A new era of learning: Concordia-Chicago announces campuswide access to AI tools

As emerging technologies reshape education-and the workforce-Concordia University Chicago is helping students build skills for the future as they prepare to serve in a rapidly changing world.

In the coming months, the University will introduce BoodleBox, a generative AI platform designed for education and workforce readiness, which includes full versions of a diverse suite of AI programs. Beginning July 1, faculty and staff will have access to the platform while students will gain access ahead of the fall semester. The launch makes Concordia-Chicago one of the first universities in the state of Illinois to offer campuswide access to such a platform.

"BoodleBox gives Concordia-Chicago an important opportunity to introduce artificial intelligence in a way that is ethical, responsible, and mission-centered,"said Dr. Visvasuresh (Victor) Govindaswamy, professor of computer science. "As a Lutheran university and liberal arts institution, our goal is not simply to give students these tools but to help them use them with wisdom, integrity, discernment, and academic excellence."

Building an ethical foundation for AI on campus

As a Christ-centered university, CUC both recognizes that AI offers extraordinary opportunities and acknowledges the need to approach it with careful, prayerful consideration. To assist with the transition, the University has created a dedicated AI task force to establish guidelines and recommendations for strategy, policies, and integration.

"Every student should be taught how to leverage the latest technologies in their disciplines," said Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Robert Balza. "The AI task force is the first step to carrying out the kind of academic programming and infrastructure that can help students achieve that, and the University is committed to doing so in a way that reinforces our values and beliefs."

The task force will also coordinate professional development opportunities and training in AI for faculty and staff throughout the summer and the academic year.

"Many institutions are still on the sidelines of AI. Concordia-Chicago chose a different path: they created an AI task force, invested in training, and invited faculty, staff, and students into a shared space to explore these tools thoughtfully," said France Hoang, CEO of BoodleBox. "That kind of intentional leadership is what will shape graduates who can engage AI with wisdom, discernment, and a strong sense of calling."

Empowering student learning through new tools

Concordia-Chicago selected BoodleBox to provide access to the latest versions of premium AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude (Haiku, Opus, and Sonnet), Gemini, Llama, Codestral, Perplexity, Semantic Scholar, Nano Banana Pro, and more. The collaborative interface offers students a barrier-free way to use these applications in a unified space where models can be explored together.

"BoodleBox provides all of our students with the best quality GenAI to support their learning," said Dr. Samuel M. Kwon, professor and program leader for educational technology and assistant chair for the division of curriculum, technology, and inclusive education.

Kwon, who is also a member of the AI task force, added, "Having access to these learning tools is essential, and we are providing an important service to all of our students, regardless of socioeconomic background."

Guided by University-led training, students at varying levels of AI proficiency will be able to build essential, interdisciplinary AI skills. The intention is to prepare CUC students not only with field-specific knowledge but with an adaptable model for approaching AI critically and effectively after graduation.

"AI is becoming an everyday tool in many industries, and students will be expected to know how to use it well," said Dr. Katie Wozniak, associate vice president for institutional strategy and marketing, also a member of the task force. "This partnership gives all of our students the opportunity to build confidence and proficiency with AI so they graduate better prepared for the evolving workplace."

Transforming teaching and beyond

Students won't be the only ones to benefit from the new partnership. The resource will also be available for staff and faculty to enhance productivity and create new spaces for student growth and exploration.

"BoodleBox can provide faculty with a new collaborative space to design more engaging learning experiences, help students interact with course content more critically, and model responsible AI use within an academic setting," said Govindaswamy, who is also part of the task force.

For instance, faculty can integrate AI tools into their curriculum design to enrich teaching and create more personalized learning pathways to meet diverse students' needs. The platform also offers the ability to build specialized bots to improve administrative efficiency and assist with teaching and research. These specialized bots are also available for staff to streamline workflow, support communication, and analyze data.

"With thoughtful training and implementation, BoodleBox can help our community use AI not as a replacement for human judgment but as a tool that strengthens teaching, learning, service, and academic excellence," added Govindaswamy. "Most importantly, it gives CUC a shared space to explore AI thoughtfully rather than leaving students, faculty, and staff to navigate this transition on their own."

Secure, sustainable AI integration

Ensuring the security and privacy of faculty, staff, and student data was central to CUC's decision to adopt BoodleBox. The platform is compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and does not use CUC's data to train large language models. Users can also access the tool through a seamless single sign-on experience.

"BoodleBox was selected because of the breadth of AI models they provide while allowing for a single secure and private platform for the University," said Tim Wier, assistant vice president for IT and task force member. "They have been transparent regarding their security program, including FERPA compliance, giving us confidence that we are safeguarding the privacy of our students, faculty, and staff."

BoodleBox was also selected because it is one of the more environmentally conscientious AI platforms for educators on the market. Compared to other native AI tools, BoodleBox reports that their platform reduces the environmental impact of AI by up to 96%, which translates to lower energy consumption and smaller carbon footprints.

Looking ahead

Now and into the next academic year, CUC's task force remains committed to helping faculty, staff, and students use the new AI tools ethically and effectively with training sessions and support.

"As we move into the next academic year, we're excited to pilot new programming for faculty and students, expand AI resources, and explore how AI can enhance teaching excellence and student engagement across disciplines," said Alícia Hernàndez Grande, instructional designer and task force member.

However, the University's commitment to integrity and academic excellence remains unchanged.

"AI is everywhere, and ignoring it is not an option," said Assistant Dean Tenial Whitted, who oversees academic integrity at CUC. "That is why our partnership with BoodleBox matters. It is not just about giving every student AI; it is also about making sure they know how to use it responsibly. Understanding the why behind academic integrity drives engagement, and that engagement is what builds the critical thinking skills students will carry with them long after they leave campus."