Thomas Edison State University (TESU) Wednesday announced plans to create a Center of Excellence for AI Innovation. The initiative is intended to ensure that every TESU student, regardless of discipline, graduates with some level of AI competency, and better positioning them to work in a technology-driven workforce.
Backed by an initial $450,000 in seed funding from the TESU Foundation, the center represents a milestone in the university’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan and will place TESU at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence across higher education.
“TESU has always been in front of the pack with our living curriculum that builds on our decades of innovation and outcomes,” said TESU President Merodie A. Hancock. “By embedding AI into every aspect of learning and student support, we will empower graduates, from nursing and business to technology and the liberal arts, with leading-edge AI skills and confidence.”
The center will focus on three core areas:
- AI-infused learning and credentials — Embedding AI expertise into courses across all disciplines, developing applied AI microcredentials and certificates and making coursework more interactive and personalized.
- Enhanced student experience — Deploying AI-powered tools for recruitment, advising, real-time on-the-job learning and transfer credit mapping, “what-if” academic planning and 24/7 virtual assistance tailored to working adults.
- Institutional agility — Using AI for environmental scanning, collaboration and workflow optimization to enhance TESU’s responsiveness and operational efficiency.
As TESU builds partnerships, both corporate and philanthropic, to advance the center, Steven R. King ’93, ’15, chair of the TESU Foundation Board and an expert in early-stage technology companies, underscored the urgency of this effort. “This center positions TESU for the future and leverages the university’s unique ability to be both nimble and bold,” King said. “It creates an exciting opportunity for pioneering technology companies that share TESU’s spirit of innovation and commitment to join forces with an institution invested in shaping what’s next.”
The center is slated to launch later in 2025 with the appointment of AI Scholars-in-Residence and pilot initiatives. These initiatives will expand into scalable programs that embed AI into every student’s degree plan, ensuring graduates leave TESU prepared for the careers of today and tomorrow.
