Graduate Dean Focus | April Boulton

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is transforming nearly every aspect of education and the workplace. This past spring, President Ricker recognized that our learning community needed a centralized, trusted resource to help navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. She appointed a campuswide “AI Innovation Taskforce,” which was co-chaired by my colleague Rowela Lascolette (our risk manager) and me. The AI Hub is an outgrowth of our work, which provides students, faculty and staff with access to tools, training opportunities, best practices and guidance on the ethical and appropriate use of AI.

Our goal is not simply to encourage the use of AI, but to help our community become thoughtful and informed users of these technologies. We want students to develop AI literacy, understand the opportunities and limitations of these tools, and learn how to use them responsibly. By creating a shared resource and framework, we are preparing our students to succeed in a world where AI will increasingly be part of their academic, professional and personal lives.

One of the challenges many institutions face is that expectations around AI can vary significantly from course to course. We wanted to create transparency from the very beginning of the semester. The AI designations for courses that the taskforce created should help students understand how AI may be used within a particular class and what role it should play in their assignments and learning activities.

Whether a course is designated as “fully human-centered,” “human-directed with AI assistance” or “AI-produced, human-guided,” students will have clear guidance about expectations. This approach supports academic integrity while also helping students develop sound judgment about when and how AI can be used effectively. Ultimately, we want students to understand that responsible AI use is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Different disciplines and learning objectives require different levels of human and technological engagement.

Based on my research, this phrase was first coined by Northeastern University. As AI becomes increasingly capable of generating content, analyzing information and automating routine tasks, the qualities that distinguish us as human beings become even more important. Skills such as communication, interpretation of results/data, creativity, empathy, ethical reasoning, performance arts, collaboration and critical thinking are essential because they help us interpret information, build relationships, lead teams and make meaningful decisions—and enjoy truly human pursuits and connections.

Technology can support productivity, but it cannot replace the human capacity to connect with others, lead with integrity or exercise sound judgment in complex situations. Those abilities are developed through engagement with people and ideas, both inside and outside the classroom. I believe the future belongs to individuals who can combine technological fluency with strong human skills. That combination will allow graduates to adapt, lead and contribute thoughtfully in a rapidly changing world.

One of the things I appreciate most about graduate educationhere at Hood is that every program incorporates opportunities for students to develop uniquely human skills such as communication, collaboration, ethical decision-making, critical thinking and leadership. Whether a student is studying business, counseling, education, nursing, cybersecurity or the sciences, they are engaging with faculty and peers, solving complex problems and applying knowledge in meaningful ways that require human judgment and interpersonal connection.

That said, several programs offer especially visible examples of what I describe as the humanics advantage. Our biomedical science M.S. students work closely with faculty mentors and research professionals in real-world lab settings. Our environmental biology M.S. program is another strong example of students engaging in fieldwork out there in the real world. The creative writing MFA program may be one of the purest expressions of humanics. Writing asks us to reflect on the human experience, develop empathy, communicate effectively and find our authentic voice.

Related, our humanities M.A. program encourages students to engage deeply with history, literature, philosophy, religion, art and music while participating in interdisciplinary dialogue. Students wrestle with big questions about meaning, ethics, culture and society, developing the critical thinking and perspective that are increasingly valuable in a rapidly changing world.

From the laboratory and the field to the seminar room and the writer’s desk, these programs demonstrate that the future belongs not only to those who can use technology effectively, but also to those who can think deeply, communicate clearly, create meaningfully and connect authentically with others. Those are the qualities we strive to nurture across all Hood graduate programs.

I don’t see technology and human connection as competing priorities. In fact, our goal is to help students leverage technology in ways that enhance learning while remaining deeply connected to the values that have always defined a Hood education. The AI Hub is one example of how we can embrace innovation responsibly, but innovation must always be guided by purpose, ethics and human understanding.

At Hood, our mission and values are important—perhaps even more so in the face of this emerging technology. We remain committed to creating opportunities for students to engage with one another, collaborate with faculty, participate in meaningful discussions and build lasting relationships. Whether in face-to-face classrooms, online learning environments or co-curricular experiences, those connections are central to personal and professional growth. As technology continues to evolve, our responsibility is to ensure that students graduate not only with technical knowledge, but also with the ability to communicate clearly, think critically, lead effectively and connect authentically with others.

Those human qualities will continue to be among the most valuable assets our graduates bring to the world.

Inspired by Dean Boulton's article? Ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s graduate programs and AI Hub.