Rutherford, NJ – Felician University’s AI Task Force proudly collaborated with Cuantrix AI, Televisa, and Google to host an AI integration training on June 8, 2026. Led by Dr. Yashira Valentín-Rosas, Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, over 100+ faculty and staff members across all disciplines and departments learned new ways in which they can ethically and intentionally integrate platforms such as Gemini, ChatGPT, Magic School, NotebookLM, and other preferred AI models into their lesson planning and workload.

Participants were asked to identify their current stance based on three categories: AI User, AI Curious, and AI Skeptic. Interestingly, more than half of the room considered themselves to be users, or those interested in expanding their knowledge, with a few individuals feeling mixed about AI’s role in educational settings.

The AI Literacy Cycle

Dr. Valentín-Rosas explained that AI literacy for educators operates like a cycle: it starts with interacting with AI to recognize its capabilities and limitations, then becomes a tool to improve and manage over time, then can allow for meaningful content creation, and finally encourages a better understanding of ethics to shape responsible AI behaviors so that the privacy of both the educator and the students remains protected.

Participants were able to practice this cycle through activities on writing compelling super-prompts and how to train AI to structure data, course materials, and visual aids to target their specific audience based on their area of focus.

One participant asked Gemini to act as a finance teacher for the BS in Finance program and to create a practice to evaluate Apple’s market value on the NYSE and an Excel report that presents statistics from 2022 to 2025. The participant was shocked to find that, something that would normally take them a few days, took him nearly minutes to create and edit as needed.

“This professional development is vital for our university as we move through the transformation of AI,” said Dr. Anthony Scardino, Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Business and Information Sciences and AI Task Force Co-Chair. “Success will not be defined by access to technology alone, but by our ability to thoughtfully integrate AI into teaching, learning, decision-making, and student development while remaining grounded in our mission and values.”

 AI in the Classroom: Opportunities and Challenges

The overarching question of debate was, how can higher-education professionals position AI as a one-size-fits-all tool that can benefit academic research, productivity, and greater creative outcomes?

Nowadays, employers seek candidates who can evaluate AI-generated content, verify information accuracy, write effective prompts, analyze complex information, communicate findings clearly, and use AI ethically and responsibly. This is where the purpose of humans comes into play, as no profession would be able to flourish without someone who can think critically, express empathy, and be able to hold meaningful conversations amongst their coworkers, audience, and themselves.

Professors, despite their willingness to embrace AI and present it as a tool that can meet the demands of today’s job market, collectively shared that they wanted to ensure students can hold on to those same skills that will make their role as future leaders unique and irreplaceable.

Most students of Gen-Z affiliation are assumed to be “tech-savvy” due to early integration of now-standard technologies such as computer labs, smart boards, and Google Cloud assignment submission platforms. However, this assumption does not account for the multitude of geographical, financial, and societal gaps experienced by a population of students who’ve all had different upbringings.

Students generally know how best to use technology in ways that can serve their interests and daily routines, transforming how professors can inspire a passion for classroom learning and motivate their students to pursue opportunities for self-growth.

It’s common for many students, when feeling burned out or having difficulty finding the resources to do their tasks, to turn to AI to complete most or all their assignments as a short-term solution. These students ultimately become susceptible to instances of cheating or unknowingly deprive themselves of an opportunity to express themselves correctly through their work.

Furthermore, most AI platforms disclose the probability of generated content containing mistakes and other grammatical errors. Without any prior knowledge on the topic of interest, students can further increase their risk of academic disintegrity and will need to use their own judgment to best decide whether the information generated by AI is reputable and applicable to their topic at large.

Professors noted the ways in which they’ve shifted from assigning handwritten or typed tasks to projects that foster collaboration and interpersonal discussion amongst like-minded peers who are seeking a similar curricular outcome.

The School of Education’s Applied Behavioral Analysis program recently adopted Intraverbal AI, a platform where students can upload their clinical assessments and receive a peer-reviewed report from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board based on how well the student meets standards of validity and ethicality. Students are then asked to submit self-reflection dialogue videos that enable them to learn how to speak intentionally to their audience and how to confidently take ownership of the work they attach their name to.

Students from a business class were taken on a quick trip to Whole Foods, where they were encouraged to have face-to-face conversations with employees about the origins of their products and how they build sustainable relationships with their suppliers.

Looking Ahead

The event wrapped up with a powerful message: AI should not replace education, and if it is, we are doing something wrong. “We are the critical thinkers at the end of the day, and it’s our responsibility to become multipliers of change,” said Dr. Valentín-Rosas. “The future belongs to those who combine human judgement, creativity, and empathy with the power of AI.”

This training was one of many efforts being made to ensure 100% of faculty and staff are confidently trained to use and integrate AI tools into their curricula by 2028.

About the AI Task Force

Felician University’s AI Task Force, a team of university professionals responsible for identifying opportunities where artificial intelligence can enhance productivity, efficiency, learning outcomes, and workforce readiness, serves as a campus-wide resource that encourages the responsible and transparent use of emerging technologies. The task force continues to demonstrate ways in which the university can enrich its teaching strategies while preserving the integrity of the educational experience, reinforcing that AI is something students can use to enhance critical thinking, rather than rely on as a substitute for independent thought.

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About Felician University

Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and Money Magazine and has been recognized as one of the best college locations in New Jersey (#4) according to niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the fifteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supportive environment and earned us a spot on Washington Monthly’s Top 100 HSI list (#30). With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is sponsored by Felician Sisters International.  For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.