By Doug Ward
The Kansas Board of Regents voted on Thursday to make development of an AI framework its top priority for the coming year.
Neelima Parasker, who was appointed to the regents in 2023, will lead a committee charged with drafting recommendations for the board. Parasker is the president and CEO of SnapIT Solutions, an information technology services company in Overland Park.
Parasker said the committee would identify goals related to AI, problems institutions faced, steps the regents could take on AI, and “what we can do better.” She said the work was important for the board’s stakeholders, which she identified as Kansas students, communities and employers.
“We may not achieve all guardrails and policies right off the bat,” Parasker said, “but we are trying to avoid deep pitfalls.”
She said, though, that “I am interested more in listening than advising.”
Board members seemed unsure at times how to describe the AI initiative, saying variously that they wanted to set AI goals, create guardrails, establish a framework, and identify guiding principles.
The goal the approved Thursday reads:
“Establish a systemwide framework for the responsible use of artificial intelligence that supports student success, institutional effectiveness, and alignment with Kansas workforce needs.”
The board’s chair, Alysia Johnston, called creation of a framework a “monumental task,” saying: “As you know, we’re behind on this because AI is something that’s been out there for a while.”
The board listed these as possible areas of focus for its AI work:
- Develop systemwide principles and guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
- Identify and promote effective practices that enhance student learning, student success, and institutional effectiveness.
- Promote AI literacy and workforce readiness across academic programs and career pathways.
- Address data privacy, cybersecurity, academic integrity, and ethical considerations.
- Engage employers and industry leaders to better understand emerging AI workforce needs.
- Explore opportunities for new or redesigned AI-related credentials, programs, and pathways aligned to high demand jobs in Kansas.
The other two goals the regents approved Thursday focus on improving governance and creating partnerships across state institutions.
KU’s report on AI
KU and other universities reported their AI work to the regents in June (PDF). KU said it “is pursuing a broad, research-intensive AI approach grounded in human-centered and ethical principles. A major milestone is the transition from its initial AI Task Force to a more formal, risk-based governance model, supported by significant investments in high-performance computing infrastructure to expand AI research capacity.”
It said the university approaches AI “as an opportunity to responsibly advance teaching and learning, discovery, and service in ways that reflect care for individuals and communities. KU has launched a broad range of artificial intelligence initiatives spanning teaching, research, governance, healthcare, and workforce development.”