The CU System Artificial Intelligence (AI) Recognition Award: AI for Teaching & Learning honors faculty who use AI innovatively in their teaching to achieve demonstrable improvements in student learning aligned with stated course learning goals. In addition, the recipient's work should have impact beyond their individual courses. By recognizing and rewarding creative, effective uses of AI in pedagogy that produce meaningful student outcomes, the University of Colorado System aims to foster a culture of innovation and excellence in AI-enhanced teaching.

Eligibility

Eligible nominees include full-time CU tenured or tenure-track faculty and full-time and instructional series faculty. Any member of the university community may submit a nomination and self-nominations are allowed. 

Award Amount

Recipients will receive a one-time honorarium of $4,000. If a pair or team of faculty receive an award, the amount would be shared among the team members.

Number of Awards

Up to ten awards can be given each year.

Nomination Requirements

Nominations must contain the following information and adhere to the following format.

• Cover Sheet, which includes (one page):
  • project title
  • nominee’s name, position title, department, campus, phone number, and email address (if more than one nominee, include information for each);
  • indicate faculty title (only full-time CU tenured or tenure-track faculty or full-time Instructional track faculty are eligible to receive an award);
  • indicate whether this is a nomination or self-nomination; and,
  • brief description of the work being recognized.
• Nomination Narrative, which includes (three pages or less):
  • a description of the specific AI use in the course(s);
  • demonstration of the increase in student performance relative to the learning goals/outcomes of the course(s);
  • demonstration of the impact the specific AI use has had on student learning beyond the nominee’s course(s) - we understand this may be less rigorous than the results in the nominee’s course(s); and,
  • a discussion of how the AI use is evolving or can evolve the pedagogical approach of the nominee.
• CV (abbreviated, no more than two pages)
• Supporting Letters
  • One supporting letter from a student discussing the impact of the use of AI in the nominee’s course.
  • One supporting letter from a department/school/college leader.
  • No more than three supporting letters are allowed. 

Selection Process

A system-wide advisory committee, comprised of distinguished faculty from across the campuses, will review proposals and submit its recommendation to the President. The committee will convene in April and award notifications will be emailed by April 17, 2026.

Post Award Reporting

Recipients will be required to generate a poster describing their work and present it at an in-person celebration of the honorees, and the poster will be digitally hosted on the CU System Office of Academic Affairs website. Additionally, recipients will be required to present a seminar on their work for their campus.

Recognition Event

An in-person celebration of the honorees and a sharing of their work will take place in early May 2026. 

Nomination Form

Nominate by March 30, 2026.

VIEW HERE [2]