Generative AI Committee

Overview

The generative AI committee stands as an institution-wide collaboration at the forefront of exploration and ethical considerations of artificial intelligence. Comprised of experts from diverse fields across Laurier, this committee explores ways generative AI is transforming the landscape of teaching and learning to equip students, faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to harness the use of AI in education.

The committee provides recommendations on the impacts posed by generative AI on teaching, research and operational activities at Laurier and offers recommendations about changes in policy and practice. With a mission to drive interdisciplinary dialogue, the committee fosters a collective understanding of the implications and opportunities of AI technology.

Objectives

• Assess the rapidly changing state of generative AI technology and its implications for higher education, with a focus on potential benefits and challenges for Laurier.
• Develop university-wide guidelines on the use of generative AI in teaching, research, service, and operational activities at Laurier.
• Receive and review recommended guidelines from expert subcommittees.
• Recommend revised or new policies to the appropriate Senate or Board committee.

Timeline

In the initial year, the committee met monthly in September, October and November 2023 to discuss generative AI in the context of teaching, research and operational activities. During these meetings the committee set the mandate for the subcommittees, including deliverables and timelines. The subcommittees met through the fall 2023 and winter 2024, then the group reconvened in March 2024 to receive the recommendations from each subcommittee.

In subsequent years the committee will meet twice annually, in the fall and the winter, to review and reassess guidelines from the perspective of a) how they have worked to date and b) changes needed based on experience and updates to generative AI.

Committee Members

Chair

• Heidi Northwood, Provost and VP: Academic

Members

• Dahlia Bateman, General Counsel
• Jonathan Newman, Vice President Research
• Matthew Grills, Director, Government Relations
• Nela Petkovic, Chief Information Officer
• Pamela Cant, Chief Human Resources and Equity Officer
• Trish McLaren, Associate Vice President: Academic
• Andrew Welsh, FHSS Representative
• Azam Bidgoli, Science Representative
• Brent Wolfe, AVP and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
• Cynthia Johnston Turner, Faculty Dean
• Gerard Yun, Music Representative
• Jean Eid, Lazaridis Representative
• John Fraser, Interim Assistant Vice President: Enrolment Services
• Julie Mueller, Education Representative
• Kathy Hogarth, Associate Vice President: Global Strategy
• Keri-Lynn Cheechoo, Liberal Arts Representative
• Mark Humphries, Arts Representative
• Megan Csanits, Student Life and Experience Coordinator (Vice President Student Affairs Rep.)
• Megan Spenler, Undergraduate Student
• Scott Gillies, University Librarian
• Sonia Meerai, Social Work Representative
• Taylor Coleman, Graduate Student
• Vanessa Barrasa, External Relations Representative

Resource Members

• Sara Neziol, Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives and Academic Operations
• Ian Muller, Undergraduate Staff Resource