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Board hears faculty‑driven AI pilot; Nectar AI offers in‑LMS assistants and faculty analytics
Summary
The board heard demonstrations on AI for accessibility and a system pilot of Nectar AI — a faculty‑driven, in‑LMS assistant designed to protect student data (FERPA controls), scale tutoring and provide faculty analytics. Early pilots expanded from 50 to 300+ faculty and report improved student supports in classes where the tool is embedded.
The Board of Governors received a two‑part presentation on generative AI in classrooms, focusing on accessibility tools and a faculty‑led pilot of Nectar AI, an in‑LMS AI assistant.
Ellie Constantine (special AI adviser for accessibility) described how generative AI can automate alt text, produce real‑time captioning, scaffold complex text, and support executive function and neurodiverse learners — framing AI as a tool to build inclusive learning environments.
Kavita Guy, CEO of Nectar AI, described a pilot that began with 50 faculty and scaled to over 300 across 83 colleges, serving thousands of students. She said Nectar AI integrates with Canvas, uses course materials as a primary source to reduce hallucinations, and operates in a FERPA‑compliant manner without sharing student prompts back to commercial model providers; the product also surfaces faculty analytics on student questions and usage patterns.
Professor Luis Guerrero of Palomar College shared classroom outcomes: 24/7 tutoring availability, more individualized applications and early evidence of reduced DWFs in pilot courses. Board members and audience probed privacy safeguards, opt‑out choices for students, environmental impact estimates, vendor model choices, and faculty training pathways. Public commenters reiterated concerns about corporate surveillance and asked for maximum transparency and self‑hosting options. Presenters said students can opt out of research studies, the platform anonymizes analytics, and the team provides AI‑literacy training for faculty and students.
