AI Community of Practice
What does the AICOP do?
AICOP provides a space for knowledge sharing, learning, and potential collaboration across system campuses. People with all levels of experience and in any university role are welcome, and we’re proud to bring faculty, instructors, researchers, technologists, postdoctoral researchers, clinicians, and administrators together for conversations online and in synchronous events.
The core of the AICOP is the Google Group, where we share information about events, ask open-ended questions for discussions, and recommend readings and resources. The quantity of AI research, the development of AI technologies, and the hype engine behind Generative AI have all contributed to an environment where no single person can keep up with everything. Our community of practice helps to share that load, and allows everyone to say, “Is this something I need to think about?”
While members come from all over the UMN system, the AICOP is not a department, program, or office. Our community is based entirely on the shared interest and goodwill of the participants, so it isn’t responsible for establishing policy, producing research, or providing tech support.
How do we create connections?
Members can use the Google Group to share articles, blog-posts, memes, and employment opportunities. Or share their policy documents and advice, or ask for assistance on something.
The AICOP Planning group publishes our Curated AI Events and Articles list to the Google Group. Our volunteer curators offer interesting news, scholarly articles, and editorials, and promote upcoming workshops and talks in our community.
By joining our community, you are now officially a curator! Unlike some programs that hold to a regular schedule of publication, AICOP curators post based on inspiration and enthusiasm (which is to say, intermittently, sporadically, and irregularly)
Sharing and Exploring AI Events:
The AICOP hosts monthly ShareTime presentations, which feature the research, explorations, and practices of University of Minnesota System faculty and staff. AICOP members are automatically invited to Share Time Events.
During the 2025-2026 Academic year, ShareTime will be on the third Wednesday at noon via Zoom. The dates are:
- October 12, 2025
- November 19, 2025
- December 17, 2025
- January 21, 2026
- February 18, 2026
- March 18, 2026
- April 15, 2026
May 20, 2026
We welcome community submissions for presentation topics, and we encourage everyone to use this forum to share programming from their departments and offices.
Our community is based entirely on the shared interest and goodwill of the participants, so it isn’t responsible for establishing policy, producing research, or providing tech support.
Who can join?
AICOP membership is organized around a Google Group and is open to anyone affiliated with the University of Minnesota. The group is an informal community of practice and is not directly funded by the University of Minnesota.
Volunteer with the AICOP
Volunteers facilitate the AICOP. The current AY 2025 AICOP Planning team consists of:
- Solen Feyissa, School of Public Health, UMTC
- Hayley Borck, DSAI Hub, UMN RIO
- Mary Jetter, CEI, UMN System
- Dan Emery, WAC, UMTC
- Treden Wagoner, CEHD, UMTC
- Adam Brisk, ITSS, UMD
- Cherie Lemer, Health, Safety, and Risk Management, UMN System
- You?
Want to contribute to the AICOP? Can you help us represent Crookston, Morris, and Rochester campuses and their AI Interests? Reach out to [email protected]
AICOP is grateful for the support of the DSAI Hub and the Center for Educational Innovation for access to web hosting, calendar, and events support
Generative AI Starting Points
Navigating AI @ UMN is a sponsored website for generative AI news, presentations, events, and resources for the University of Minnesota Community.
The resources below are University-supported tools available for use by any UMN Systems staff or student.
