Bridging the Gap in Research and Innovation Leadership for Ethical AI at the University of Massachusetts Lowell

Presentation Overview This presentation examines how the University of Massachusetts Lowell addresses AI use in research, based entirely on the institution’s 2023 guidance from the Office of Research Integrity. The analysis evaluates leadership gaps that appear when ethical direction, review responsibilities, and innovation practices operate in separate pathways across the campus. Key Focus of the Presentation 1. What the UMass Lowell Guidance Reveals · Review responsibilities for AI-supported research are separated across several units. · Ethical direction for AI use varies by department. · Innovation activities operate independently without shared leadership processes. · These conditions make it difficult for researchers to understand expectations for AI use involving data from individuals. 2. Leadership Frameworks Informing the Analysis · Leadership Ethics (Ciulla, 2020): Emphasizes the need for clear expectations when decisions carry moral implications. · Inclusive Leadership (Shore, Cleveland, and Sanchez, 2018): Highlights the importance of consistent direction that supports fairness in research practices. · Adaptive Leadership (Heifetz, Grashow, and Linsky, 2009): Explains why leaders must coordinate learning and adjust processes when facing new technological conditions. Proposed Leadership Model for UMass Lowell · Establish an AI-focused ethics board to guide research involving emerging tools. · Create a faculty–student advisory council that supports transparency and shared decision-making. · Connect these units directly with the Office of Research Integrity to ensure leadership decision aligns across the campus. Institutional Implications · Improves ethical leadership across research units. · Increases consistency in review expectations for AI-supported work. · Supports fairness in access to research resources and decision-making pathways. · Helps leaders anticipate new demands created by AI tools in disciplinary research.