Howard University announced the launch of three brand new Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses for the spring 2026 semester, amid mixed views from students about the use of AI by the university so far.
The courses, first announced to students at the end of the fall semester, focus on how students can use AI to their advantage in the growing age of digital technology. All are three-credit, in-person courses that junior and senior undergraduate students from all majors can register for with no prerequisites.
The first course, Intro to AI Tools and Technologies, taught by Dr. Aniete Andy, provides an introductory overview of the different types of functional AI uses for students with no prior experience in computer science or programming. The second course, Ethical and Responsible AI, taught by Dr. Anamika Rupa, explores policy foundations and ethics relating to AI and how it impacts the African diaspora specifically. Lastly, Dr. Woojae Kim will be teaching a Seminar in Understanding Artificial Intelligence this semester, which will teach students to evaluate and examine AI at a beginner level.
The course design includes one faculty instructor who is teaching the class, and an additional professor who is supporting the implementation and development of the course and curriculum.
Dr. Talitha Washington, Executive Director of the Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics, professor of mathematics and supporting professor for the new Ethical and Responsible AI course, believes it is important that students of all majors can engage with these new courses.
“When we prepare students to be thought leaders, we want to make sure that they have the cutting-edge tools to advocate and push for responsible AI,” she said.
These courses come amid the rise of new AI technologies in education. Howard has also created an AI Advisory Council, which Dr. Washington is co-chair of, along with Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dawn Williams.
The council contains 19 members broken into subcommittees that focus on specific areas of AI within the university. It aims to provide guidance about AI through strategic planning activities, university offices and academic programs. According to Dr. Washington, the council helps ensure that AI is implemented effectively throughout the university.
“It was [created] in response to the pressing need to address, implement and innovate all things AI,” said Washington.
According to the NextgenAI consortium to advance research and education, Howard is one of 15 universities in the nation that holds a partnership with OpenAI, the company responsible for the development of AI models such as ChatGPT. The purpose of the partnership is to accelerate research breakthroughs and transform education. Howard is the only HBCU represented within the partnership.
According to their guidelines for use of generative AI tools, the university believes in making an important distinction between generative AI and Artificial General Intelligence, known as AGI. According to the university website, generative AI refers to “computer systems that produce various forms of human expression,” while AGI refers to “the construction of an autonomous and sentient intelligence.”
“It is imperative then to organize and affirm values, guidelines, and assumptions about these tools because, writing and voice production remain important modes of critical, artistic, and sense-based learning vital to understanding and cognitive development,” state the guidelines.
In relation to the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT in the classroom, the university leaves a majority of its generative AI usage policies up to the individual instructor’s discretion.
“Any instructor has the right to inquire about a student’s authorship of AI-related work. Selected students also have the liberty to defend themselves against such allegations,” according to the guidelines.
Students, however, believe that the university should be held accountable for its own use of generative AI, especially on their official social media platforms.
The university received criticism for an Instagram post made in December of 2025, a video intended to build anticipation for early decision applicants who were to receive their college decision later that day. The post used a video which people interpreted to contain AI-generated images, including AI-generated images of students.
Isaiah Celestin, a junior English major from Columbia, Maryland, was one of many students who did not hold back in the comment section of this post.
“The complete disconnect between [the] Howard admin and the students is extremely disappointing. We have so many extremely talented creatives on this campus and y’all go straight to posting AI slop?” he commented.
The comment received 58 likes and 13 replies, where many student and alumni Instagram users both agreed and criticized Celestin for his opinion. Alongside many other comments that were critical of the AI usage within the post, this comment was hidden by Instagram.
Celestin describes himself as a creative person and was disappointed by the university’s decision to use AI to make this video.
“Why even use this (AI) when you have the students who are perfectly capable of creating this sort of material for you?” he said.
Celestin noted that he cannot state for certain that the university is prepared to use AI responsibly in the future, despite the introduction of new courses, based on what he has observed so far on social media.
“I feel like it’s kinda just detrimental to students, especially students in the College of Fine Arts and the School of Communications,” he said.
The Office of University Communications (OUC) shared Howard’s intentions and strategies for responsible AI use in a statement to The Hilltop.
“AI is viewed as a creative and experimental medium — not a replacement for student talent, but one of many tools that can support timely, innovative content development,” the statement said.
OUC’s statement also highlighted research efforts that the university is participating in to advance the inclusivity of AI technologies, and reiterated the fact that student talent is integral to the culture and community of Howard. It also said the university is committed to responsible leadership in shaping technology that is inclusive, ethical and transformative.
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
Editor’s Note: This story was updated to include comment from the Office of University Communications on Jan. 25.
