‘AI Is The New Excel’: Kelley Dean Patrick Hopkins On ‘Future-Proofing’ Faculty & Students

Core Insights - The Kelley School of Business is facing significant challenges, including skepticism about the value of business degrees, the impact of artificial intelligence, and a changing labor market for graduates [1][2] Group 1: Strategic Initiatives - The dean emphasizes the importance of aligning educational outcomes with job market demands, focusing on what jobs will look like at the time of graduation [2] - To adapt to these changes, Kelley is rethinking faculty training, employer engagement, and student positioning in an AI-driven economy [2][4] - An in-house consultancy is being established to assist faculty in integrating AI tools into their courses and redesigning the curriculum [6] Group 2: AI Integration - The school has published an AI Playbook to provide best practices for ethical AI use in education, research, and service, which is available to other institutions [6] - AI is now considered a fundamental skill, akin to the necessity of Excel in the past, according to industry executives [7] - Despite the rise of AI, there remains a strong demand for human skills such as communication, teamwork, and ethical frameworks, which the school plans to emphasize through more experiential learning opportunities [8]