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On August 4, 2026, American Public University System combined with Rasmussen University and Hondros College of Nursing to form a single higher education institution. American Public University System (The System) now includes American Public University, American Military University, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc. (APEI). We are continuing to update our website to reflect our new structure.

 

AI and the Future of Education Conference

 

November 12 - 13, 2026

The AI and the Future of Education invites educators and scholars to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in postsecondary education. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on individual disciplines, student learning, faculty teaching, accessibility, and job preparedness remains a critical area of study and application. This conference serves as a platform to discuss innovations, challenges, and best practices related to AI in higher education.

Conference Details

Dates: November 12 - 13, 2026
Format: Virtual
Cost: Free and open to the public

Register Here!

Conference Themes

We welcome proposals that align with the conference theme and explore AI's potential in various higher education contexts. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

  • AI in Teaching and Learning: AI tools for course development, classroom management, gamification, discussions, and feedback, including discipline-specific integrations
  • AI and Student Support: AI-driven strategies for student retention, advising, analytics, and mental health support
  • AI and Professional Innovation: AI strategies for professional research, development, and training
  • AI and Ethics: AI solutions that promote responsible use of technology in the field of education of both student and instructors
  • AI for Equity and Accessibility: AI tools and support to provide access to students with disabilities and from any marginalized group

Proposal Guidelines

2026 proposal submissions are currently closed.

  • Presenter information: Name and position (job title, student status, or organization)
  • Abstract: 250-450 words outlining the topic's key points and relevance to AI in higher education
  • Session type: Paper, panel, or poster
  • Submission deadline is August 17, 2026

All submission will be peer-reviewed based on originality, clarity, relevance, and impact. Accepted presenters will receive detailed participation guidelines upon acceptance.

Any questions? Contact the conference organizers here: aiconference@apus.edu

Conference Schedule

9:00am

  • Day One Keynote: Amanda Bickerstaff

10:10am

  • Beyond Compliance: Framing AI Disclosure as a Digital Literacy Skill
  • How Colleges and Universities are Adopting AI in Higher Education: A Global Comparative Analysis
  • Ethics, Inclusion, and Literacy in Generative AI: Challenges for a Critical and Innovative Education

10:50am

  • Generative AI, Older Adults and Intergenerational Dialogue: From Digital Resilience to Geragogical Practice
  • AI as Encounter: Rethinking Active Learning in the Humanities
  • Cultivating AI Innovation through Faculty Microgrants

11:30am

  • The Fading Fingerprint: Tracking the Shift from Personal Voice to Polished Prose in the AI Era
  • Before Scaling AI: What Educational Institutions Need to Decide First
  • AI-Enhanced Gamification as a Framework for Teaching STEM and Data Literacy

12:30pm

  • Developing an Ethical AI Literacy Framework for Graduate Students: Promoting Responsible AI Use in Higher Education
  • Better Papers, Faster Grading: Empowering Students and Faculty with The AI Grading Assistant
  • Keeping the Human in the Loop: The Human-Agent Standard as a Framework for Teaching Agentic Skills

1:10pm

  • Building an AI Roleplaying Simulation
  • From AI Exploration to Educational Transformation: Lessons from an International Faculty Development Partnership
  • Designing AI Agents in Higher Education: Supporting Student Job Search and Career Readiness 

2:00pm

  • Beyond the AI Tool: Designing the Human-Led, AI-Enabled University
  • From Product to Process: Scenario-Based Projects That Teach Ethical AI Decision-Making
  • Authentic Assessment + AI in Action: Enhancing Clinical Readiness in Simulation

2:40pm

  • The Use of AI Integrated with Avatars in Higher Education
  • AI, Environmental Ethics, and the University
  • Eagle University: Leveraging AI for Leadership Training

3:30pm

  • AI Literacy Is Not Neutral: Teaching It as If Equity Matters
  • Hashtags to Help: How Educators Navigate AI on TikTok
  • An IRB Reviewer’s Perspective on Ethical Considerations, Common Pitfalls, and Best Practices

4:10pm

  • AI Author Chatbots in Literature Education: Early Lessons
  • AI Advising and Retention That Leaves No One Behind: Designing Student-Support Systems for Nontraditional and Disabled Learners
  • Beyond Oversight: Where Critical Judgment About AI Actually Comes From

9:00am

  • Day Two Keynote: Monica Burns

10:10am

  • Constitution, Choice, Ledger: A Student-Governed Framework for Ethical AI in the Classroom
  • Building a Learning Ecosystem: Reimagining Experiential Learning with Simulation, AI, and Virtual Preceptorship
  • They’re Great! Building AI Champions on Your Campus (From AI Interest to Leading a Campus Wide Effort)

10:50am

  • Accessibility as the Standard, Not the Afterthought: Designing AI for Disabled Students and Staff
  • AI Literacy and Assignment Design
  • Using AI in Discussions - Students analyze AI generated dialogue

11:30am

  • Resigning as an AI Detective: Shifting Responsibility to Students
  • When AI Becomes the First Ask: Rethinking Student Support in Online Professional Education
  • Teaching Sociology in the Era of Generative AI

12:30pm

  • Reference Checks for Content Generated by AI - Ensuring Accuracy and Reliability in AI outputs
  • The Legal Risk of Implementing AI tools in Higher Education Administration
  • Perceived Ethical Challenges of Artificial Intelligence Use Among University Lecturers

1:10pm

  • When Policy Isn’t Enough: Building Practical AI Guidance for Students
  • The Human Side of the Handoff: Designing Equitable AI Transitions Across Education and the Workforce
  • The Perfect Online Class in the AI Age 

2:00pm

  • What Counts as Student Work? Faculty Sensemaking about Generative AI, Assessment, Authorship, and Equity
  • Anachronistic and Imaginative Inquiries and Investigations via Algorithmic Iterations (AI) research
  • Governance Before Deployment: A Responsible-AI Framework for Mission-Driven Institutions

2:40pm

  • Leading High-Performing Admissions Teams in AI-Integrated Environments
  • Academic Leadership in the AI Era: The changing landscape of preparing students for high touch careers
  • The Apology Machine: Synthetic Simulation and the Performance of Accountability in AI-Mediated Education

3:30pm

  • Career Readiness in the Age of AI 
  • More Than an AI Course: Why the Future of Education Is a Question, Not a Skill Set
  • Closing Keynote: The AI Tower of Babel: Unifying the Conversation About the Future of the Human/AI Interface

4:30pm

  • Conference Wrap Up