Moving a college toward AI literacy is rarely a linear process; it requires a multi-pronged approach addressing institutional philosophy, framework, and reality. In this session, we share a model for institutional alignment used at Garden City Community College (Kansas) to move AI integration from a point of fear to a proactive partnership between expertise and emerging technology. Our approach to institutional readiness relies on the following strategies:
- Faculty/Staff Training: Moving from AI awareness to pedagogical application.
- Student Training: Developing critical digital literacy and the foundations of ethical use.
- Community Engagement: Bridging the gap between institutional practice and the local community, from workforce development to personal enrichment.
- K-12 (Teacher) Integration: Building a cohesive regional pipeline through professional development for K-12 educators and student-facing initiatives, such as AI summer camps.
