Jeanneen Howard, Applications Manager at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), recently attended the AI Summit at Tennessee State University to transition from basic AI literacy to strategic institutional implementation. Moving beyond the use of artificial intelligence for simple web searches, Ms. Howard engaged with a comprehensive array of emerging tools and methodologies designed to enhance academic and community life. Her participation focused on gathering actionable insights and resources to empower SUNO students, faculty, and the broader community to use AI effectively in their daily routines and professional workflows.
Implementation steps and strategic initiatives
The initiative described by Jeanneen Howard at Southern University at New Orleans provides a strong foundation for a structured implementation plan. The first priority is to establish a faculty-led working group that includes instructional designers, department leadership, and student representatives to formalize the approach described in the abstract. This group should develop a detailed implementation timeline covering the first two semesters, with clear milestones, resource requirements, and accountability structures. The abstract's core insight — that jeanneen howard, applications manager at southern university at new orleans (suno), recently attended the ai summit at tennessee state university to transition from basic ai literacy to strategic institutional implementation — should serve as the guiding principle for all implementation decisions.
A pilot phase should be launched in one or two courses or programs, allowing the team to test the approach in a controlled setting before broader rollout. The pilot should include clear entry and exit criteria, a structured feedback loop with participating students and faculty, and a mid-pilot review meeting to address emerging challenges. Resources including technology subscriptions, faculty release time, and professional development support should be secured before the pilot begins to avoid disruption. Documentation of the pilot process — including what worked, what did not, and what was modified — will be essential for scaling the approach.
Following a successful pilot, the institution should develop a scaling plan that extends the approach to additional courses, programs, or student populations. This plan should include a faculty onboarding package, a peer coaching program pairing experienced implementers with new adopters, and a shared resource repository. The abstract's observation that moving beyond the use of artificial intelligence for simple web searches, ms suggests that scaling will require attention to both technical and cultural dimensions of change. Institutional leadership should signal commitment to the initiative through public recognition of participating faculty and students.
Sustainability requires embedding the approach in institutional planning and accreditation processes. Annual reviews of implementation data should inform continuous improvement, and findings should be shared with peer institutions through professional networks and publications. Partnerships with organizations such as the SMART Global Technology Innovation Center at Tennessee State University will provide ongoing support and amplify the initiative's impact beyond Southern University at New Orleans.