Denison University announced today an initiative to help Ohio K-12 schools craft thoughtful, effective policies around artificial intelligence (AI).
K–12 AI Policy Lab: An HB96 Workshop for School Leaders is designed to help school administrators and educators develop a policy that addresses the use of AI by students and staff for educational purposes, as required by Ohio House Bill 96. The workshop will be held Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 on Denison’s campus in Granville, Ohio. The deadline to register is Jan. 8.
Drawing on Denison’s proven expertise in AI and education and referencing Ohio AI educational resources, the workshop will provide administrators and educators opportunities to create an individualized blueprint for their district’s AI policy and learn about AI educational uses from Denison specialists and their K-12 peers.
“Our goal is to develop lasting partnerships with K-12 districts that help all of us navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape,” said Lori Robbins, Denison’s head of AI strategy. “Through these collaborative, hands-on workshops, Denison will help districts develop AI policies individualized for their needs and preferences, and provide insights from our years-long work exploring how AI is shaping teaching and learning. We also hope to gain input on how K-12 educators are thinking about AI and how we can best support them in the future.”
Leveraging a culture that fosters curiosity and innovation, Denison is leading a new model for AI in higher education where AI is more than a technical tool — it’s a lens to ask deeper human questions, foster creativity, and prepare students for meaningful lives and careers.
For example, Denison faculty are experimenting and discovering ethical and practical opportunities for AI to help students deepen and accelerate their learning. An extensive faculty AI resource offers guidelines, a prompt library, and a tech toolkit, as well as multiple examples of proven AI strategies for the classroom.
Denison’s first-of-its-kind King Center for Data and Innovation, scheduled to open fall 2026, will house labs for AI, virtual reality, robotics, data visualization, and collaborative workspaces. Students in every major will learn data strategies and develop the data fluency necessary for every career pathway.
In Denison’s AI student ambassador program being piloted this fall, students are training peers in AI tactics and data methods they can use to facilitate learning. They share ways AI can benefit other goals, such as building a business or enhancing wellness. AI ambassadors also work with local businesses to help them level up their workplace-related AI technology.
Denison’s AI progress attracts higher education peers as well. The university recently co-hosted an AI Certified Futures Summit in partnership with Amazon Web Services, inviting peer institutions to explore secure AI platforms, AI strategy for higher ed, and certification pathways.
By supporting schools in the responsible adoption of emerging tools like AI, Denison is leveraging its expertise to help ensure that students from all backgrounds are prepared for a changing technological and cultural landscape.
Seats are limited. Participants must register by Jan. 8, 2026, via conferences.denison.edu/aibridges. For questions, contact Lori Robbins at robbinsl@denison.edu.