The Summer 2026 Innovation Academy is a faculty professional development experience designed to support the intentional, ethical, and pedagogical integration of Generative AI (GenAI) into teaching and learning. The Academy combines three live hybrid sessions featuring guest speakers with a Canvas co-created learning space that positions faculty as collaborators. Grounded in learner-centered and evidence-based practice, the Academy emphasizes experimentation, reflection, and shared knowledge-building across disciplines.

Goals and Outcomes: 

By participating in the Innovation Academy, faculty will: 

• Identify the potential benefits of leveraging GenAI for teaching and learning.
• Design one course activity, assignment, or assessment using GenAI responsibly.
• Apply effective prompt design strategies aligned with learning outcomes. 

• Develop a community of practice focused on GenAI for teaching and learning.

The course is offered in a flexible hybrid format with live sessions, self-paced activities, and recorded sessions for those unable to attend live. No prerequisites are required.

Participants are:: 

• invited to engage in three hybrid sessions facilitated by guest speakers, including national experts, campus innovators, and faculty practitioners.
• expected to work autonomously on the asynchronous Canvas as a Co Created Learning System course components focused on activities that will help them create content and activities for their own courses.
  • The Canvas course is a collaborative learning environment, not a static repository. Faculty will access curated resources, participate in discussions and reflections, and co-create a shared collection of GenAI teaching artifacts that can be adapted across courses and disciplines. This living system supports sustained learning beyond live sessions.

Session 1: Monday, July 27, 2026, at 11 am 

• Focus: AI principles, responsible and ethical use of AI, capabilities, the evolution of AI, and future opportunities. Overview of UT San Antonio’s AI ecosystem and available tools.
• Facilitators: Academic Innovation, Claudia Arcolin, Jess Gonzales, and Joseph Mendez
• Deliverable: Review the AI Faculty Guidelines and submit a reflection on strategies to introduce AI to students.

The following sessions will be scheduled based upon participation feedback to maximize attendance. 

Session 2: Week of August 3 

• Focus: Syllabus statement and how to introduce AI to your students, designing AI-enhanced assignments, and creating reflection opportunities.
• Facilitators: Drew Stephen and Rita Mitra
• Deliverable: Develop an AI syllabus statement and one AI-enhanced assignment.

Session 3: Week of August 10 

• Focus: Pedagogical partnership frameworks, student agency and AI literacy, and evaluating the impact of AI integration
• Facilitators: Amy Buechler-Steubing, Kathryn Henderson, Dannie Martinez, and Isabella Bartolomeo (Student AI Partners)
• Deliverable: Develop an implementation plan for the use of AI in the course, agree to participate in a student feedback and impact study in collaboration with Institutional Research for the Fall 2026 semester. Faculty will also complete a storytelling component and share their story with AI for OER and communication purposes.

The time commitment for this course is estimated to be 8-12 hours. 

To successfully complete the Innovation Academy and be eligible for the course certificate and the one-time incentive, you must complete the following by August 14 2026:  

• Attend the three hybrid sessions
• Complete the deliverables for modules 1 – 3.

Upon completion of all requirements, participants will receive a certificate of completion and a one-time incentive of $500.

Contact Jess Gonzales, Learning Experience Designer in the office of Teaching, Learning & Digital Transformation, if you have any questions.  

Login and Enroll Expect a follow-up survey to confirm participation.