Carleton College Non-Exempt Position Description

Job Title: Educational Associate for AI Initiatives

Reports To (Title): Director of AI Academic Initiatives

Division: Office of the Provost

Revision Date:  January 3, 2025

Project Overview: 

Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, particularly the availability of generative AI tools, have the potential to transform the ways we work, communicate, and create. Carleton College is committed to teaching students how to use these tools ethically, equitably, and sustainably to prepare them for an AI-infused world. Carleton also seeks to explore the ways that AI tools will influence teaching & learning strategies and changes to the operational work of the college and its employees. 

Position Overview: The Associate for AI Initiatives will play a role in Carleton’s efforts to integrate AI technology, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Adobe Firefly, and Notebook LM, into our teaching, student support, and administrative operations. The Associate will report to the Director of AI Academic Initiatives and will work collaboratively with the rest of the AI Core Team (Provost, Chief Technology Officer, LTC Director, Director of Academic Technology and Information Security Officer) as well as individual faculty and staff members.  This is an entry-level position with many opportunities to learn more about Generative AI and to be part of a team that is exploring next steps for Carleton.  

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

• Explore AI Technologies: tracks the developing literature on AI in education and looks for new tools and techniques that might support the curricular, research, or administrative work of Carleton faculty, students, and staff.  Investigates and reports on emerging AI technologies, initially in partnership with others on campus and later as an individual effort.  

• Explore Uses of AI in Education: tracks programming and support materials related to AI at other higher ed institutions, looking for opportunities for parallel programming and strategic partnerships at Carleton including ethical considerations and sustainability efforts. 

• Campus-Wide Outreach: aids the Core Team in maintaining communication among stakeholders in Carleton’s educational mission. This includes efforts to promote existing AI resources and to assess further needs for faculty, students, and instructional staff. In particular, will help the Director of AI Academic Initiatives and the AI Core Team understand students’ needs and perspectives regarding AI tools.  

• Maintain the carleton.edu/ai Site: includes organizing content created by the Director of AI Academic Initiatives, the AI Coordinating Committee, and the AI Core Team. May generate content (blog posts, event descriptions, etc.) to promote AI-related work and resources.

• Assist with AI-Related Programming: includes events, workshops, listening sessions, and presentations led or organized by the Director of AI Academic Initiatives or other members of the Core Team, as well as supporting meetings of the AI Community of Practice. 

• Support AI Literacy Efforts:  works with the Director of AI Academic Initiatives, the Director of Academic Technology, and others on the AI Core Team, to create and deliver resources to facilitate campus-wide AI literacy. 

• User Support and Training:  participates in individual and group training sessions regarding use of generative AI. Supports administrative users in their explorations of Gen AI tools. 

Possible Job Functions/Responsibilities (time permitting):

• Provide support of AI technologies:  works with the Chief Technology Officer and other Carleton staff members to explore and support user-friendly AI applications such as Amplify.  

• Provide support of security considerations related to AI technologies:  works with the Information Security Officer to create a list of vendor-provided AI tools and chatbots in use at Carleton. Supports evaluation of data security implications of each vendor.  

• Explore applications of AI tools:  researches opportunities for developing custom Carleton chatbots using tools such as OpenAI’s GPT Builder. Develops and tests ways to create AI-enabled access to information (e.g. asking questions against the Carleton Handbook). 

 Education/Experience/Skills:

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience. Preference given to applicants with good writing and problem solving skills. 

• Willingness and ability to consistently acquire new knowledge and skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, adaptable to varied situations

• Strong analytical skills and aptitude for learning how to use new technologies

• Demonstrated commitment to collaborative decision-making

• Strong orientation towards serving institutional goals

• Detail orientation

• Basic experience using one or more Gen AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc) is preferred

NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive.  Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.