Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills is leading the way in preparing students and faculty for the AI-driven future. The college has received a nearly $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to train faculty across multiple disciplines in artificial intelligence.

The “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence Skills in Community College Classrooms and Technical Careers” project is spearheaded by Dr. John Sands, Moraine Valley professor of local area networks. This initiative will bring together faculty from diverse fields—including English, physical science, math, career programs, and health sciences—for a series of workshops designed to build AI expertise.

“The first goal is to teach faculty how to use AI to create engaging course materials,” Sands said. “We’ll show them how to build everything from exams to presentations and lab exercises using AI tools. Most faculty aren’t familiar with these technologies yet, but every discipline can benefit. Plus, every job will require some AI literacy in the future.”

Faculty participants will explore a wide range of AI applications, including:

– Creating graphic materials like mind maps and flowcharts
– Designing images that illustrate complex concepts, such as how arteries function
– Developing storyboards to demonstrate the writing process
– Producing entire online presentations using their own voices

The workshops will also address ethical AI use and strategies to prevent student misuse, such as cheating.

After equipping faculty with practical AI skills, the project team will develop a comprehensive library of AI-powered educational resources. These materials will be available to educators on campus and, after one year, shared with other community colleges.

The team will continue creating content, workshops, and activities focused on best practices for teaching AI. Their goal is to help students develop both practical skills and an ethical understanding of AI technology for their careers.

“Moraine Valley will prepare students for modern career demands while establishing itself as a national leader in community college AI integration,” Sands noted. “I want to get faculty excited about it. When I was in high school, we started using calculators, and teachers said it was the end of math. We have to embrace these tools while building foundational skills.”

The four-year grant will support a new faculty cohort each year. Eventually, other community colleges will be invited to join the program.