NMSU partners with CRA to launch LEVEL UP AI with nearly $1 million NSF grant

New Mexico State University has partnered with the Computing Research Association in bringing the National Science Foundation’s EducateAI Initiative to New Mexico. CRA will receive over $700,000 and NMSU just under $300,000 for an 18-month program beginning in January 2025.

Source: NMSU News Release
Sept. 5, 2024
WRITERS: Minerva Baumann, mbauma46@nmsu.edu ; Matt Hazenbush, mhazenbush@cra.org

NSF announced $8 million in grants awarded to organizations and educational institutions across the country to prepare the next generation of talent for a diverse, well-trained artificial intelligence workforce. This initiative is closely aligned with the broader efforts of the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR), as highlighted in a recent NSF announcement.

“NMSU is excited to collaborate with CRA on the LEVEL UP AI initiative,” said Enrico Pontelli, dean of the NMSU College of Arts and Sciences and Regents Professor in computer science. “As AI continues to reshape industries and society, it’s crucial that our educational systems evolve to provide all students with the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from these advancements. LEVEL UP AI is a significant step in that direction, and I’m proud to be part of this effort to enhance and diversify AI education.”

The LEVEL UP AI project seeks to build consensus within the computing community on strategies to enhance AI education through expanded curricula, robust infrastructure and inclusive practices. This initiative will help ensure that AI education is accessible to all, paving the way for a more diverse and skilled AI workforce.

“At CRA, we recognize the urgent need to increase the country’s capacity for AI education,” said Tracy Camp, executive director and CEO of CRA. “The LEVEL UP AI initiative is our strategy for uniting the computing community to address this critical challenge. By developing inclusive and high-quality AI education strategies, we will not only meet the current needs but also prepare for the future of AI.”

“This initiative directly aligns with the vision of NAIRR, which seeks to democratize access to AI resources and ensure that the expansion of AI education is inclusive, representing all communities in AI developments.”

“LEVEL UP AI: Developing Strategies to Increase Capacity and Inclusion in AI Education” is led by CRA, in collaboration with NMSU, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society and several NSF Broadening Participation in Computing Alliances. This project seeks to build consensus on strategies to increase capacity and diversity in AI education and to expand AI curricula and infrastructure.

LEVEL UP AI will use a two-phase approach, including virtual roundtable discussions and in-person workshops, to gather diverse perspectives and create a roadmap for enhancing AI education.
The LEVEL UP AI initiative builds on the success of CRA’s previous LEVEL UP project, which was also funded by NSF to create a united vision for inclusive undergraduate computing education. This new phase, in collaboration with NMSU, will culminate in a comprehensive report, providing a roadmap for increasing capacity and inclusion in AI education programs across the country. The report will be widely disseminated and will serve as a valuable resource for institutions seeking to enhance their AI education offerings.

“AI is not going away,” Pontelli said. “The World Economic Forum, for example, began a training initiative in 2020 to reskill one billion people worldwide by 2030 to ‘future proof’ them against careers expected to be replaced by automation. AI requires critical thinking, analytics, communication and strong reading and writing skills that our students learn through the College of Arts and Sciences. These skills also are key to navigating technology and recognizing where it can be useful. Our students need to merge those skills with new skills to adapt to emerging AI technologies.”

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Levi Gwaltney

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