Download and view the Beginning of Semester Checklist to ensure you're ready for the fall semester! Other items to consider completing before the fall semester begins are:

• Use the Canvas Link Validator to check for broken links
• Double check UNO policies in Syllabi and Canvas courses by using the Teaching Policies navigation tab
• Import a getting started module for your modality (in-person, hybrid, online) from Canvas Commons
• Import the student technology resource module into your course from Canvas Commons
• Add the AI for students page to your start here module (available in Canvas Commons)
• Help your students get to know you by updating your Canvas Profile (i.e. Bio, Photo)
• Share the Equipment Request Form with students to check out laptops and mobile Wi-Fi hot spot devices
• Verify all course due dates and semester breaks using the Academic Calendar
• Confirm your Final Exams Schedule
• Prepare your Canvas course site as much as possible before the beginning of the semester. Having all of your assignments created and published with due dates helps students from day 1 so they can see a combined view of important dates for all of their classes.

We recommend publishing your courses a few days to a week before the start of the semester with the Home page and Getting Started module published (at minimum). This will allow students to get comfortable with the course and its' expectations before it begins!

Below are opportunities all faculty and staff at UNO have access to. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities and reach out to Cassie Mallette, Program Manager of the AI Learning Lab, if you have any questions.

Applications for ChatGPT EDU (formerly enterprise) for faculty and staff are now available on a rolling basis. ChatGPT EDU provides exploration with added safeguards and security, where it does not train on your data and it stays in our EDU environment; you also have access to create custom GPTs, use deep research, higher limits of file uploads, and more. There are a few ways to gain access:

• Faculty and Staff: Faculty and Staff can apply for a license to explore how AI can be beneficial to them in work, research, and/or class prep/execution.
• Student use in Class: Faculty and staff can apply for up to 50 licenses for students to use ChatGPT while taking your class (students are removed at the end of each semester).  

NOTE: All users will need to complete the generative AI cybersecurity awareness training before gaining access to ChatGPT EDU.

• Generative AI Cybersecurity Training: We highly recommend all faculty, staff, and students complete this 5-10 minute bridge training to understand what you can and cannot put into free, paid non-enterprise, and enterprise tools.
• PD Opportunities: Currently we have two AI PD Courses, with more micro-courses (courses that are 1 module), on the way. These are rolling start dates, allowing faculty and staff to register at any time. These PD opportunities are at no cost to the faculty or staff member. Select the links below to register for either course.
  • AI Jumpstart: 1-week (1 module) micro-course introducing faculty and staff to AI (this is the first module of the AI Advantage course) - no stipend for completing this course. 
  • AI Advantage: 6-week (6 modules) course walking faculty and staff through implementing AI into their work or into their course - $300 stipend for completing this course.

• Workshops: This fall we will have 3 workshops focused on AI
  • Getting the Most out of ChatGPT EDU (formerly Enterprise): Monday, September 8, 2-3 p.m.
  • AI-Enhanced Course Design: Elevating Your Courses with AI: Tuesday, October 28, 1-2 p.m. 
  • Balancing AI and Environmental Concerns:Wednesday, November 19, 10-11 a.m. 

The AI Learning Lab has created several resources to help faculty and staff with AI implementation:

• AI Help Guides: resources about developing a syllabus statement, evaluating assessments, detection tools, how to cite AI, providing clarity on AI use on assignments, past and future workshops, and more
• AI for Students Page: Recommended for all courses. Provides a place for an AI syllabi statement, and an overview of what it means to use AI responsibly. Available in Canvas Commons – faculty can customize the page to add or take away what they do not (once in their course). 
• AI Prompt Book for Faculty/Staff: Provides examples prompts and ideas for incorporating AI into classes and work.
• AI Prompt Book for Students: Provides examples of how students can use AI in their studies and resources on being a good prompt engineer, what it means to be an ethical user, and more on the way.

The AI Learning Lab offers AI grants where you work with an instructional designer to implement AI into your course in responsible and ethical ways. Apply at the bottom of the AI support page. These are a tiered system, providing opportunities to incorporate:

• Tier 1: Individual assignment
• Tier 2: A module or project using AI, approximately 4 times throughout the course
• Tier 3: Full implementation throughout the course.

Interested in hearing what the core consortium is discussing with AI at UNO. Apply to be a part of the broader AI Consortium. You’ll have the opportunity to provide feedback once a semester on what we’re discussing and feedback for the learning lab and UNO. Email Cassie Mallette if interested.