To keep up with the rapid pace of technological advancements, FIU Business has launched "AI 360°," a comprehensive effort to embed AI learning and research across all disciplines. Led by Karlene C. Cousins, chair of the Department of Business Analytics and Information Systems, the initiative seeks to prepare students and faculty for the growing impact of AI in the business world.
“All business students and faculty need to understand AI and how it applies to their field,” said Cousins. “We are creating a structured, collaborative framework to make this integration as effective and impactful as possible.”
William Hardin, dean of FIU Business, tapped Cousins to lead the charge on the initiative in the summer of 2024.
“AI is the future, and we have an opportunity to infuse AI applications into our classes and into business operations,” said Hardin. “It’s very exhilarating, but there are challenges. That’s why we are working with AI as a decision enhancing tool and bringing industry needs into the classroom. Our industry partners are telling us what students need to know and helping us determine the best way to teach such applications.”
At the core of AI 360° is the AI Steering Committee, comprised of department chairs from fields such as finance, accounting, marketing, and business analytics and information systems. This committee has developed the college’s AI vision and mission and is also working to determine AI learning outcomes and guiding faculty in integrating AI into courses, curriculum and research.
To support faculty, FIU Business has introduced the AI Faculty Teaching Forum, co-chaired by Edward Duran, assistant teaching professor of information systems and business analytics, and Nancy Richmond, professor of marketing and logistics. The teaching forum aims to foster a community where educators can share best practices and access resources. A faculty readiness survey conducted by the forum revealed that about half of the faculty have already begun incorporating AI into their courses.
Complementing these efforts is the AI Faculty Research Forum, co-chaired by Min Chen, associate professor of information systems and business analytics and Qiang Kang, professor of finance. Launching in May 2025, the research forum will focus on AI-driven academic research. Through the forum, faculty will be able to identify collaborators and apply for funding to support their AI research efforts.
“Through this forum, we aim to create a dynamic community where faculty and PhD students can exchange ideas, receive valuable feedback and work together to drive impactful AI research,” said Cousins.
Also helping guide the process is the FIU Business AI Advisory Board that collaborates with industry leaders to align AI education with employer needs.
“It’s really about broadening their knowledge beyond ‘how is AI developed,’ which is still important, so that you understand the foundational elements of it,” said Stacy Volmar, vice president of advanced analytics at Assurant, and a member of the AI Advisory Board. “It really gets into the management of AI, the responsibility around it, being able to measure the impact of AI, the cost of ownership of AI, and how to organize teams around it.”
Beyond coursework, AI 360° extends to extracurricular offerings, including a micro-credential program titled "AI Strategy for Business Leaders," developed with FIU Executive Education.
Looking ahead, AI 360° will serve as a hub for AI teaching, research, innovation and industry collaboration. Other plans include an AI Research symposium on faculty research across the college, and the ATOM AI 305 Conference, a hackathon-style event that will be open to students, faculty and alumni.
“This is an ambitious, ongoing effort,” Cousins said. “But we’re committed to ensuring our students and faculty are equipped with the AI skills necessary for success in the evolving business landscape.”