{"id":12134,"date":"2025-03-25T09:21:31","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T14:21:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=12134"},"modified":"2025-03-25T09:21:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T14:21:31","slug":"ai-fully-integrated-uw-stouts-360-degree-approach-to-artificial-intelligence-embeds-skills-across-all-programs","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/ai-fully-integrated-uw-stouts-360-degree-approach-to-artificial-intelligence-embeds-skills-across-all-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"AI, fully integrated: UW-Stout\u2019s 360-degree approach to artificial intelligence embeds skills across all programs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
UW-Stout AI Student Club members won first place in the 2024 DigiKey competition \/ Ahmet Turkmen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Equipping students from every major with AI skills is not only important but necessary.\u2019<\/h2>\n

From engineering to communication and counseling, manufacturing, marketing and design, construction, supply chain and more, UW-Stout is preparing graduates to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving workforce by embedding AI training in all of its degree programs.<\/p>\n

And its comprehensive approach to AI literacy is more than program curriculums \u2013 Wisconsin\u2019s Polytechnic University is collaborating with community, business and industry partners through its innovation centers, consulting services, continuing education courses and regional consortiums to help Wisconsin leverage AI-driven solutions that put it ahead of the curve.<\/p>\n

Faculty, staff and students alike are leading the charge, including\u00a0computer and electrical engineering<\/a>\u00a0seniors and AI Student Club members\u00a0Corey Hedlund<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Michael Witt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Hedlund, the club president, and Witt, club secretary, are leading a community of learners and enthusiasts who are passionate about artificial intelligence. The club also works to support UW-Stout\u2019s goal of a\u00a0360-degree AI education approach<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAI consists of a number of skill sets. Equipping students from every major with AI skills is not only important but necessary,\u201d said engineering and technology\u00a0Assistant Professor Yuan Xing<\/strong>, AI Club adviser.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe impact of AI is very obvious across industries and daily life. Some disciplines are even completely revolutionized. So, teaching all students AI knowledge and skills can help them be well prepared for the job market. This aligns perfectly with UW-Stout\u2019s career-focused and real-world experience education goals, helping all graduates stay competitive and adaptable in their future careers,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Hedlund and Witt joined\u00a0Provost Glendal\u00ed Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong>\u00a0recently in a presentation on \u201cAI In Action: Advancing the Universities of Wisconsin,\u201d led by the UW Education Committee at the Board of Regents meeting, Feb. 6-7.<\/p>\n

Student leadership in AI<\/h3>\n

By teaching AI through hands-on, easy-to-follow activities \u2013 no AI background needed \u2013 the AI Student Club allows any student to learn, regardless of their major. It also holds AI seminars on trends and research, with student and industry speakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe club plays an important role in embedding AI in every curriculum by exploring the diverse potential of AI across different disciplines because club members come from different majors,\u201d Xing said.<\/p>\n

Club members are heavily involved in applied learning activities both on and off campus. Hedlund, Witt, and club members\u00a0Jack Lonn<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Steven Kronmiller<\/strong>\u00a0won first place at the 2024\u00a0DigiKey DKC3 Coding Competition<\/a>\u00a0last fall. Supervised by Xing and\u00a0Professor Ahmet Turkmen<\/strong>, the team defeated 20 teams from 11 Midwest universities. In 2023, the team won second place in the competition.<\/p>\n

The club helped prepare and demonstrate innovative AI to Gov. Tony Evers when he visited campus last spring. They attended an AI presentation conducted by UW-Stout and UW-River Falls faculty last fall. Read more about the faculty\u2019s cross-disciplinary research below.<\/p>\n

The club\u2019s future goals include collaborating with university partners such as K-12 schools, two-year colleges and industry partners to develop hands-on AI applications in areas such as electronic vehicles, vision inspections, community services and more.<\/p>\n

Faculty awarded for AI research<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s AI Fellows and AI Innovation Committee are led by faculty and staff, who ensure AI is embedded into learning, operations and innovation, and who direct AI integration, governance, ethics and literacy.<\/p>\n

Faculty research impacts students’ experiences, and experts across degree fields have been awarded for pushing AI research forward.<\/p>\n

“Our interdisciplinary AI Fellows, supported by the 2023-25 Workforce Development funding, exemplify our dedication to integrating AI into every aspect of our academic offerings,\u201d said\u00a0Professor Keith Wojciechowski<\/strong>, program director of\u00a0M.S. applied mathematics and data science<\/a>. Fellows\u2019 research includes:<\/p>\n