Integrating AI into academic life: UB initiative brings practical tools to students and faculty
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, so does the urgency to integrate it meaningfully into education as a practical tool that supports learning, teaching and campus operations.
One such effort taking place in the University at Buffalo is EASE: Educational AI Support for Everyone.
Funded through UB’s AI Seed Funds, a program supporting the thoughtful integration of generative AI into teaching and learning, EASE was developed to explore how localized large language models could address real, recurring challenges in academic environments. The initiative focused on building practical, accessible AI-powered tools that streamline tasks and improve the student and faculty experience.
The project was led by Dominic Sellitto, assistant faculty director of the UB School of Management’s Center for AI and Business Innovation. What began in 2023 as a grant-supported pilot in the school concluded in 2025 with a wider rollout to students across UB, and a clear path for continued growth.
Rather than developing a single system, the platform comprises a series of lightweight applications tailored to specific needs.
Among them is a test question generator that allows instructors to create multiple variations of a single exam question, reducing academic dishonesty while maintaining consistent learning outcomes. Another tool assists students with semester planning by transforming syllabi into customized schedules that reflect the complexity of their coursework and personal commitments.
One of the most widely adopted tools is a cover letter generator that helps students quickly and effectively tailor job applications in a competitive hiring landscape, where applying for 40-50 positions a week is now the norm.
The tool is grounded in the professional standards established by the Career Resource Center, a hub within the School of Management that helps students prepare for and secure jobs after graduation. While initially developed and tested with School of Management students, the application is now available to students across the university.
In each case, the technology supports (rather than replaces) the user’s effort, removing logistical barriers so students and faculty can focus more fully on teaching, learning and professional development.
Throughout the two-year development period, the EASE team collaborated with hundreds of students and faculty members to test and refine each application. Feedback was essential to ensuring the tools aligned with academic standards, integrated seamlessly into existing workflows and met real needs.
The platform also prioritizes accessibility and security. Users are not required to create accounts, and no personal data is stored.
Although the initial grant-funded phase concluded in 2025, EASE will continue to evolve. Sellitto is now incorporating the platform into the broader initiatives of the Center for AI and Business Innovation, where it will serve both as a resource for instructional support and a foundation for future AI-driven experimentation.
Plans are already underway to explore deeper classroom integration and expanded applications across disciplines, ensuring the platforms remain relevant, adaptable solutions for a rapidly changing academic landscape.
While artificial intelligence often garners attention for its potential to transform industries, this initiative demonstrates that its value in higher education can also be measured in everyday improvements — less time spent on repetitive tasks, more consistency across assignments and better support for academic success.
Through this project, the School of Management and UB are setting a standard for practical AI integration: thoughtful, collaborative and grounded in the realities of academic life.
This story was written by AI and edited by a member of the UB School of Management Marketing and Communications Office.