Davenport University developing AI-ready professionals

In the last two years, artificial intelligence (AI) has burst into nearly every facet of our lives. It has been met with both fear and awe. At Davenport University, we are in the unique position of guiding students to understand these mighty tools that will continue to change the way we live, learn and work.

Davenport’s Dean of Global Campus and Academic Systems Brian Miller, Ed.D., said the university is establishing itself as a leader in teaching and using AI by making sure every faculty member and student is comfortable using the tools that started with ChatGPT’s introduction in December 2022.

“It has been two years since we heard of the tool, and we have fully embraced it and are convinced we need to include it in every course at Davenport,” Miller said. “In the next five years, advances will require us to shift many times, and we are ready. The reason Davenport is a leader in the practical use of AI is because we can move at that speed and scale – it’s part of our DNA.”

Davenport’s Donald W. Maine College of Business is integrating AI into its curriculum and introducing students to Large Language Models (LLMs) and their real-world applications. Associate Department Chair Laura Kyriakopoulos, M.B.A., said that through assignments, students are using AI to simplify complex concepts and to critically evaluate AI-generated content for accuracy and bias.

“Our goal is to equip students with the confidence to leverage AI effectively, helping them work smarter, not just faster,” Kyriakopoulos said. “Even students who are initially reluctant to use AI become excited when they see how it can serve as a learning tool, rather than just a shortcut. The shift from hesitation to active engagement is one of the most fascinating aspects of AI integration in education.”

Davenport faculty’s approach to AI integration ensures students understand how to use these tools effectively and responsibly. They explore limitations and experiment with prompts to see how small changes impact results.

“Our students engage critically with AI, evaluating responses rather than passively accepting them,” Kyriakopoulos said. “They understand that AI is not a substitute for critical thinking. Quality output depends on quality input.”

Professors and students grapple with the ethical usage of AI to guard against misinformation and cheating.

“It’s not AI’s responsibility to be 100% accurate,” Miller said. “You are responsible for your answers, not ChatGPT. You need to make sure you’re using ChatGPT in an ethical manner. We are teaching that by folding AI and ethics into our existing courses.”

Davenport is also conducting a pilot program in an English course that uses an AI authorship tool to try to detect plagiarism. The results will be out in May. “Use AI as a tool to hone your writing, not do your writing. We don’t want students copying and pasting ChatGPT.”

Davenport students gain a strong theoretical foundation with hands-on experience. Kyriakopoulos said this ensures they can adapt as AI evolves. “We help them see that AI is not a crutch, but a tool that strengthens their critical thinking and makes them more efficient problem-solvers and decision-makers.”

Davenport University is developing AI-ready professionals for the workforce.

“For employers, this means hiring graduates who know how to use AI strategically to enhance productivity, improve content creation and analyze data more efficiently,” Kyriakopoulos said. “AI is changing rapidly, but if students understand the basics of prompt generation, LLM capabilities and how to assess AI outputs, they will be ahead of the curve. That’s exactly what we are preparing Davenport students to do.”