AI Fellows Program

AI Fellows Program is sponsored by California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. Supports community college faculty in developing frameworks, guidelines, and resources for the responsible adoption of AI technologies.

AI Fellows Call for Applications – CCCCO AI AI Fellows Call for Applications Are you ready to help shape how artificial intelligence is adopted across California’s community colleges?

Whether your expertise is in student services, workforce development, academic affairs, professional development, policy, or data and systems infrastructure, the Chancellor’s AI Fellows program offers an opportunity to contribute to one of the most consequential technology transitions in the history of public higher education.

AI Fellows are California Community Colleges staff, faculty, and administrators interested in advancing responsible, equity-centered AI adoption across the system through partial reassignment to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office).

Fellowships are available for several areas: AI in Academic Affairs: Teaching, Learning & Curriculum AI Infrastructure, Data, and Systems AI Literacy & Professional Development for Classified Professionals and Administrators AI for Student Services & Supports AI in Workforce Development, IT & Clean Energy AI Innovative Design & AI Policy Commitment & Work Structure AI Fellows will work with and receive direction from Chancellor’s Office leadership regarding developing their specific work plans.

Leadership by area is as follows: AI in Academic Affairs – Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs AI Infrastructure, Data, and Systems – Vice Chancellor AI Strategy & Digital Transformation AI Literacy & Professional Development – Vice Chancellor Institutional Effectiveness AI for Student Services – Vice Chancellor Student Affairs AI in Workforce Development & Employer Engagement – Vice Chancellor Workforce & Economic Development AI Innovative Design & AI Policy – Executive in Residence & Senior Advisor to the Chancellor The anticipated commitment is approximately 10-15 hours per week for two years, subject to your local schedule and negotiation with the administration at the college/district.

Please ensure your supervisor’s support for your participation before applying.

Work is mostly remote, with periodic, reimbursed travel, including: Regular virtual meetings and weekly collaborative work In-person attendance at several conferences throughout the state, including the CA Futures Summit Bi-annual in-person retreats AI Fellows report directly to the Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Workforce Development, Strategic Partnerships, and Generative AI, who provides overall program direction, coordination, and performance oversight.

In addition, each Fellow receives day-to-day guidance and functional management from the Vice Chancellor(s) whose division aligns with their fellowship area, ensuring that Fellows’ work is integrated with divisional priorities while remaining coordinated under a unified, systemwide AI strategy. If you are interested in advancing the Vision 2030 agenda through one of the AI Fellow opportunities described below.

Complete the application via: The AI Fellows Application – Google form Email. Provide a Resume and Cover Letter that indicates your interest and related experience in support of one of these positions in a statewide capacity to AIFellows@cccco. edu .

Cover letters will be evaluated using a standard rubric. The Council does not function as an approval or enforcement body. Instead, it supports informed decision-making, coordination, and shared learning across the system.

If you have questions, please contact ai. fellows@cccco. edu .

Cover Letter Guidance for Applicants Cover Letter Scoring Rubric Timeline for Selection (Extended) Deadline to Apply: August 31, 2026 Decisions : September 4, 2026 Highly Recommend : Futures Summit September 09-10, 2026 Your Fellowship contract will cover the Futures Summit registration fees and hotel accommodations Does not include travel costs Required Attendance : Fellows Retreat – September 21-22 (During the Collective Equity Impact Institute (21-25) AI in Academic Affairs: Teaching, Learning & Curriculum The Academic Affairs AI Fellow will advance the thoughtful integration of generative and agentic AI into teaching, learning, and curriculum across California’s community colleges.

Working in partnership with faculty, academic senate leaders, and instructional designers, this Fellow will develop resources, professional development, and policy guidance that supports both innovation and integrity in the AI era. Responsibilities will be drawn from the following areas: Develop and disseminate resources to advance generative and agentic AI literacy within domain-specific teaching and learning contexts.

Support faculty in exploring pedagogical strategies for AI integration across disciplines, including effective use of AI in assignments, redefining assessment practices, OER utilization, and tool adoption. Develop specific ways to address the unique dimensions of AI in online education, including equity of access, academic integrity, and AI-enhanced instructional design.

AI Infrastructure, Data & Systems The AI Infrastructure, Data & Systems Fellow will support the development of the technical, data, and research infrastructure needed to advance responsible AI adoption across the California Community Colleges system. This Fellow will provide support and expertise at the intersection of data governance, cloud computing, research, and systems design to build shared capacity for AI innovation at scale.

Responsibilities will be drawn from the following areas: Design automated agent-based systems to collect, curate, and disseminate timely AI-related information such as AI-related professional development webinars, events, and resources – from across the state and nation.

Develop automated data flows into interactive, web-accessible interfaces through coding and vibe-coding approaches that increase access to system-level data and insights. Support research and development within the Common Cloud secure data enclave to advance student success and equity outcomes.

Inform data governance strategy for AI, including the development of frameworks that govern how AI systems use institutional data, and how AI tools can support data governance processes.

Develop and disseminate guidance on AI and cybersecurity, with an emphasis on security risks associated with AI tools at the individual user level – including data privacy exposure, prompt injection, credential risks, and the use of unsanctioned AI applications – and build the capacity of faculty, staff, and administrators to make informed, security-conscious decisions in their day-to-day AI use.

Evaluate the impact of AI initiatives system-wide, developing methodologies and metrics that support continuous improvement and accountability. Leverage shared infrastructure (e.g. CENIC AIR, Triton GPT) to maximize AI capacity and equity of access across the system.

AI for Innovative Design & AI Policy The Innovative Design & AI Policy Fellow will support the development of human-centered approaches to AI adoption across the California Community Colleges system, while contributing to the policy and regulatory frameworks that govern responsible AI use. This Fellow will work at the intersection of design thinking, equity, and governance.

Responsibilities will be drawn from the following areas: Apply human-centered and equity-centered design principles to the development and evaluation of AI tools, programs, and institutional initiatives across the system. Research, synthesize, and develop accessible guidance on AI-related policy and regulatory developments at the state, federal, and institutional levels.

Support the development and refinement of the Chancellor’s Office AI governance frameworks, including the HUMANS Framework and PEOPLE’S Principles. Engage colleges and districts in participatory policy development processes that center faculty, staff, students, and communities most impacted by AI adoption.

Collaborate with legal, academic, and technology partners to translate regulatory requirements into practical guidance for college practitioners. AI Literacy & Professional Development for Classified Professionals and Administrators Design and facilitate AI literacy workshops, training modules, and communities of practice focused on practical, ethical, and equitable uses of AI to support daily operations, communication, and planning.

Design hands-on professional development opportunities for classified professionals focused on practical AI applications that support day-to-day operational tasks, customer service, communication, and productivity. Build scalable training infrastructure, including self-paced modules and facilitation guides, that colleges and districts can adapt and deploy locally.

Coordinate a statewide survey of AI use and literacy levels, including analysis and dissemination planning and comparison with other existing and emerging survey research. Document and share emerging best practices across the system, contributing to a growing culture of AI-informed, human-centered operations.

AI for Student Services & Support The AI for Student Services Fellow will advance the use of artificial intelligence to improve access, equity, and outcomes for California community college students.

Working in partnership with student services professionals, counselors, and technology teams, this Fellow will explore and develop AI-enabled tools and processes that reduce friction, streamline navigation, and support students throughout their educational journey. Develop a toolkit for AI/technology uses in Student Services that relieves administrative burden for students and summarizes key functions for streamlining and efficiency.

Responsibilities will be drawn from the following areas: Support the adoption of AI-enabled educational planning tools—spanning degree mapping, scheduling, and transfer navigation—that expand equitable access to high-quality guidance and accelerate student progress toward completion and career goals.

Assist in identifying and piloting solutions for AI-assisted degree audit, auto-awarding, and streamlined degree application processes to reduce administrative burden on students and staff. Explore the development of unified, AI-powered student application experiences that allow students to apply to multiple service areas (e.g., financial aid, tutoring, basic needs) through a single interface.

Engage student services practitioners statewide to co-design human-centered AI solutions that prioritize equity and accessibility. Document and disseminate best practices, case studies, and implementation guides for colleges adopting AI in student services. Research and develop hybrid AI/human tutoring and instructional support models, exploring how AI can augment – rather than replace – human tutors and learning support staff.

Equity is central to Vision 2030. Focus on specific populations, concrete equity-centered practices and reduce gaps or expand access across diverse student communities and college contexts. Research and develop hybrid AI/human tutoring and instructional support models, exploring how AI can augment – rather than replace – human tutors and learning support staff.

AI for Workforce Development IT & Clean Energy The Workforce Development & Employer Engagement AI Fellow will support the integration of AI-related skills and career pathways across California’s community college workforce development ecosystem. Drawing on models from leading colleges, this Fellow will work with CTE faculty, regional consortia, and industry partners to ensure students are prepared for an AI-transformed labor market.

Central to this work is recognizing AI as a defining equity issue for economic mobility: as AI reshapes the labor market, community college students—who disproportionately come from communities historically excluded from emerging technology fields—must be positioned to access the high-wage opportunities AI creates, not displaced by them.

The Fellow will prioritize strategies that close opportunity gaps and ensure AI-driven economic gains reach all of California’s communities. Responsibilities will be drawn from the following areas: Design and facilitate innovative employer engagement strategies that connect colleges with industry partners navigating AI adoption and workforce transitions.

Develop and scale AI apprenticeship models, drawing on exemplary practices from colleges across the system. Support AI-informed career exploration programs and tools, developing resources that help students understand emerging AI-related occupations and pathways.

Lead research and strategy development on AI-related workforce displacement – with particular attention to sectors such as Creative Arts and Entertainment – and support the design of retraining and upskilling programs for affected workers.

Lead research and strategy development on the intersection of AI, workforce and climate resilience – with particular attention to emerging green economy sectors such as clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate technology – and support the design of credential and upskilling programs that prepare workers for climate-adjacent careers.

Calculate and report on the energy and water usage footprint of AI use across the California Community Colleges system.

Typical duties of AI Fellows include: Support the development and alignment of institutional and system-level policies and practices governing AI use in the classroom for both faculty and students Coordinate with Fellows across other program areas to identify shared deliverables, establish touchpoints, and ensure frameworks and resources developed are mutually reinforcing rather than siloed.

Deliver professional development at statewide convenings and through communities of practice, in collaboration with the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges.

Representing the Chancellor’s Office at convenings, conferences, and partner engagements, and contributing to publications, briefings, and reports that elevate the system’s leadership in AI Leading a defined project or initiative within their focus area—such as developing frameworks, toolkits, model curricula, or implementation guides—that can be scaled and adopted across the 116-college system Convening and facilitating communities of practice with faculty, staff, and administrators to share emerging AI strategies, surface promising practices, and build systemwide capacity Advising the Chancellor’s Office on policy, professional development, and implementation considerations related to AI within their domain of expertise Piloting and evaluating AI tools, approaches, or partnerships at their home college or region, documenting outcomes and lessons learned to inform system-level decision-making Being responsive to ad hoc project requests supporting Chancellor’s Office operations and programs.

Support the planning and implementation of the Futures Summit, including serving on the planning committee, proposal selection committee and acting as session moderators or MC. Hello! How can I assist you today?

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