Presentation Schedule
From AI Interest to Application: What Faculty AI Training Reveals About Higher Education’s Digital Future (101559)
Session Chair: Ahmed Alsharif
Sunday, 4 January 2026 12:40
Session: Session 3 (Parallel)
Room: Hawaii Convention Center: Room 302B
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
With artificial intelligence rapidly transforming higher education, faculty development programs must evolve to support meaningful technology integration. This mixed-methods study examines how faculty members applied AI skills following participation in the Hands-on AI Skills for Teaching Excellence (HASTE) program at a southeastern R1 university, using the modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology framework. Survey responses (n=21) and interviews (n=14) revealed that structured, hands-on professional development successfully builds AI literacy, with 95.2% of participants reporting increased knowledge and high program satisfaction (M=4.52). However, significant gaps emerge between training outcomes and sustained implementation. While 86% of faculty used AI for instructional planning, only 62% integrated it into student assignments, revealing complex tensions between innovation and academic integrity. Six key themes emerged: AI as a productivity multiplier enabling teaching excellence; the critical importance of structured skill-building through community learning; significant departmental resistance creating social barriers; institutional infrastructure gaps limiting sustained adoption; ethical considerations; and variations in implementation patterns. Most critically, faculty faced substantial barriers, including a lack of institutional AI licensing, policy uncertainty, and ongoing support systems. The research contributes three extensions to traditional UTAUT models for AI contexts: trust in AI technologies, ethical considerations, and sustained usage behavior. Findings demonstrate that effective AI integration requires coordinated investment in professional development, comprehensive infrastructure, and cultural change strategies. This study provides actionable insights for institutional leaders developing AI adoption strategies while highlighting the complex interplay between individual skill development, organizational capacity, and sustained technology integration in academic contexts.
Authors:
Laura McNeill, University of Alabama, United States
Shelby Morris, University of Alabama, United States
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Laura McNeill is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at University of Alabama in United States
Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajmcneill
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