Summer Conference Offers Faculty and Staff Opportunity to Reimagine Education with AI
The Office of Academic Innovation will host its annual summer conference welcoming faculty and staff from Cal Poly Pomona and beyond to explore the theme, “The AI-Driven Future of Higher Education and Work.”
This two-day conference event, set for June 4-5, invites educators to engage in critical conversations at the intersection of artificial intelligence, pedagogy, and workforce development.
Participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights from academic experts as they share cross-disciplinary strategies for navigating the AI-driven evolution of education and work. In recognition of learning and professional growth, attendees will earn a digital badge to commemorate their participation. In addition, the conference offers meaningful networking opportunities, bringing together educators, researchers, and industry professionals from various universities to build collaborative connections and share best practices.
The conference will offer two key areas of focus: one track will explore AI in the Classroom, highlighting emerging instructional technologies, teaching strategies, and tools that enhance student engagement and learning. The second track, AI Outside of the Classroom, will examine how AI is shaping experiential learning, career readiness, and industry-aligned education. Attendees are encouraged to explore sessions across both tracks based on their interests.
“The Summer Conference this year will support faculty and staff members in higher education to become more familiar with how AI can be leveraged in their work as well as discuss how to mitigate pitfalls of incorporating AI,” said Winny Dong, inaugural senior director, Innovation and Grants for the Office of Academic Innovation and conference chair. “An area of emphasis will be on preparing students for a world shaped by AI.”
Priyanthan Sai Chand Bazaru, technical lead for Innovation Incubator and conference speaker, added that the conference will enable participants to learn more about the growing use of the technology across a range of fields.
“As industries rapidly adopt AI to improve everyday life, this conference is a timely opportunity for faculty and staff to embrace these changes and drive innovation in their fields—ultimately benefiting student success,” Bazaru said.
The conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4p.m. both days, in Building 162, Room 1001. Early bird registration is $175 (available until May 2), and general admission is $225 (available through May 21). Cal Poly Pomona faculty and staff may attend at no cost—thanks to support from the NSF INVEST grant. Click here to request your promo code.
All attendees will enjoy a continental breakfast and lunch on both days. Sessions are designed to be flexible, allowing participants to mix and match workshops and discussions across both focus areas.
We invite educators and professionals from all institutions to join us for this exciting opportunity to learn, connect, and co-create the future of higher education.
For more information about the conference, visit the summer conference website or contact the Office of Academic Innovation at ai@cpp.edu.