Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how we create, learn and communicate — but what does it mean for our shared values here at Columbia?
That question will be at the heart of this year’s Integrity Week, which kicks off on Monday, Feb. 9. Over five days of programming, the Columbia community will have opportunities to engage in discussions about AI’s impact on academia and how these cutting-edge tools can be harnessed while maintaining academic and professional integrity.
“We focused on generative AI this year because it has had an immense impact on the student experience,” says Director of Academic Integrity Victoria Malaney-Brown. “It was important to also acknowledge that higher education institutions continue to grapple with both the newfound realities and ever-changing nature of GenAI in teaching, learning and research. We wanted to use Integrity Week to bring students, faculty, staff and alumni together to discuss how Columbia is actively making decisions about GenAI, and what will need to be considered as the technology changes.”
Now in its sixth year, Integrity Week will comprise 16 sessions that address the holistic student experience, though many are designed to have broad appeal. A highlight is Tuesday’s keynote, led by Matthew Connelly CC’90, a professor of history and vice dean for AI Initiatives; it will feature a community-wide dialogue about the ethical landscape of AI.
“This week is a reminder to our community to continue to renew, review and reflect on our teaching, learning and research values,” Malaney-Brown says. “It takes all of us to cultivate integrity and ethics.”
Among other offerings, a Wednesday afternoon session will explore scientific research in the age of AI, in particular the critical role of images; that evening, a special installment of Fac’ to Table will bring students together for dinner and discussion about the use of GenAI in teaching and learning. On Thursday there’s an online course about “responsible AI” at Columbia (the principles for employing AI in ways that are ethical, safe and aligned with the University’s academic mission). On Friday, alumni will come to campus to talk about the realities of AI in the workplace — the opportunities and challenges they encounter, as well as how values such as integrity, responsibility and transparency shape their decisions.
Additional sessions outside the AI theme will address citations, reducing and managing stress, and how to collaborate with integrity, among other topics.
“I’m excited to invite the campus community to actively participate and join in dialogue with us to say more about how their everyday lives are shaped by generative AI,” Malaney-Brown says. “My hope is that we can discuss what we want our values to be — to collectively reflect on the impact AI has on academia while also shaping the academic community that we want to create together at Columbia.”
To view a complete schedule and register for events, see the Integrity Week website.