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St. Bonaventure University

Artificial Intelligence at Bona's


In The News: Channel 2 WGRZ


鈥淲e鈥檙e a Franciscan institution, and we鈥檙e ensuring those values guide how we teach AI.鈥 鈥 Dr. David Hilmey, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs

St. Bonaventure University is embracing artificial intelligence as a transformative tool for learning, research, and community engagement. Our approach centers on ethical innovation: advancing academic excellence while upholding the Franciscan values of compassion, reflection, and responsible stewardship.

Academic Innovation


Integrating AI Across the Curriculum

The university has approved new AI-focused courses in Computer Science and Philosophy and is collaborating with a consortium to develop AI Literacy and Applied AI programs as majors, minors, or concentrations. AI-related curriculum updates have been implemented across most academic disciplines, supported by $50,000 in funded AI curriculum projects this academic year. On the student-support side, we launched Ocelot, our AI chatbot known as 鈥淎sk Reilly鈥 on my.sbu.edu, providing 24/7 assistance to enhance engagement, address routine inquiries, and streamline staff workloads. Additionally, a ChatGPT EDU pilot involving 300 students, faculty, and staff is now underway, offering access to one of the most secure and effective large language model platforms available.

  • Dr. Jeff Gingerich, University President


    鈥淭o remain competitive and deliver an exceptional experience for students, faculty and staff, St. Bonaventure must not simply adopt AI tools 鈥 it must instill ethical use of them.鈥

    Ethical Leadership and Governance


    Franciscan Values in a Digital Age

    St. Bonaventure continues to ground its use of artificial intelligence in strong ethical frameworks that prioritize privacy, data integrity, and responsible innovation. Through a Mission Integration lens, the university emphasizes using technology to serve others, advance the common good, and reflect our Franciscan values. Faculty across Philosophy, Theology, and Education are actively collaborating to examine the moral and societal impacts of AI, ensuring that innovation remains thoughtful and reflective.

    Compass-style infographic of ethical & Franciscan principles guiding artificial intelligence use.
  • The Presidential Commission on Artificial Intelligence


    Guiding the Future of AI at Bona's

    In October 2025, President Jeff Gingerich established the Presidential Commission on Artificial Intelligence to provide strategic guidance on the academic, operational, and ethical integration of AI across the university. The commission was created to ensure that St. Bonaventure remains proactive, responsible, and mission-aligned as emerging technologies continue to transform higher education.

    The commission鈥檚 work centers on several key focus areas: academic integration, governance and ethics, faculty and staff capacity, operational efficiency, and its ongoing advisory role to the President. Together, these priorities guide a comprehensive approach to AI that supports innovation while upholding the university鈥檚 values and long-term strategic goals.

    Commission Membership:

    • Dr. Mike Hoffman, co-chair, dean of the School of Graduate Studies, associate provost, and chief information officer
    • Dr. Dave Hilmey, co-chair, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs
    • Danny Bush, Senior Multimedia Producer
    • 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
    • Dr. Mark Wilson, professor of Finance
    News-Publications-Research- Banner

    First-year 天涯社区官网 students to be required to take AI literacy

    Mar 23, 2026, 14:32 by Thomas Missel
    St. Bonaventure University will introduce a new artificial intelligence literacy unit into its introductory seminar beginning this fall, ensuring that all first-year students gain foundational knowledge and skills in one of the most transformative technologies shaping higher education and the workforce.

    St. Bonaventure University will introduce a new artificial intelligence literacy unit into its introductory seminar beginning this fall, ensuring that all first-year students gain foundational knowledge and skills in one of the most transformative technologies shaping higher education and the workforce.

    The required unit will introduce new undergraduate students to what artificial intelligence is, how it functions, and how it can be used to support academic work. Students will also learn how to engage AI tools responsibly and effectively, with an emphasis on academic integrity, critical thinking and ethical decision-making. 

    鈥淎rtificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of every discipline and profession,鈥 said Dr. David Hilmey, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. 鈥淏y embedding AI literacy into our first-year seminar (BONA 101), we are ensuring that every Bonaventure student begins their academic journey with the knowledge, skills and ethical grounding needed to use these tools thoughtfully and responsibly.鈥

    The curriculum is designed to go beyond technical instruction. In addition to practical applications 鈥 such as using AI to support research, writing and problem-solving 鈥 students will explore broader social and ethical questions surrounding AI, including issues of bias, privacy, authorship and the impact of emerging technologies on society.

    Faculty involved in developing the unit emphasized that the goal is not only proficiency, but perspective.

    鈥淲e want students to understand not just what AI can do, but what it should do,鈥 said Dr. Erin Sadlack, dean of 天涯社区官网鈥檚 School of Arts & Sciences. 鈥淭hat requires critical reflection, ethical awareness and a commitment to using technology in ways that align with our values.鈥

    The AI literacy unit is a key component of the university鈥檚 broader strategy to prepare students for a rapidly evolving technological landscape while remaining grounded in its Franciscan mission. By introducing these concepts early, St. Bonaventure aims to build a shared foundation that can be reinforced and expanded across disciplines throughout a student鈥檚 academic career.

    The initiative builds on a series of recent investments and programs that have positioned St. Bonaventure as a leader in thoughtful AI integration.

    Earlier this year, the university announced it would provide ChatGPT Edu licenses to all students, faculty and most staff, ensuring equitable access to advanced AI tools for teaching, learning and research. The rollout followed a successful pilot program and includes access to advanced models, research tools and collaborative features within a secure, enterprise-grade environment.

    The university also established a Presidential Commission on Artificial Intelligence to guide policy development, curriculum innovation and ethical frameworks for AI adoption across campus. Academic programs have expanded coursework in areas such as AI literacy, prompt engineering and data analysis, while faculty workshops and student training sessions have reinforced responsible use and academic integrity.

    Plans are also underway to launch a new major and two minors focused on artificial intelligence in the near future, further integrating AI into the university鈥檚 academic enterprise.

    Hilmey, who also co-chairs the university鈥檚 AI Commission, said the new first-year initiative reflects the institution鈥檚 commitment to preparing students not only for careers, but for thoughtful leadership in a technology-driven world.

    鈥淥ur responsibility is to ensure students are equipped to navigate emerging technologies with both competence and conscience,鈥 Hilmey said. 鈥淭his initiative is about forming graduates who can engage AI with integrity, guided by the human-centered values that define a Bonaventure education.鈥

    By embedding AI literacy into the first-year experience, St. Bonaventure is taking a proactive approach to ensuring that all students 鈥 regardless of major 鈥 are prepared to engage confidently and responsibly with the tools that will shape their academic and professional futures.

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    About the University: The nation鈥檚 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).