Utah Valley University in Orem has launched its new Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute, according to an announcement at the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Growth & Prosperity Summit by UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez.
Tuminez also announced UVU’s new Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence degree that will be available to students in the fall of 2025. The new program will prepare professionals from different backgrounds to harness artificial intelligence to create effective business solutions across many industries, she said.
These announcements follow a year of work and research by a task force of faculty and staff focused on integrating generative AI into the university’s academic and administrative programs with the ultimate goal to equip students with the skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market, according to the announcement.
The AI Institute will be led by Rachael Hutchings as executive director and Barclay Burns as chief AI innovation officer. Its mission will be to research, develop, test and share effective AI applications with students, faculty, staff and the community, the administration said.
“The Applied AI Institute is a significant step forward in our vision for education at UVU,” said Tuminez. “We believe that everyone, regardless of their major, should engage with this transformative technology and become comfortable with it. By integrating hands-on learning experiences into our curriculum, we are empowering our students to thrive in the rapidly evolving world of work. The institute will not only be a hub for our students, but it will be a vital community resource. Our goal is to open doors for all individuals, businesses and organizations to work with us to understand what AI brings to the world of learning and work, how to invest our resources, and how to deploy and govern this new technology.”