Lane Community College’s Presidential Artificial Intelligence Task Force Submits Their Final Report
By Michael C. Sherman
With the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) to college campuses, such as ChatGPT, President Stephanie Bulger formed a presidential task force at Lane Community college in Fall 2023 to explore where these emergent technologies can be used in the college environment.
Both the faculty and administration have recognized the potential benefit for education, along with the challenges AI presents in maintaining academic integrity. The task force, chaired by Kevin Steeves and Dr. Shelley Tinkham was composed of representatives from faculty, classified staff, management and students, (including The Torch’s , Editor in Chief Kat Tabor and ad-sales manager, Robin Tabor).
The task force was commissioned and labeled as presidential, because AI not only influences academics, but every role at the college from administration and faculty to student life. They wanted to ensure the decisions being made were being formed with inclusiveness as a core value from the very beginning.
This last March, The final report was published with their recommendations after hosting 17 meetings over the last two years. With input from a 22-member committee made up of participants from across campus (and a joint meeting with Linn-Benton Community College) the final report listed seven essential areas of concern:
1. Intentional incorporation of AI in the classroom.
2. Safeguarding academic integrity.
3. Keeping data secure in light of new technologies.
4. Addressing pedagogy and student assessment.
5. Exploring new academic programming and fields of study that include AI technologies.
6. Being aware of developments of AI and the responses of other community colleges and higher education institutions, including accredited bodies.
7. Ensuring and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in this new technological landscape and specifically utilizing Lane’s Equity Lens in all deliberations.
In an email correspondence with Kevin Steeves, he told The Torch, “one major outcome of our work is the establishment of the Fusion Lab (CEN 219, across from the library). Starting Fall ’25, [the Fusion Lab] offers students opportunities to engage in AI literacy development and campus conversations.”
Steeves said that the Fusion Lab’s vision is to provide a “Welcoming, Inclusive, Safe, and Equitable (WISE) space for the entire campus community” including students, staff, faculty, administration and the wider community to experiment and explore AI technologies.
He said, “This space helps us to demystify the technology and begin to understand AI’s limitations and potentials, develop our AI literacy and (hopefully) catalyze innovation.”
The final report can be read here: AITF Final Report_3.31.25.pdf and more information about The Fusion Lab can be found at sites.google.com/lanecc.edu/fusionlab.
