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Institute of Applied Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is reshaping education, work, and daily life.

Minnesota State Moorhead’s Institute of Applied Artificial Intelligence helps the Upper Midwest build the skills, confidence, and capacity needed to thrive in this new era.

Through cross-sector partnerships, applied learning, and statewide AI literacy initiatives, the Institute equips students, educators, and employers with the knowledge to use AI thoughtfully and the hands-on practice to put it to work.

What We Do

The Institute of Applied AI connects higher education, PK-12 schools, workforce leaders, and employers to develop shared, practical AI skills that improve learning, strengthen communities, and prepare students for emerging careers.

At Minnesota State Moorhead, learning transforms lives and communities. Rooted in the liberal arts and driven by curiosity, we prepare thinkers, makers, and leaders to shape a changing world with purpose and heart.

AI fluency for all learners
Faculty and educator training
Applied AI Clinics and employer partnerships
PK-12 to workforce alignment

In addition to a framework that creates robust experiences and opportunities for students, Moorhead is investing in virtual and physical innovation labs. These hands-on spaces for exploration provide:

Sandbox environments for safe AI experimentation
Tutorials and learning modules
Real datasets for class and clinic projects
Opportunities for community workshops, showcases, and demonstrations

This infrastructure and approach ensure that rural, first-generation, and underserved learners can access high-quality education infused with the latest developments in AI.

Supporting Employers & Community Partners

Applied AI Clinics

Organizations across sectors are exploring AI but often lack the time, staff, or safe testing environments needed to launch new tools responsibly. The Institute’s Applied AI Clinics solve that problem, providing high-value results.

When you work with the Institute to address operational challenges, faculty first scope projects for privacy, ethics, and instructional fit. Student teams then test tools, analyze performance, identify risks, and recommend tangible solutions, including workflow guidance and staff training materials.

Benefits for Partners

Safe, structured exploration of AI tools
Actionable insights from interdisciplinary student teams
Support preparing staff and users for AI adoption
Early access to emerging talent trained in responsible AI practice

Partnership Options

High-Impact Corporate Partnerships: For large organizations preparing to implement advanced AI tools and workflows.

Community, Government & Small Business Collaborations: Accessible engagements that help organizations explore practical AI solutions and build foundational literacy.

Through the Institute, Minnesota State Moorhead empowers organizations of all sizes to integrate artificial intelligence with confidence. Whether you’re preparing a major AI rollout or simply exploring what’s possible, we’ll help you build the skills, strategies, and support systems needed to make AI work for you.

– Josh Riedy, Executive Director of the Institute of Applied AI

Providing Student Learning Experiences

Minnesota State Moorhead students engage with AI in a structured, supportive way that grows with their studies. The Institute’s Tiered AI Literacy Framework ensures every student, regardless of major, graduates with the skills employers expect.

Tier 1: Foundations for All Students

Every Moorhead student gains essential, employer-valued skills for effective AI use, including:

Responsible and ethical use of AI
Ability to evaluate accuracy, bias, and mis/disinformation
Understanding how AI shapes careers and the future of work

This learning lives inside general education courses and a variety of student experiences, so every student has access, regardless of major.

Tier 2: AI in Your Major

Students learn how AI is transforming their field, whether education, business, healthcare, science or the arts. They also gain hands-on practice using tools relevant to their discipline.

Tiers 3-5: Applied Projects & Professional Practice

Students who advance into the Institute’s Applied AI Clinics work directly with employer partners to test tools, evaluate AI-supported workflows, and help prepare staff for implementation. These experiences often lead to internships and career pathways.

By graduation, Dragons are AI literate and ready to lead, with relevant, real-world experiences on their resumes and a network of professional contacts.

Leading AI Adoption in Education

The Institute supports college and university faculty and PK-12 educators through workshops, coaching, and professional development on responsible AI integration.

Educators learn how to:

Integrate AI literacy into coursework
Use human-supervised AI tools to enhance instruction
Build ethical, transparent AI practices into assignments
Design learning experiences that prepare students for an AI-enabled world

The Institute also partners with school districts to build clearly aligned PK-12 to college pathways.

Why It Matters

AI presents extraordinary opportunities when adopted thoughtfully, equitably, and with strong human oversight. The Institute of Applied AI ensures:

Rural and underserved learners are not left behind
Students learn to evaluate AI critically, not blindly trust it
Educators gain confidence using emerging tools responsibly
Employers access talent prepared for AI-augmented workplaces
Communities develop the skills needed to adapt and thrive

This work positions Minnesota State Moorhead as a public enterprise, providing cutting-edge applied AI education and workforce development across the Upper Midwest.