This document outlines our current approach to integrating artificial intelligence into the School of Human Ecology's ecosystem. It is intended to be a practical and flexible guidepost for faculty and staff across our core functions: teaching, research, outreach, and administration. Our approach is human-centered, grounded in Human Ecology’s mission and values, and designed to foster a growth mindset and ethical engagement with AI.

This document isn't a policy, nor does it offer specific guidelines for use.  It won’t answer all of our questions nor will it address our fears and concerns about AI, but we hope it will offer inspiration for if/how to integrate AI into our work and how we might positively impact the future of AI. 

This document was co-created by the Human Ecology community.  An initial draft was developed by the Dean and Associate Deans, revised with input from broader school leadership and RISE-AI faculty, further revised with the voices of 150+ at our school-wide 8/21/25 retreat, and shared with the full school for input before finalizing. The Dean’s Academic Council (DAC) will revisit and revise our approach on a regular cycle. The first review/revision will take place in January 2026.  We recognize that attitudes toward AI differ across our community, and that caution is as important to acknowledge as enthusiasm. By engaging with this full spectrum of perspectives, we strengthen our commitment to a balanced, inclusive, and human-centered approach.

For our purposes, artificial intelligence (AI) refers to a collection of tools and technologies that use data to learn, solve problems, and perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This includes systems that can generate text, images, and other media, as well as those that can analyze complex data and automate routine processes.

Our Focus

Our aim is not merely to use AI, but to cultivate a school-wide understanding of its potential and its limitations. We will:

• Build Awareness: Help faculty, staff, and students understand what AI is, how it works, and where it is being applied. 

• Influence Positive Change: Explore how our teaching and research expertise can address the risks and concerns about AI.

• Foster Literacy: Equip the human ecology community with the knowledge and skills to use AI responsibly and effectively in their work.

Our Core Principles

These principles serve as the foundation for our human-centered approach to AI, ensuring that our use of these tools is always aligned with our mission and values.

• Center Human Decisions: We will always prioritize critical thinking, human expertise, and professional judgment over automated outputs. AI serves to augment, not replace, our intellectual and creative processes.

• Ethical Responsibility: We commit to the ethical and equitable use of AI. This includes transparency in its application, protecting data privacy, and actively mitigating bias in AI systems and their outputs.

• Mission-Driven: Our use of AI must directly support Human Ecology’s mission to explore the human-centered challenges of our time. We will leverage AI to deepen our understanding, not simply for efficiency's sake.

• Transparency and Trust: We will be transparent about when and how we use AI in our work, and we encourage open dialogue about its role and impact within our community. To maintain trust within our community, we will disclose the use of AI in academic and professional work, such as through syllabus statements or journal publication policies.

• Confirm all AI-generated information: Because AI can be prone to “hallucinations” its output must be treated as such. Facts must be independently verified by humans before being used.

Our Strategy

To maintain our focus, we will integrate AI exploration and learning into our existing structures. This includes:

• Embedding Learning Opportunities: Incorporate AI discussions and demonstrations into department meetings, committee work, and existing professional development sessions. Dedicate time for training and learning.

• Not “one-size-fits all”: We will provide practical, application-focused training and support through a variety of formats. 

• Continuous Improvement: We will establish a feedback loop and communities of practice, monitor how AI is being used across the school, and adapt our approach as we learn and new technologies emerge.

• Dedication of Resources: Allocate time, funding, and expertise to support our collective learning, including access to tools and innovation grants.

Our Approach to Navigating Risks and Concerns

While our approach is proactive and empowering, we must also be realistic about the challenges and risks posed by AI. Addressing these head-on is a core part of our human-centered strategy.

• Accuracy and Bias: We acknowledge that AI models can return errors, inaccurate information, or biased outputs based on their training data. We must exercise constant vigilance and critical thinking to verify AI-generated content.

• Human Connection and Relationships: We will explore how AI can be used to amplify and support human connections rather than diminish them, maintaining face-to-face interactions and ensuring that technology doesn't mediate all aspects of life and work.

• Social and Economic Equity: We are concerned about who will be left behind as AI technology advances and about the impact of AI on mental health. Job displacement, the consolidation of power and wealth, and the potential for AI to exacerbate existing societal inequalities are among our greatest fears about the technology. 

• Ethics, Regulation and Oversight: We recognize the need for an ethical framework and strong regulation. Human ecologists need to have a seat at the table in the development of and oversight for AI.

• Environmental Impact: We are alarmed about the environmental costs of AI, including the energy and water consumption of server farms. We question whether the benefits of AI are worth the environmental toll and whether it's possible to develop this technology in a way that is environmentally sustainable and just.

• Intellectual Property and Legalities: Our community must be aware of the complex and evolving legal landscape surrounding AI, including issues related to intellectual property and copyright.

• Impact on Human Skills: We are committed to ensuring that AI augments, rather than diminishes, core human skills like brainstorming, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Notes and Previous Versions

• NotebookLM (a closed-corpus AI tool) was used as a drafting aid; all final content and analysis were validated and edited by humans.

• Previous Draft: Version 1.0 9/25/25