The University of Vermont will be hosting its first AI Academy on March 4, 2026, a day filled with learning opportunities designed to build AI awareness, confidence, and practical skills across our campus community.
The day features central programming in the Silver Maple Ballroom, where attendees will explore foundational through advanced generative AI topics with featured presenter Asim Ali, Ph.D. Running alongside the main program, the Sugar Maple Ballroom will host concurrent breakout sessions, including hands-on demonstrations, tabling, service catalog overviews, and beginner Copilot workshops. This structure allows participants to engage in the sessions most relevant to their experience level and interests, whether they’re new to AI or looking to deepen their practice.
Location: Davis Center 4th Floor
Time: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Schedule
8:00 – 9:00 AM: Registration & Tabling (Sugar Maple Ballroom)
8:30 – 9:00 AM: Welcome and Introductions
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM: AI 101: Introduction to Generative AI for Professional Transformation
Presenter: Asim Ali, Ph.D., Silver Maple Ballroom
Description: This foundational session introduces the principles of generative AI, exploring its mechanisms and growing impact across industries, including higher education. Designed for professional staff new to tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, the session demystifies AI technology, clarifies common misconceptions, and provides a practical perspective on its capabilities and limitations. Participants will gain confidence in identifying opportunities for AI integration within their roles and navigating evolving conversations in higher education operations and student support.
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM: GenAI Taskforce Working Group Presentations, Silver Maple Ballroom
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM: AI 201: Beyond the Basics—Building a Culture of Experimentation and Shared Success with Generative AI, Silver Maple Ballroom
Presenter: Asim Ali, Ph.D.
Description: Aimed at staff already exploring or using generative AI tools, this session focuses on transforming experimentation into measurable impact. Real-world use cases relevant to university operations—such as communication, workflow efficiency, knowledge management, and digital content creation—will be showcased. The session emphasizes strategic and cultural practices for scalable, responsible AI adoption, including fostering intentional experimentation, cross-unit collaboration, and a “show and share” culture that drives innovation and aligns with institutional values.
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM: Technology Bootcamp Presentation, Silver Maple Ballroom
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch, Silver Maple Ballroom
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: AI 301: Putting it into Practice – Interactive Workshop on AI, Silver Maple Ballroom
Presenter: Asim Ali, Ph.D.
Description: This hands-on workshop provides participants with guided practice applying generative AI tools to real workplace scenarios. Building on foundational knowledge and strategic principles from earlier sessions, attendees will work through practical exercises tailored to common professional staff responsibilities—including drafting communications, streamlining administrative tasks, creating training materials, and enhancing student-facing resources. Participants are encouraged to bring their own use cases or challenges to explore during the session. Through interactive demonstrations, peer collaboration, and immediate feedback, this workshop equips staff with actionable skills and confidence to begin integrating AI tools effectively and responsibly into their daily work.
Breakout Sessions (Sugar Maple Ballroom)
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Microsoft Copilot and the UVM AI Service Catalog
10:00 AM – 11:00 PM: Student Competition Information Session
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Copilot and UVM AI Tools for beginner users