The convening will serve as a collaborative forum to review findings and share institutional perspectives based on a comprehensive national survey of graduate deans at leading STEM PhD-granting institutions across the United States. This survey examined the current status and implementation of AI-related policies and processes spanning all domains of graduate education, including administrative operations, curriculum development, research practices, and student conduct standards.

“At a time when AI is potentially reshaping how we approach graduate education, this convening couldn’t be more timely—it’s exactly the kind of collaborative dialogue we need to navigate these changes thoughtfully and responsibly,” said Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, vice provost for Graduate Education and dean of the Graduate College, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from peers across the country as we work together to harness AI’s potential while maintaining the rigor and integrity that define excellent graduate programs.”

Led by NORC principal investigator Erin Knepler and co-principal investigator Debra Stewart, the convening will explore how AI is being integrated across graduate education—from admissions and curriculum design to student advising and administrative processes.

Participants will assess how these innovations align with goals around access and excellence, identify best practices for responsible AI implementation, and develop community-informed guidelines for ethical and equitable use of AI in graduate STEM programs. The AI in Graduate Education Convening continues NORC’s AI-related research and is supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

For more information and to register, visit the AI in Graduate Education Convening webpage.