Five Terriers have joined forces with Dr. Kimberly Hall this summer to discover how artificial intelligence can more effectively be incorporated in a college setting.

Susann Breazele ’26, an English major from Pickens, South Carolina; Maggie Head ’26, a chemistry and philosophy double major from Lexington, South Carolina; Kate Podrebarac ’26, a computer science and applied mathematics double major from Friendswood, Texas; Sam Turnipseed ’25, an English and philosophy major from Columbia, South Carolina; and Rivers West ’25, an environmental studies major from Oak Ridge, North Carolina, signed up to take part in Hall’s research project “Developing Undergraduate Humanistic AI Research Capacity at a Small Liberal Arts College.”

Hall, an associate professor of English who leads the college’s AI Working Group, says current research focuses on how faculty and administrators view generative AI – a platform like ChatGPT for instance. She is making sure student perspectives are included.

Hall’s collaboration with the student researchers will add depth to the AI Working Group’s understanding of the issue that everyone is talking about these days.

“We are trying to think about what Wofford can offer students and how the college can prepare them for a generative AI future,” she says, “and to develop policies and training on campus to support students.”

For her project, Hall applied for and received a student-faculty research grant. Her team has spent the summer gathering data and information. They sent out campus surveys to gauge student perceptions on AI, and they will follow up with interviews.

“We presented to the Gateway Scholars last week,” Breazele says. “Hearing incoming student perspectives was important to our understanding and for developing and implementing new guidelines on campus.”

Turnipseed’s favorite part of the project has been the team’s lively discussions, during which they share their ideas and opinions on the topic.

“This has been the most fascinating part of the research,” Turnipseed says. “It’s interesting that even within our small group, everyone has their own ideas and opinions about AI.”

Hall says that in 2025 Wofford will join the AI Ready Network, a 12-month program sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges. The program supports effective AI strategies.