CCS Dean Sherwood to Co-Lead Campuswide AI Advisory Committee
Newly formed committee to guide responsible use of AI across campus
On Jan. 5, 2026, the UC Santa Barbara Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost announced the formation of a joint Senate-administrative committee to guide the responsible and thoughtful use of AI on campus, co-chaired by College of Creative Studies (CCS) Dean and College of Engineering and Professor of Computer Science Timothy Sherwood; and College of Letters and Science Film and Media Studies Professor Lisa Parks.
The UCSB Academic Senate-Administration Advisory Committee on the Uses of Artificial Intelligence in Academic Contexts will develop principles, guidelines and policies to support ethical, innovative and effective uses of AI in teaching, research and academic administration, with particular attention to social, ethical and cultural impacts.
The committee will also explore broader implications of AI on campus life, ranging from its use in assessment and evaluation to its intersection with cybersecurity, governance and workplace policy.
Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the challenge, the committee brings together faculty and administrators from across the University, including experts in computer science, education, psychology and the humanities, along with the University Library, Information Technology Services and the Office of Research. This cross-campus collaboration positions the committee to work toward recommendations about principles, protocols, and best practices to help colleges, schools, departments and disciplines develop more specific guidelines that reflect their needs and concerns. The full committee roster is available online.
According to a recent UC-wide faculty survey, respondents across campus share both enthusiasm and concern around AI’s impact on higher education. While many faculty members report incorporating AI into their pedagogy and scholarship in creative new ways, they also raise critical questions about student learning, academic integrity, intellectual property, data privacy, bias and misinformation.
“The experimentation, critical thinking, and creativity at the core of CCS intersect these new technologies in many intriguing and unexpected ways,” said Sherwood.
“CCS is proud to help in leading this essential conversation about the future of AI for our campus and beyond.”
“Universities have a responsibility not just to respond to artificial intelligence, but to actively shape how it is understood and used in teaching, research and society,” said Parks. “The Advisory Committee on Uses of AI in Academic Contexts is helping our institution to meet this moment with imagination, integrity and purpose.”
As a public university, dedicated to free inquiry and discovery, UC Santa Barbara is uniquely positioned to address the evolving challenges that define the 21st century. The committee will ensure that the adoption of AI aligns with the University’s mission to serve the interests of our students and the broader society, fostering an environment that is both innovative and culturally responsive.