Roosevelt University equips students and faculty with skills for the modern workplace, and the new RU BRIDGE Project (short for Building Resilience, Innovation, Development, Graduation and Employment) will ensure that the University community can maximize the practical applications of artificial intelligence. The BRIDGE Project emerged from Roosevelt’s recent RU30 strategic plan and will commit nearly $3 million over the next five years to utilizing emerging technologies that strengthen academic programs, faculty and staff professional development, student support services and workforce readiness pathways at the University’s two campuses.
These funds will contribute to:
- Academic coaching and advising systems that efficiently help students in class, including a student success dashboard that recognizes grade trends and assists with learning support and mental health wellness resources.
- Career exploration and labor market tools that allow students to make informed career pathway decisions. The University will also create career readiness and workforce preparation events where students can receive software credentials and digital badges to bolster their resume.
- Expanding undergraduate research opportunities with technology that accesses and analyzes data across a variety of subjects.
- Recruiting student and faculty fellows who will provide their distinct perspectives on artificial intelligence’s applicability in the classroom in addition to potential guardrails and content moderation required for its success.
Through the RU BRIDGE program, Roosevelt will integrate emerging technologies into instruction; improving retention and completion outcomes for low-income students; and building sustainable institutional capacity that advances the University's mission of educational access, social justice and student achievement. Specifically, Roosevelt community members will be equipped to use AI as a tool that enhances classroom experiences, research productivity and building a career-minded skillset. The BRIDGE Project is just one of many initiatives where Roosevelt aligns developing technologies with its commitment to students’ professional preparedness.