COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State University students will return to campus next month with a new academic expectation: fluency in artificial intelligence.
In June, OSU announced that by 2029, every student will graduate with the ability to use AI in relation to their major. Provost Ravi Bellamkonda provided an update at a Board of Trustees committee meeting this month, saying the new requirements will enhance the university’s competitiveness.
“I guarantee you that the average salary of our students will be higher if they know how to apply AI in whatever it is they choose to do than if they do not,” Bellamkonda said. “It’s as simple as that.”
A trustee noted that members of the public have asked whether they can also take AI fluency courses. While OSU is developing courses for its students, Bellamkonda said the university plans to launch an online AI course for small business owners by the end of the summer. The course will cost less than $500 and aims to provide entrepreneurs with tools to incorporate AI into their businesses. Bellamkonda also mentioned plans for a small, in-person, multi-day AI business course for the public.
Bellamkonda offered insights into OSU’s planning ahead of introducing the AI Fluency program this fall. The presentation included the university’s definition of AI Fluency: “Equipping students to be fluent in the application of AI in their field of study.”
He acknowledged that integrating AI into every major is a significant undertaking, with challenges such as preventing cheating and ensuring assignments are meaningful learning tools. Bellamkonda noted that many student code of conduct issues last semester involved improper AI use.
Bellamkonda was joined by Associate Marketing Professor Jeff Dotson and Shereen Agrawal, executive director for the Center for Software Innovation. Agrawal, involved in AI fluency planning, said Ohio State developed learning outcomes to evaluate students’ progress with AI, including foundational skills, inputting answers for specific results, and exploring ethical and environmental implications of AI use.
Agrawal stated that OSU is redeveloping its general education launch course to include AI, a class required for all freshmen. The AI implementation team is collaborating with colleges and departments to embed AI into existing courses and pathways.
Dotson addressed the trustees, sharing his experience as an educator who has integrated AI into lectures. He teaches a market research class and noted that AI allows him to focus more on critical thinking and analysis, shifting class time from data mining to decision-making.
Agrawal added that Ohio State plans to incorporate AI into students’ initial campus experiences and partner with K-12 schools to facilitate smoother transitions to college, as younger students become more familiar with AI. Dotson emphasized the importance of addressing AI use among students.
“To believe they are not using it is naivety,” Dotson said. “I think we need to be formal about how we approach this.”