91ӣƵ Selected for First-of-its Kind AI Training Initiative
Dr. Trent Mohrbutter and Dr. Lane Freeman led AI training on the ECC campus.
91ӣƵ has been selected as one of only five community colleges in North Carolina to participate in the inaugural AI in Career and Technical Education (AI in CTE) initiative. Five ECC faculty members took part in two training sessions — the first held on the ECC campus and the second at Surry Community College in Dobson, N.C.
The college joined the Perkins-funded program to improve efficiency in administrative and instructional tasks and to learn how to incorporate AI appropriately in the classroom. The initiative is facilitated by the North Carolina Community College System Office and the Student Success Center.
According to Dr. Bruce Panneton, vice president of instruction and ECC’s chief academic officer, about 30 to 40 chief academic officers across five states were involved at the start of the project.
“Each state was working on a particular project with their state agency,” Panneton said. “The project we chose was artificial intelligence because we have been coordinating with the system office to work on the growing boom of AI.”
The CAOs developed and edited the official handbook of the NC Community College System, and the system office applied for a Perkins grant to expand the initiative.
ECC faculty members Adam Culbertson, Ami Denton, Rebecca Stamilio Ehret, Dr. Johnica Ellis Kiser and Tiffany Smith participated in the training.
“We learned how to train other faculty and students to effectively and appropriately use AI,” said Denton, director of nursing programs. “We were divided into two groups and demonstrated how we would teach certain parts of the training modules to our colleagues.”
With AI becoming increasingly common in community colleges and throughout daily life, Culbertson, director of public services, said the training will benefit ECC employees, students and the broader community.
“This training will help us provide information to the community on the positives of using AI and address any myths that are present regarding its use,” Culbertson said. “It will also help us engage students better and help them know when and how to use AI appropriately.”
Through a partnership with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), ECC’s use of AI will extend beyond the five training participants. The ACUE Commons will provide access to full-and part-time instructors, as well as interested staff members, who want to explore expert-led modules, a digital library and other resources to enhance their AI skills.
“Not only will this initiative benefit students by ensuring faculty know how to effectively use AI tools for engaging classroom activities,” Denton said. “It will also prepare our students for the changing workforce, where AI is becoming a commonplace tool they will need to know how to use.”