The university’s inaugural AI Professional Development series, launched in October and November, marked a step in strengthening the institutional readiness for emerging technologies. Approximately 1,380 employees and leaders registered initial launch and another 838 for the December offering. Participants expressed appreciation for sessions that helped them develop effective prompting and experiment safely with AI. Recurring questions centered around how to begin exploring AI, which tools to prioritize, and how to build ongoing proficiency.
The foundational AI curriculum included 12 original 90-minute sessions supported by 68 activities, resources, and reflective exercises. Each of the resources were designed to equip employees with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to integrate AI responsibly in their daily work while fostering a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and adaptive leadership.
Building on this momentum, the next phase of development with the launch of the Intermediate Employee AI Series. This series advances beyond awareness-building to emphasize hands-on skill development using university-approved AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT.edu. Employees will participate in a tool-specific Illinois workshop in addition to a role-aligned cohort group, ensuring that learning is practical, relevant, and connected to the operational demands of their positions. Completion of both components is required to earn the intermediate badge, signaling demonstrated proficiency with AI tools, an understanding of when human judgement remains essential, and the ability to apply AI effectively within everyday workflows. Cohorts reflect key job categories across the university, helping ensure that the program supports AI capability building at scale across diverse units and functions.
Together, the foundational and intermediate series form a clear, strategic progression from building AI fluency and responsible use to developing applied, job-embedded skills. As AI continues its impact within the workplace, these sessions help ensure that employees are not merely informed about AI, but prepared to use it effectively, ethically, and confidently in ways that strengthen operations, enhance services, and support long-term organizational adaptability.
Learn more and explore upcoming sessions:
https://humanresources.illinois.edu/ai-professional-development-series/