Students & AI Literacy
ASCEND-AI equips students with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and ethical frameworks needed to navigate a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Through AI-enhanced coursework, faculty-led learning experiences, and student leadership opportunities, participants develop the skills to evaluate, apply, and engage with AI responsibly. The initiative is expected to impact approximately 400 undergraduate and graduate students annually across Howard University and Bowie State University.
What Students Learn
ASCEND-AI helps students:
Build foundational AI literacy
Use AI responsibly and ethically
Understand academic integrity in an AI-enabled environment
Critically evaluate AI-generated information and misinformation
Explore AI applications within their disciplines
Develop innovation and entrepreneurship skills for an AI-driven workforce
These learning outcomes are reflected in the initiative's five core areas of focus.
Why It Matters?
Artificial intelligence is changing how people learn, work, and make decisions. Success in an AI-enabled world requires more than knowing how to use AI tools. It requires the ability to critically evaluate outputs, recognize limitations, maintain academic integrity, and apply AI responsibly within specific disciplines. ASCEND-AI helps students develop these competencies while preparing them for future academic, professional, and civic engagement.
What is addressed?
AI Literacy Gap → "What Students Learn"
Metacognitive Risk → critical evaluation, misinformation, limitations, academic integrity
Retention Disconnect → students see AI integrated into courses they already take
Cross-Disciplinary Gap → modules embedded across humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, and health sciences rather than confined to one department.
Student Impact At A Glance
A snapshot of how ASCEND AI is expanding AI literacy, leadership, and learning opportunities for students across institutions and disciplines.
400+
Students engaged annually through AI-integrated coursework
40+
Faculty trained annually to support student AI literacy
10
ASCEND-AI Literacy Student Ambassadors supported annually
5
Core AI-literacy modules embedded across disciplines
2
HBCUs collaborating to advance responsible AI education
15+
Disciplines Represented
Looking Ahead!
Student AI Literacy Ambassador Program
As part of the ASCEND-AI project, we plan to develop a future initiative Student AI Literacy Ambassador Program that will provide undergraduate students with opportunities to deepen their AI literacy while building leadership and peer education skills.
The proposed program is expected to include:
Peer education and AI communication skill development
Participation in workshops and student engagement activities
Leadership and professional development opportunities
Promotion of responsible and ethical AI use
Future program details, eligibility requirements, timelines, and participation opportunities will be announced as they become available.
