Since opening its doors in Columbia in 1801, the University of South Carolina (USC) has been dedicated to expanding opportunity through education. What began as a single institution has grown into a statewide university system serving more than 58,000 students across eight campuses statewide. Today, USC combines a rich academic tradition with a forward-looking commitment to discovery, offering more than 350 degree programs and earning recognition as a leader in fields ranging from health sciences to international business.
As technology continues to reshape the world, USC sees artificial intelligence not as a distant trend, but as an essential part of preparing students for their futures. Guided by a vision to remain at the forefront of innovation, the university has invested in faculty development, established partnerships with organizations like OpenAI and created thoughtful policies that encourage responsible AI use while upholding academic integrity.
The Challenge
Helping Faculty Navigate Change
For higher education institutions everywhere, one of the most important questions surrounding AI is not whether students will use it, but how educators can thoughtfully incorporate it into teaching and learning.
At USC, leaders recognized that building confidence among faculty would be critical. While many instructors were curious about AI’s potential, others had understandable concerns about its impact on learning, assessment and academic honesty.
“There is a lot of misconception about what AI is,” explains eLearning Consultant and Adjunct Professor Alex Fiscus. “People are afraid of the unknown. Faculty were really worried that AI was going to cause cheating and were deciding not to use it without fully understanding the tools and how they can help.”
Rather than dismissing those concerns, USC chose to address them directly with empathy, transparency and support.
The Solution
Meeting Faculty Where They Are
The USC Division of Information Technology partnered with the Center for Teaching Excellence to create a faculty-focused AI training initiative spanning all eight campuses.
“Our goal has never been to encourage faculty to use AI for its own sake,” said Gloria Washington, an instructional designer at the Center for Teaching Excellence. “We want instructors to feel supported in exploring generative AI tools in ways that strengthen their teaching, align with their learning objectives, and preserve the human relationships that are central to education.”
At the heart of the effort was a simple principle: meaningful adoption begins with trust.
“We try to be open-minded and empathetic with our faculty because their concerns are valid,” says eLearning Consultant Katie Vaughan. “But we also want to share things with them in a way that makes them want to engage.”
Training sessions were designed around the realities of faculty life. Virtual workshops accommodated busy schedules, live demonstrations showed practical classroom applications and sandbox environments gave instructors a safe place to experiment before introducing new approaches to students.
Equally important was helping faculty understand that AI would not replace their expertise or decision-making. Blackboard’s Trustworthy AI Approach, particularly its “Humans in Control” principle, reinforced that instructors remain the architects of their courses and the ultimate decision-makers in the learning experience.
“Showing them they’re always in control has been really important,” says Fiscus. “We don’t try to push anything on them. We explain how different tools can be helpful and let them decide whether they’d like to adopt them.”
From Curiosity to Confidence
As trust grew, many instructors began exploring Blackboard’s AI-powered tools within workflows they already knew.
For some, the AI Design Assistant became a source of inspiration—helping generate fresh assessment ideas, refine course structures, and develop grading rubrics.
“Even for instructors who have very established courses, the AI Design Assistant suggests new ideas for assessments to keep classes fresh and relevant.”
Alex Fiscus, eLearning Consultant and Adjunct Professor, University of South Carolina
For others, the greatest impact came through Blackboard’s AI Conversation tool. Faculty in hands-on disciplines discovered new ways for students to practice important skills before entering higher-pressure classroom or clinical environments.
Dr. Celena Kusch from USC Upstate describes the value of these experiences.
“Students are not always confident to participate in practical tasks live with their peers in the classroom, so having this safe space like the AI Conversation to practice beforehand makes a huge difference.”
Dr. Celena Kusch, USC Upstate
What began in individual programs soon spread across the university system. Nursing and psychology faculty, in particular, embraced the tool’s ability to provide students with opportunities to build confidence through practice and reflection.
“Our nursing and psychology folks love the AI Conversation,” says Fiscus. “It gives students another way to prepare and engage.”
More recently, faculty have begun using AVA Feedback to support one of the most important parts of teaching: communicating with students.
“I use it as my personal Grammarly, my editor,” explains Fiscus. “It helps polish my feedback and provide clarity for my students.”
For instructors, the value lies not in replacing their judgment, but in helping them communicate more effectively and consistently while preserving their own voice.
“I’ve been able to show faculty that it can summarize feedback based on their rubrics without taking away their voice or cutting them out of the grading process.”
Looking ahead, USC plans to explore Blackboard’s new AVA Playground capability, continuing its tradition of thoughtful experimentation and continuous improvement.
“We are always very eager to be early adopters and try new things and provide whatever feedback we can,” says Vaughan. “We’ll be opting in to the Playground to see how it can enhance the student experience.”
The Result
Putting People First in AI Adoption
USC’s approach to AI adoption has never been about technology for technology’s sake. Instead, it has focused on empowering instructors, supporting students, and creating learning experiences that are both innovative and human-centered.
By fostering trust, providing practical support, and ensuring that faculty remain in control, the university has helped instructors move from uncertainty to confidence. The result is a growing community of educators who are thoughtfully integrating AI into their teaching while preserving the expertise, creativity, and personal connection that define great education.
“Blackboard creates a very safe space to utilize AI,” says Fiscus. “You’re able to see what your students are interacting with. You’re able to create tasks where there’s nothing happening that you don’t see.”
Epilogue
A Partnership Built on Shared Learning
Blackboard thanks Alex Fiscus, Katie Vaughan, and the full USC team for their partnership and advocacy. Their AI leadership has been showcased in the Blackboard User Group. USC was also awarded a Blackboard Visionary Award, which honors transformative institutions that are reimagining what’s possible.
