Prepare for an AI-Powered Future
TXST AI Research Pathways: AI-Ready is a coordinated, tiered initiative that prepares faculty, staff, and student researchers to responsibly use, apply, and innovate with AI across disciplines; from foundational literacy to advanced, funded research.
Our goal is to enhance institution-wide readiness for AI-facilitated and AI-enabled research across different levels.
AI and data-driven methods are becoming fundamental to research across all disciplines. Texas State University (TXST) will support faculty, staff and student researchers to responsibly apply, evaluate, and innovate with AI. CADS, in collaboration with other university units, will co-lead a coordinated, scalable approach to AI research literacy; from introductory awareness to advanced methodological development.
AI-Ready Three-Tiered AI Research Literacy Framework
Three progressive tiers: User → Power User → Maker
Tier 1: AI-Ready User
Audience: Entry-level faculty, graduate students, and researchers across all disciplines who are beginning to explore AI in their scholarly work.
Focus: Building conceptual understanding of AI, developing confidence with foundational tools, and establishing responsible, ethical practices for AI-assisted research.
Outcomes: Participants completing Tier 1 will have AI tool proficiency and fundamental AI understanding such as:
- Understanding of fundamentals of AI and Critical Evaluation
- Use LLMs and generative AI tools for:
- Responsible Research Use
- Research Collaboration Readiness
Tier 2: AI-Ready Power User
Audience: Faculty integrating AI or HPC directly into their research workflows.
Focus: Applying AI and data methods in coding or computational environments.
Outcomes: Participants completing Tier 2 will have greater AI tool proficiency and fundamental AI understanding such as:
- Progress on research prototypes using AI tools
- Ability to understand the relevance of AI methods and collaborate with AI experts
- Ability to run HPC jobs, make use of external computing workflows to apply ML models
- Understanding reproducibility, model validation, and data ethics
Tier 3: AI-Ready Maker
Audience: Researchers developing novel approaches for interdisciplinary AI applications.
Focus: Innovation, method-building, and advanced collaboration.
Outcomes: Participants completing Tier 3 will have advanced AI tool proficiency and fundamental AI understanding such as:
- Novel AI/ML workflows, interdisciplinary models
- Collaborative project proposals with outcomes of external funding submissions and enhanced invention disclosure readiness
- Gain the ability to mentor others and contribute to institutional AI research capacity
Program Overview
Web Pages for specific events with further details will roll out closer to the event dates and be featured on the CADS news page and shared throughout our networks.
TXST AI Research Literacy Office Hours
Accessible, low-barrier, just-in-time support for faculty, graduate students, and researchers who need quick guidance, troubleshooting, or structured help with AI-supported research tasks.
TBD - More Details Coming soon
CADS Catalyst Data and AI Research Showcase
February 27th,2026. Details coming soon.
TXST AI in Teaching and Learning Symposium
During this event, CADS will feature several sessions for the broader TXST community and visitors.
AI Research Literacy Workshop: AI for Research: Overview of Foundations, Responsible Use, and Practical Skills (TBD, March 4th, 2026)
Panel: How Early Career Faculty Uses AI Tools for Research (TBD on March 4th, 2026)
AI Research Open House: Ask Me Anything + Resource and Discussion Showcase (March 5th, 2026)
2nd Annual Data & AI Summit, Featuring: The 5th Analytics Showcase
Tentative Date: April 15, 2026
TXST External AI Computing (NAIRR/NRP/Access) Fellow Program
April 2026. Details coming soon.
McCoy AI Disruption Panel at RBFCU
April 2026. Details coming soon.
TXST AI Maker Innovation Day
May 2026. Details coming soon.
TXST Applied HPC School
May 2026. Details coming soon.
TXST Applied AI Summer School
Summer 2026. Details coming soon.
Campus Partners
Thank you to all who have collaborated with the Center to promote and plan these events and workshops!
AI Curriculum
The AI Curriculum Modules at Texas State University are an initiative by the Center for Analytics and Data Science (CADS), developed with funding from our NSF Expand AI grant. They are designed to AI education introductory,foundational and domain specific content.
AI/ML Education Spring Series
In collaboration with NVIDIA, Dell Technologies, and Mark III Systems, hosting a free, virtual AI/ML Education Series. No prior experience is required. Questions? Certificates awarded upon completion. Contact cads@txstate.edu.