St. Bonaventure University

In response to the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in higher education, St. Bonaventure University has established a Presidential Commission on Artificial Intelligence to guide the institution’s academic, ethical and operational use of AI technologies.

Appointed by university President Dr. Jeff Gingerich, the commission will provide strategic recommendations to ensure St. Bonaventure remains at the forefront of responsible innovation while advancing the university’s Franciscan mission and values.

“We have been proactive discussing new technologies across the campus and have already launched a number of important AI initiatives, but we can’t be satisfied. Advancing our work and practices with AI is a critical priority within our new strategic plan,” Gingerich said. “The insights and recommendations of this commission will play a significant role in the future of the university and ensure we remain a leader of innovation in higher education.”

The commission’s work will focus on five key areas:

• Academic Integration: Recommending strategies to embed AI literacy across the curriculum and support AI-related research, scholarship and experiential learning.
• Governance & Ethics: Developing policies for governance, privacy and data use that align with ethical principles and sustainability goals.
• Faculty & Staff Capacity: Identifying training, tools and resources to help employees effectively and responsibly use AI in their work.
• Operations: Exploring AI applications that enhance student learning, advising, wellness and engagement, as well as institutional efficiency.
• Advisory Role: Providing annual recommendations to the president and monitoring national trends to keep the university future-ready.
  

The university has already:

• Approved AI courses in Computer Science and Philosophy and is collaborating with a consortium to create AI Literacy and Applied AI programs, as majors, minors or concentrations.
• Implemented AI-related curriculum changes across most academic disciplines.
• Funded $50,000 in AI curriculum projects this academic year.
• Launched Ocelot, a student-facing AI chatbot — “Ask Reilly” on my.sbu.edu — that offers 24/7 support to improve engagement by handling student inquiries and automating tasks to save staff time.
• Launched a ChatGPT EDU pilot with 300 students, faculty and staff. Widely regarded as the best Large Language Model (LLM) solution, ChatGPT EDU provides security of university data.
• Announced that the School of Business and SBU Entrepreneurship Center will host the SBU Growth Conference, titled “Harnessing AI for Limitless Growth,” on Nov. 21.
  

The commission is co-chaired by Dr. Mike Hoffman, dean of the School of Graduate Studies, associate provost and chief information officer, and Dr. Dave Hilmey, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

“Artificial intelligence is transforming higher education,” Gingerich said. “To remain competitive and deliver an exceptional experience for students, faculty and staff, St. Bonaventure must not simply adopt AI tools — it must instill ethical use of them.

“This commission will ensure St. Bonaventure’s long-term success in a rapidly evolving educational landscape by preparing our students for the workforce of tomorrow and transforming the way we teach, work and lead.”

Other members of the commission are:

• Dr. Anne Foerst, professor of Computer Science
• Tim Geiger, director of Enterprise Services
• Fr. Stephen Mimnaugh, O.F.M., vice president for Mission Integration
• Tom Missel, chief communications officer
• Dawn Parisella, executive director of Employee Benefits and Campus Leave Administration
• Dr. Tracy Schrems, assistant professor of Education
• Dr. Stephen Setman, assistant professor of Philosophy
• Dr. Scott Simpson, professor of Chemistry
• Dr. Erin Sadlack, dean of Arts & Sciences
• Adriane Spencer, executive director of the Student Success Center
• Ann Tenglund, director of Friedsam Library and Faculty and Staff Resource Center
  

About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #8 for value and #19 overall by U.S. News and World Report (2025).