The U.Va. Futures Initiative, a program focused on exploring emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence with the potential to revolutionize higher education, is gearing up for multiple projects centered on offering guidance for University policies. Led by administrators from diverse University schools, the team will dedicate the upcoming year to crafting a set of recommendations aimed at aiding the University in adjusting to forthcoming shifts in academia over the next decade.
Unveiled at Datapalooza 2023, an annual data science conference hosted by the University’s School of Data Science, the initiative was introduced by Philip Bourne, co-founder of the Futures Initiative and dean of the School of Data Science, alongside Ian Baucom, the University’s executive vice president and provost, during a panel session.
The primary goal of the Futures Initiative Group is to present a report with suggestions on how the University can proactively ready itself for the changing landscape of higher education to the University administration within the next year. Additionally, they aim to arrange a series of community engagements, such as a podcast series, guest lectures, panels, and town hall discussions. The guest speakers will come from diverse fields including business, science, and college administration.
The first episode of the Futures Initiative podcast series will showcase professionals from various industries as guests and is set to be recorded on Nov. 30, to be later released as part of the Hoos in STEM podcast.
In a conversation with The Cavalier Daily, Bourne underscored that the swift progression of technological innovations in higher education, exemplified by the rising prominence of A.I. in the past year, was a key motivator behind establishing the initiative.
Bourne expressed, “[The Initiative’s objective is] to be proactive rather than reactive. It has already involved a broader spectrum of individuals across the University and beyond to deliberate on how higher education is poised to transform and how we should preemptively respond to these technological shifts.”
A pivotal moment in this technological evolution transpired in November 2022 with the debut of ChatGPT and other large language models, prompting the University to contemplate how to better anticipate future technological advancements. The presence of generative A.I. language models at the University has sparked conversations on academic integrity and the ramifications of A.I. utilization on the honor code.
To tackle the advancements in A.I., the University instituted a Generative A.I. Task Force, which has arranged a series of town hall meetings to gather insights from the University community. Currently, there have been no University-wide policies announced regarding generative A.I., leaving its incorporation in the classroom at the discretion of individual professors.
Ken Ono, co-founder of the Futures Initiative and STEM advisor to the Provost, oversees STEM-related initiatives at the University. He stressed that the success of the Futures Initiative relies on input from students, faculty, and policymakers. While the initiative was recently unveiled, discussions to establish it have been ongoing since early 2023, spearheaded by Ono, Bourne, and Acampora.
Christa Acampora, co-founder of the Futures Initiative and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, pointed out that the initiative’s objective of identifying academic and broader societal needs aligns with the 2030 Plan, a framework of objectives and strategies aimed at positioning the University as a leading public institution by the end of the decade.
Acampora stated, “President Ryan’s vision of a great and good university is one that has tangible impact and is responsive to genuine needs. Therefore, identifying those needs is of utmost importance.”
