The Artificial Intelligence Incubator Network Initiative is managed by American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) with funding from Dell Technologies and Intel. This 18-month initiative aims to design and build Artificial Intelligence (AI) Incubators across the country utilizing the expertise and industry-connections of America’s community college system.
AACC believes that AI has become an increasingly important and relevant field of study across multiple occupational areas and industry sectors. AI Incubators (physical or virtual) can be solution centers for the community and a talent pool for the local labor market. Community colleges can learn from their peers through this network at a faster rate than if they tackled this topic alone. All colleges seeking to participate in this work developing and strategizing how to incorporate AI learning content into their courses and learning pathways into their institutions are welcomed.
Participating colleges are part of a national dialogue and have access to a set of coordinated resources including with the following:
- AI Incubator Network discussions led by AACC once per month in one of three cohorts:
- Cohort A: Colleges seeking to design and build an AI Incubator as a physical laboratory on the campus
- Cohort B: Colleges seeking to design and build an AI Incubator in a virtual platform
- Cohort C: Colleges seeking to design and build a hybridized AI Incubator in both virtual and on-campus scenarios
- State-specific (or regional where appropriate) opportunities to connect with AACC on strategic economic development related to AI Incubators
- Strategies on student engagement into AI programming, and shared lessons about student projects between and among the participating colleges
- Best practices from the field of AI Incubation as identified by AACC, Intel, Dell, and other industry-relevant partners including but not limited to:
- AI learning content, course exercises, instructional videos, data sets, authentic learning experiences, pre-packaged modules for courses, etc.
- Pathways to credit and non-credit bearing courses, certificates, associate degree programs, bachelor’s degree programs, course sequencing, etc.
- Strategies for identifying the program delivery style that will best suit each campus. Learn more about virtual, hybrid, and in-person labs.
- Train-the-trainer faculty programs to prepare faculty to teach the AI content.