Taylor University’s two-day Colleagues’ College conference focused on, “Engaging AI with Purpose: Enhancing Learning While Protecting What Matters Most.” Held Aug. 26 and 27, speakers educated faculty on how to use Artificial Intelligence effectively.
Faculty across all Taylor University departments attended the conference. Day one addressed how faculty can view AI through a faith lens. Day two introduced a hands-on approach where faculty practiced using AI as a tool.
Sarah Gibson, AI expert and professional, led both days of the conference as the keynote speaker. Gibson recently stepped down from 18 years in higher education to pursue a career in instructing higher education institutions on how to properly and faithfully utilize AI.
“What’s unique about what is happening here (at Taylor) is a bunch of educators coming together who are saying, ‘We love and care for our students, and we’re going to reconsider if AI should be used in our classroom,’” Gibson said.
Samuel de Paiva Naves Mamede, professor of management, served as the lead organizer of this year’s conference. His goal in this conference was to challenge faculty to utilize AI in their classrooms due to its increasing popularity in today’s culture.
“Upon presenting a global corporate AI investment, year by year, the investment in terms of AI is getting higher,” Mamede said.
According to Mamede’s research, use of AI in 2026 has reached incredible high levels. Students are embracing AI as a learning tool fast.
80% of students worldwide say they’ve used AI to support their studies, 69% want their curriculum to include AI training and 80% use AI for schoolwork, Mamede said.
“It used to be, ‘Professor, I have one doubt, could you repeat that for me?’ Nowadays, you can just go to ChatGPT and use it to clarify,” Mamede said.“You want to learn fast, to understand fast.”
AI is a gift for students and faculty that students should potentialize, not become dependent on, he said.
Amish Mishra, assistant professor of mathematics, addressed the topic of necessary friction in terms of AI.
“You go to the gym, you lift bigger weights, because that’s how you grow,” Mishra said. “So in the same way, we have to figure out where are the struggles that are necessary, and make sure that we shield those from AI.”
Mishra, alongside the rest of the math department, recognizes that math is supposed to be challenging. Friction is good, and struggling through it is how one grows, he said.
Mishra asks students considering AI use for homework to ask,, “Should I use AI here?” Then ask, “Is the struggle necessary or unnecessary?”
AI is a tool in the same way that any technology is, said Patrick Eggleton, department chair and professor of mathematics.
“I remember when graphing calculators came out … It changed my life,” Eggleton said. “I remember when the internet came around, it was a tool that changed things. You just have to adapt. AI is the latest tool.”
During the conference, Gibson said Taylor deciding to pursue AI is a decision made out of love for their students.
“We love our students; we need to do what’s best for our students, since our students are going to have to interact with AI to some degree,” Eggleton said.
Faculty need to find ways to appropriately utilize AI in order to prepare their students for the future, Eggleton said.
Upon planning to incorporate AI in teaching, Eggleton pointed out that Gibson encouraged teachers to learn how to steward it. She said there are places it should be used and places it shouldn’t.
“For professors to take a step back and thoughtfully rethink their classroom, this is a huge deal,” Gibson said. “Integrating AI into your classroom is a way to care for the student.”
Promoting thoughtful use of AI is an extension of Taylor’s hope to cultivate a relationship between faculty and students. She emphasizes the love and care Taylor already has for their students, so thoughtfully using AI is an extension of that.
Utilizing AI is not a full embrace, Gibson said. Rather, using it critically and thoughtfully is the key.
“Because we know that we are created in God’s image and AI was created based on us, it’s not something to fear,” she said. “God has told us not to be fearful. But it's something that we can embrace in a way that honors Him.”
