the host. 

 

For additional information about Zoom AI companion, please see the January 14 edition of the Maverick Daily.

In response to the needs of online programs across campus, a new Hybrid Remote section modality has been created. These new 870 sections are identical to our current Hybrid In-Person (860) sections, except that the synchronous class sessions are held remotely (usually over Zoom) instead of in the classroom or physically at another learning site. This allows faculty to use up to 25% of the scheduled course time as virtual sessions for “real time” assessment, discussion, lab work, etc. The full definition of this new modality is:

 

Mostly asynchronous online instruction mixed with reduced synchronous virtual class meetings at regularly scheduled times using academic technologies (e.g., Zoom). Asynchronous online instruction accounts for 75% or more of total instruction time. Synchronous virtual class meetings will not exceed 25% of what is usually scheduled in Fully Remote sections. Students could be located anywhere but must be available for a reduced number (usually 6-8) of virtual class meetings and should have a reliable learning space and Internet access to attend during the semester.

 

The virtual sessions will be held at regular meeting times and available in the Registrar’s schedule for students to view as they enroll. Any classes that were previously scheduled as asynchronous Fully Online (850) asynchronous synchronous sections but asked that students be available for synchronous virtual meetings or testing should now be scheduled as 870 sections.

 

For updated definitions of all UNO’s distance education modalities, please see the Online at UNO website. For questions about scheduling a Hybrid Remote (870) section in CLSS for the Fall 2025 semester, please contact Dan Hawkins, Director of Online Development (dhawkins@unomaha.edu).

The Weitz-funded Competency, Skills, and Workforce Development Hub has brought together representatives from across campus for a two-year initiative to introduce Competency-Based Education (CBE) as an additional learning modality at UNO. This effort, known as the UNO+CBE Champions Project, consists of a steering committee and five workgroups: Academic, Student Affairs, Operations, Finance and HR, and Marketing and Communications. The UNO+CBE Champions will officially kick off their work on January 31st, but they’ve already begun collaborating through a Canvas micro-course titled UNO+CBE Champions: Laying the Foundation for Success!

 

The Competency, Skills, and Workforce Development Hub is honored to have been named an inaugural recipient of the Weitz Excellence in Innovation Fund! These funds are supporting the critical work of the UNO+CBE Champions Project and advancing ongoing efforts to pursue formal designation as a “Center” through the NU Board of Regents. As part of this initiative, the Champions are currently engaging in meaningful dialogue through a book discussion on Students First by Paul LeBlanc. Thanks to the Weitz funds, a copy of this impactful book was provided to each project Champion to support these important conversations. Read more here.

 

For more information or if you’re interested in joining this exciting initiative, please reach out to Erin Bass or Stephanie Larsen.

Want to make your Canvas course a space where students thrive without spending too much time? This workshop covers quick, impactful strategies like setting clear expectations, designing user-friendly layouts, and using tools like templates, rubrics, and accessibility features. You'll leave with actionable tips to transform your Canvas course into a seamless and supportive space for all students.

ILCI offers resources and faculty development courses to help you incorporate Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) into your teaching. This support is designed to create highly engaging and well-connected online and hybrid courses.