DEI-2-25-26; Strengthening Information and AI Literacy, Ethics, and Equity Through Faculty Investment at SUNY Community Colleges

Abstract

This resolution argues that SUNY’s updated General Education Information Literacy competency should be implemented in a way that explicitly includes AI literacy, because generative AI and synthetic media can amplify mis- and disinformation, deepfakes, and algorithmic bias that threaten student well-being, equity, and civic life—especially for the many community college and first-generation students who may arrive with gaps in information-literacy preparation. It calls on the SUNY Chancellor, Board of Trustees, and System Administration to dedicate targeted funding for sustained professional development for community college faculty and librarians, structured to avoid uncompensated workload through stipends and/or compensated time. It also urges SUNY to partner with campus leadership, libraries, and governance bodies to assess local needs, build scalable peer-learning opportunities, and expand supports for curriculum and assessment redesign (e.g., course releases, short sabbaticals, institutes, retreats, or paid internships). Finally, it requests system guidance affirming that AI literacy development must cover, at minimum, ethical use, bias and equitable representation, privacy and data stewardship, accessibility, academic integrity, AI’s role in mis/disinformation and deepfakes, and broader societal and environmental implications, aligned with SUNY Gen Ed outcomes.