Unifying the Universities of Wisconsin around shared learning, exploration, and responsible use of AI
What Is a Community of Practice?
A Community of Practice (CoP) is a space where professionals from diverse roles and campuses come together to learn, share, and collaborate on a common area of interest—in this case, artificial intelligence (AI).
This is not a training or lecture series—it’s a collaborative community where:
- Everyone is welcome, regardless of their current level of knowledge about AI.
- Conversations are open, honest, and driven by curiosity.
- We share practical use cases, surface concerns, and learn from each other.
Whether you’re a seasoned AI user or just wondering what all the hype is about, you belong here.
What We Do
- Explore real-world use cases of AI tools across higher ed
- Learn hands-on techniques for using tools like Microsoft Copilot and Zoom AI
- Discuss ethical guardrails around data, bias, and responsible use
- Exchange feedback on emerging tools and practices
- Grow together in our understanding of what AI can—and cannot—do
When We Meet
We meet once per month via Microsoft Teams, typically for 60 minutes. Each session includes a brief presentation followed by an open discussion or a demonstration. All sessions are recorded and shared afterward.
Why Join?
- Be part of a systemwide conversation shaping how we adopt AI
- Gain practical insight to save time, think smarter, and innovate ethically
- Learn what’s working—and what’s not—from your peers
- Help guide the direction of UW’s AI governance and best practices
How to Join
Everyone across the Universities of Wisconsin is welcome. No formal registration required—just bring your curiosity.
To get meeting invites and updates:
Join our mailing list or contact jenna.hybert@wisconsin.edu to be added to the list.
Would you like to present a use case or lead a session?
We’d love to hear from you—reach out and let us spotlight your work.
Upcoming Topics
Friday, December 19th
- AI Tools Landscape Tour (What’s out there?)
- Survey of tools people are actually using: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and more
- Understanding capabilities and differences beyond Copilot
- How to Pick the Right Tool for the Job
- Decision framework: when to use what (and when to stick with Copilot)
- Security and compliance considerations for different tools
Friday, January 16th
- Developer and Advanced Focus
- How are you using AI for code documentation?
- Agents in UW
- Prompt Libraries
- AI Hackathon
- Can you make an AI hallucinate?
- Is your environment as secure as you think it is?
Friday, February 20th
- AI Ethics & Responsible Use
- Addressing bias, hallucinations, and limitations in AI outputs
- When NOT to use AI: protecting student data (FERPA) and sensitive information
- Building Trust: Data Classification in Practice
- Public vs. private data—what’s safe for public AI tools?
- Real examples from UWSA work
AI Resources
Coming soon.