The AI Community of Interest at OHIO is an open group dedicated to supporting and exploring the evolving role of AI (artificial intelligence) on campus. Led by the Office of Information Technology, we actively support AI initiatives across the university to foster innovation and collaboration. We invite all members of the university community to join the conversation and help shape the future of AI at OHIO. To join, visit the AI Community of Interest (opens in a new window) in Teams and request to be added to the group. All are welcome!
Current members include staff from a variety of offices and departments including (but not limited to): OIT, CTLA (Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment), President’s Office, Provost’s Office, Enrollment Management, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, University Human Resources, OHIO Online, Diversity & Inclusion, Student Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Professions, College of Business, Voinovich School, and more.
Goals
The goal of this community is to enhance AI competencies, facilitate collaboration, support responsible AI use, promote pilot groups exploring AI tools, while encouraging discussion, feedback, analysis of AI tools and value on investment, which align with a vision to leverage AI to help OHIO reach its goals.
Timeline and Activities
Activities planned include:
- Launch Pilot groups
- Feedback surveys distributed at various touchpoints
- Host community discussions and demonstrations
- Consult and assist with other AI initiatives
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| April 16, 2025 | AI Community of Interest Meeting #8 |
| March 19, 2025 | AI Community of Interest Meeting #7 |
| February 19, 2025 | AI Community of Interest Meeting #6 |
| January 22, 2025 | AI Community of Interest Meeting #5 |
| December 11, 2024 | AI Community of Interest Meeting #4 |
| November 6, 2024 | AI Community of Interest Meeting #3 |
| November 4, 2024 | Copilot Feature Enhancement Summary released to pilot participants* |
| October 2, 2024 | AI Community of Interest Meeting #2 |
| August 21, 2024 | AI Community of Interest Meeting #1 |
| May 2024 | AI Community of Interest Launched |
| May 2024-May 2025 | Microsoft 365 Copilot Pilot Group |
Additional Resources
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Release Notes
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Knowledge Base articles
Leadership
The AI Community of Interest is being led by a team of OIT employees, with contributions from a variety of participants from various departments on campus.
| Member | Title |
|---|---|
| Josh Thomas | Senior Director, Digital Workspaces |
| Tracy Kitts | IT Product Manager |
| Jane Van Tassel | Manager, IT Business Analysis |
| Rachel Stotts | Campus Engagement Specialist III |
| Laurie Griffin | IT Project Manager II |
| Chelsea Freeman | Instructional Technologist II |
What is Copilot?
Copilot is Microsoft’s AI-powered productivity tool and is built on the popular OpenAI platform. While Copilot leverages the same OpenAI platform as ChatGPT, it is not the same as ChatGPT. Microsoft offers Copilot under a variety of licensing plans. The two plans that are most relevant to OHIO are:
Copilot Chat
Copilot Chat is available at no additional cost to all students, staff, and faculty at OHIO. Copilot offers the same data protection and security as Microsoft 365 Copilot but has fewer features. Users can access Copilot by signing in with their OHIO credentials at https://copilot.microsoft.com .
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot integrates your data with the Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 apps and services. It works alongside popular Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more. Microsoft 365 Copilot provides real-time intelligent assistance, enabling users to enhance their creativity, productivity, and skills. A detailed summary of features is available here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/servicedescriptions/office-365-platform-service-description/microsoft-365-copilot .
How were individuals chosen to participate in the Microsoft 365 Copilot pilot?
Participation was determined by leadership recommendations from various planning units on campus. Participants agreed to actively participate, provide regular feedback and evaluations, adhere to university data security policies, document use cases and experiences, and collaborate with OHIO IT to contribute to the insights and understanding of Microsoft Copilot.
How can I get a license for Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Individuals who are interested in a Microsoft 365 Copilot license can find additional details on our Microsoft Copilot Service Catalog page.