What does the AICOP do?

AICOP provides a space for knowledge sharing, learning, and potential collaboration across the University of Minnesota campuses. We welcome people with all levels of experience in generative AI and in any university role.

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.

AICOP membership is managed through our Google Group. Here we share information about events, ask open-ended questions, have discussions, and recommend readings and resources. 

Joining the AICoP:

AICOP membership 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. To join:

1. Log into your @umn.edu Google account. Visit  https://groups.google.com and search for AICOP, or 
2. Visit AICOP membership page in Google Groups, or 
3. Email [email protected] to be manually added.   

How do AICOP create connections?

Curated AI Events and Articles

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.

When you join our community, you become an official curator! AICOP curators post based on inspiration and enthusiasm (which is to say, intermittently, sporadically, and irregularly) Email [email protected] with your idea, question, and suggestion!

AICOP ShareTime

During the Academic Year, AICOP hosts monthly ShareTime presentations, which feature the research, explorations, and practices of University of Minnesota System faculty and staff. All AICOP members are automatically invited to Share Time Events. An updated ShareTime schedule will be released in August 2026.

AICOP welcomes suggestions and nominations for Sharetime speakers and topics, and we strongly encourage everyone to use our forum and list to share programming from their departments and offices.

Prior Sharetime Recording

• AICOP ShareTime with Matt Belsky: "Disorganized Input: AI, Access, and the Neurodivergent Brain"
• AICOP ShareTime with Alisa Dean: "How Working with AI Changed How I Build, Think, and Collaborate"
• AICOP ShareTime With Shane Stennes: “Sustainability & AI”

Volunteer with the AICOP

Want to contribute to the AICOP? AICOP will recruit new volunteers in September of 2026, but your participation is welcome at any time. A call will be placed on the AI-Hub Website and through the Google Group. 

What does it mean to volunteer for the AICoP? It can include: 

• Attendance at monthly meetings  
• Assisting with small projects in the AICOP
• Initiating and facilitating conversations in the Google Group
• Sharing events and resources from your communities,
• Facilitating monthly AI ShareTime meetings
• Serving as a guest speaker or moderator

The 2025-2026 AICOP Planning team is:

• Solen Feyissa, School of Public Health, UMTC
• Hayley Borck, AI Hub, UMN System
• 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?

AICOP is grateful to the AI Hub and the Center for Educational Innovation for access to web hosting, the calendar, and event support.