The Office of Information Technology’s Innovation Teamis dedicated to exploring the benefits and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for UTA’s official use. To achieve this, the team collaborates with universities nationwide to study how AI tools can enhance the academic environment.
Beyond those collaborations, the team encourages campus engagement through Innovation Idea or Requestsubmissions. An Innovation Idea allows faculty and staff to share concepts that help identify emerging themes and guide innovation efforts. An Innovation Request captures information with the intent of moving forward with designing a Proof of Concept (POC) or innovation experiment.
Once a submission is received, the team schedules a consultation with the submitting department to explore ideas and feasibility, showcasing a sense of collaboration and ensuring new ideas are explored and aligned with UTA’s goals.
To learn more or submit your own idea, visit the team’s website and complete the form.
nebulaONE AI teaching assistant
Building on its mission to innovate, the team launched a pilot program at the start of the Fall 2025 semester to test the nebulaONE AI teaching assistant. The proof-of-concept initiative is the result of campuswide collaboration among:
OIT
Center for Distance Education
Faculty Affairs
Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Excellence
Faculty across schools and colleges at UTA
Faculty were chosen based on a survey to gauge interest and recruit volunteers
The goal of this initiative is to enhance teaching and learning by providing advanced AI tools tailored to each course. Each model is customized with syllabi, lecture materials and assignments, enabling context-aware responses that meet the unique needs of faculty and students.
AI travel agent
Innovation at UTA isn’t limited to the classroom. The team is also assessing a new online AI travel agent for potential campuswide deployment. The goal of the AI travel agent is to provide 24/7 support for employees traveling domestically and internationally on official University business.
“We have based its knowledge base primarily on policies, procedures, and travel guidelines. We will continue to enhance the database with resources to help it become the go-to resource for UTA travel and expense questions,” says Randall Piatkowski, Director of Disbursement.
The tool will provide on-demand access to essential information, including:
Policies
Procedures
Reimbursement information
Stay tuned. More information will be shared soon.
What’s Next?
From exploring AI-powered teaching assistants to developing tools that simplify travel, OIT is committed to shaping the future of technology at UTA. These initiatives reflect our dedication to collaboration, creativity and continuous improvement, ensuring that faculty, staff and students have access to cutting-edge solutions that enhance learning and streamline operations.
Have an idea that could make a difference? We want to hear from you! Visit our website to share your thoughts and help us drive innovation forward together.
