The University of Texas at Austin has launched several artificial intelligence (AI) resources this fall for faculty, staff, and students to responsibly modernize teaching and learning.
UT Sage
UT Sage is a groundbreaking AI tutor designed to support UT students when they need help the most. Unlike all-purpose generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, UT Sage is designed by learning scientists and specifically trained by faculty. It offers tailored guidance on concepts that faculty determined are foundational for student success but challenging to learn. UT Sage is built on learning science principles, including belonging, interactive engagement, metacognition, and self-directed, self-regulated learning. With a focus on safe, secure, and responsive AI use, UT Sage aims to solve persistent educational challenges, bridging gaps between what can typically be accomplished during a class period—and what might be possible if students engage with learning far beyond that.
“We think Sage might help ‘flip-the-classroom’ in radically new ways that will give faculty ways to engage in face-to-face learning that have not been possible before,” said Julie Schell, Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Technology and the Director of the Office of Academic Technology.
Hiring with AI in Mind
Spearheading the development of UT Sage and other projects is a new AI designer at the University, Kasey Ford. This role, funded by the Office of the President, focuses on responsibly using AI for teaching and learning and how to make informed decisions about which tools to bring to campus.
“We know that AI tools are a part of the larger technology landscape and that students will need to know how to use them to navigate the working world,” said Ford. “We want to provide opportunities to use AI in innovative and secure ways so that they are prepared for the future.”
A graduate of the College of Education, Ford has worked at UT Austin since 2019 designing online learning and instructional integration for Computer and Data Science Online and Dell Medical School. Her scope is widening, now, to encompass evaluating AI features from existing academic technology partners, crafting new platforms, and implementing technology guidelines and resources for faculty.
Generative AI Guide for Instructors
The Center for Teaching and Learning launched an online guide to assist faculty and instructors at UT Austin understand the benefits and complexities associated with integrating generative AI (Gen AI) in higher education. This comprehensive resource covers relevant policies, course design and assessment considerations, Gen AI advantages and disadvantages, and upcoming workshops and events on campus. With a few clicks, faculty can learn about the implications of introducing AI into their courses – or the effects of leaving it out – and how to prepare students to work in a world where AI is embraced as both a personal pastime and a professional toolkit.
“The CTL is dedicated to collaborating with our instructional community, addressing the various interests and concerns surrounding the use of generative AI in the classroom,” said Molly Hatcher, Assistant Vice Provost of Teaching and Learning and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. “We hope this resource will inspire our collective academic and professional curiosity and also strengthen our ethical commitment to utilizing these tools responsibly.”
Connecting Texas Educators
UT Austin is one of four institutions leading an Artificial Intelligence Project Advisory Group through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to create and curate high-quality resources and facilitate professional learning for faculty and staff across the state of Texas. The project aims to support all Texas institutions of higher education to adapt to emerging technological innovations, specifically how to responsibly integrate Generative AI into classrooms.
The initiative includes a facilitated learning network of over 324 faculty and staff from 74 institutions, including UT Austin. Project leads Julie Schell and Kasey Ford—and several members of the Academic Affairs team—are developing resources, leading workshops, and developing strategies for effective implementation and adhering to Ethical AI Use in higher education throughout the state.
For more than 50 years, UT Austin has been a global trailblazer in AI research—developing leaders and facilities that advanced the field. Now, the University is providing resources for instructors to bring AI into their coursework and teach the next generation how to embrace the ever-changing nature of technology.