Four years following their transition to a fully digital system, St. Edward’s University in South Austin is reintroducing bookshelves into the Munday Library.
Campus officials state that the choice was influenced by student surveys and input from faculty members who advocated for the reintroduction of physical textbooks and more comfortable areas for studying.
A university committee reconsidered the library’s design, seeking to combine the advantages of traditional and electronic learning.
“It was a collective wish,” stated Provost Dr. Marianne Ward-Peradoza.
Some fields continue to rely heavily on physical books for educational purposes. However, there are other areas where digital resources are essential, such as in healthcare and various scientific disciplines.
Beginning in spring and concluding by fall 2025, the renovation will replace rows of desks with piles of popular books, art publications, large-format volumes, and titles suggested by students.
Library director Casey Gibbs mentioned that the objective is to design areas where physical books and digital devices are on equal footing.
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“The two main points we received were: reintroduce physical books and provide us with adaptable study areas,” said Gibbs in an interview.Hilltop Views last fall.
For President Montserrat “Montse” Fuentes, this shift is a component of a larger dedication: combining creativity with closeness.
We improve the learning experience using AI, but we also emphasize our unique qualities and showcase them.
That method is clear in how St. Edward’s manages artificial intelligence.
Although some universities implement broad AI policies, St. Edward’s allows individual professors to make their own decisions.
Instructors are required to include AI guidelines in their course outlines, explicitly detailing the circumstances and times when generative technologies can be utilized.
“What is suitable in one field might not be in another,” stated Provost Ward-Peradoza.
Instructing students on how to make that decision is an essential part of the educational process.
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Ward-Peradoza mentions that the university employs artificial intelligence in course design, communication, and long-term planning, but within defined limits.
“We discuss equally the point at which it should cease and what should stay human,” she stated.
At the Bill Munday School of Business, Dean Dr. Alexis Stokes compares AI to today’s version of the spreadsheet: a necessary and anticipated tool.
70% of business graduates remain in Austin, she notes, emphasizing that practical AI proficiency is essential.
“We draw motivation from our hometown,” Stokes mentioned.
We are discussing machines that identify patterns in speech and language, converting them into useful insights. This is not science fiction. It is a reality in today’s business environment.
Students utilize machine learning technologies, like Python and Tableau, alongside exploring moral concerns, such as prejudice and data confidentiality.
“Technology from today will become obsolete within a few years,” Stokes added.
Therefore, we instruct students on the methods of continuous learning and guiding innovation.
The trend is undeniable: a recent Pew survey discovered that 58% of U.S. adults younger than 30 utilize ChatGPT, a number that is over twice as high as the previous year.
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For Ward-Peradoza, adopting AI and bringing back print are not opposing ideas. “How we teach the mind will evolve with the times,” she stated.
The way we nurture the heart is, and will continue to be, eternal.
Fuentes states clearly: “Artificial intelligence enables us to extend our reach. However, it is creativity, curiosity, and ethical decision-making—distinctly human traits—that distinguish the Hilltoppers.”
Throughout Central Texas, school districts and higher education institutions are taking various approaches to managing artificial intelligence.
- Austin ISD’s 2024–25The manual cautions students that employing AI tools such as ChatGPT without authorization is considered academic misconduct, whileAISD teachersmust encourage good digital citizenship and demonstrate the proper and ethical use of AI tools approved by the district.
- In 2024, the Pflugerville Independent School District initiated Amira LearningAn AI-driven reading aid for students in grades K through 5 that listens and reacts instantly, leading to hundreds of hours of reading practice and enhanced fluency.
- Lake Travis ISD’s 2025–2026 Artificial Intelligence Code of Conductrequires pupils to employ generative AI technologies solely with the permission of their instructor, in an ethical and responsible manner, along with appropriate credit, while ensuring confidentiality, preventing prejudice, and adhering to academic honesty guidelines.
- Round Rock Independent School District is adopting artificial intelligence to equip students for tomorrow, while highlighting the ethical application, online etiquette, and analytical skills regarding prejudice. However,the 2025–2026 Student/Parent Code of Ethicscautions that students could encounter academic penalties for engaging in cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized AI utilization, or inappropriate communication during examinations.
- Huston–Tillotson Universityorganized an AI summit centered around HBCUs in April 2025, with a focus on inclusive innovation and diversity in the technology sector.
- Southwestern UniversityActive students in AI-driven group projects, like designing model rockets, combining principles of physics and computer science.
- Concordia University Texas is actively incorporating artificial intelligence into its academic and computer science courses, while maintaining a careful approach by considering AI-produced content as a form of academic dishonesty unless specifically allowed by the professor.
- Austin Community CollegeThe institution is creating campus-wide AI policies that mandate instructors to specify in every syllabus whether generative AI is banned, permitted, or mandatory, along with detailed usage rules and penalties for violations. A university-wide committee is also working on comprehensive guidelines to ensure responsible, ethical, and effective use of AI throughout ACC.
- UT Austinis creating a thorough structure for the ethical application of generative AI in educational settings, based on eight core principles that emphasize academic honesty, learner-focused education, and moral protections. The institution is currently seeking input from the community, with final suggestions anticipated by the fall term.
