Artificial Intelligence at El Camino College

Transforming Education Through Responsible AI Logo

Empowering students, faculty, and staff with practical, secure, and innovative AI solutions.

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Institutional Focus

Advancing AI Across Education, Operations, and Student Success

About This Initiative

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming higher education, and institutions are either proactively shaping that change or being shaped by it; El Camino College has chosen to lead by embedding AI thoughtfully into its governance, operations, and workforce. The College’s AI Fluency Strategy is not about replacing people, but about investing in them—equipping students and employees to use AI ethically and effectively to reduce administrative burden, improve decision-making, and focus on what matters most. By establishing clear guardrails, role-based training, and strong human-centered governance, ECC is positioning AI as a tool to extend capacity, strengthen outcomes, and ensure long-term institutional sustainability.

Discover ECC's AI Fluency Framework

Real people. Real impact. Real stories.

Meet the Innovators

Discover the stories of faculty, staff, and other campus leaders exploring AI at ECC. Hear their candid experiences, lessons learned, successes, challenges, and concerns. No spin, no hype, just honest perspectives on what AI is doing well, where it falls short, and what responsible adoption looks like in practice.

Viviana Unda

Dr. Viviana Unda

Director of Institutional Research & Planning

Read Story
Kevin Gilligan Headshot

Kevin Gilligan Esq.

Adjunct Professor, Business Law

Read Story
Stephanie Burnham

Stephanie Burnham

Associate Professor, English

Read Story

Impact

Responsible AI. Real Impact.

10+

AI initiatives deployed

Purpose-built programs supporting teaching, operations, and student support.

See For Yourself
100+

Students & Employees engaged in AI training

Structured professional learning designed to build practical fluency and confidence.

See For Yourself
24/7

AI-powered support availability

Always-on service models that improve access, responsiveness, and user experience.

See For Yourself

Initiatives

AI in Action at ECC

Amelie: ECC's own local LLM

ECC's locally hosted AI model, designed to deliver secure, institution-specific intelligence powered by ECC’s trusted data.

Discover Amelie

Wally: The AI Virtual Help Desk

Enhanced support experiences for students and employees through guided virtual assistance.

Meet Wally

ECC AI Fluency Framework

Role-based learning pathways for trustees, cabinet, faculty, classified professionals, and staff.

View Framework

Agentic Ellucian Colleague Ethos API coding

Agentic automation layer for the Ethos API, accelerating development and enabling intelligent, self-directed system interactions.

Learn More

Guidance & Governance

A Structured Approach to AI

Tier 1

Governance

Board and executive leadership alignment on direction, risk tolerance, accountability, and institutional priorities.

Tier 2

Operations

Administrative units and operational teams applying AI to improve workflows, service delivery, and efficiency.

Tier 3

Adoption

Faculty, staff, and students building practical fluency through guidance, tools, and learning pathways.

Learning

Learn AI at Your Level

Structured training for students, faculty, staff, and leadership with practical examples and role-based pathways.

Start Learning

Tools & Access

Access Approved AI Tools

Secure, vetted tools ready for use across the institution with clear guardrails and support.

Explore Tools

Approved Tools

AI Tools Ready for Use

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General Productivity CCCCO Licensed

Nectir AI

An AI-powered student engagement platform that provides real-time, personalized academic support through course-specific data and interactions.

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Teaching & Learning CCCCO Licensed

Playlab

Web-based platform that lets users create, edit, and experiment with AI-generated images, videos, and creative content in an interactive, collaborative environment.

Sign Up
Automation & Workflow Support

AI ITS Help Desk

Guided virtual support for students and employees across common service scenarios.

Access Support
Misc Tools Request

Pilot Request

A clear intake path for proposing new AI tools, pilots, and automation opportunities.

Submit Request
Content Creation & Media ECC Licensed

Jamworks

Accessible study support for note-taking, summaries, and learning reinforcement.

Request Access
Research & Knowledge ECC Licensed

NotebookLM

AI-powered research assistant for synthesizing documents, generating summaries, and exploring knowledge.

Open Tool

Podcasts

AI Conversations That Matter

AI in Higher Education: From Adoption to Strategic Integration

Synopsis: The Ellucian 2026 AI Report outlines a pivotal shift in higher education from individual experimentation toward formal institutional integration of artificial intelligence. While personal usage among administrators has reached a saturation point, colleges are increasingly embedding AI into strategic plans and dedicated budgets to enhance operational efficiency. Information Technology and Executive Leadership sectors lead this transition, primarily utilizing the technology for data analytics and cybersecurity. Conversely, high-stakes areas such as financial aid and student learning remain approached with caution due to persistent skepticism regarding automated decision-making. Significant obstacles to widespread adoption include data privacy concerns, the risk of algorithmic bias, and a growing awareness of the environmental costs associated with AI. Ultimately, the report emphasizes that successful future integration depends on comprehensive training and maintaining human oversight to foster trust across campus communities.

// Generated by Notebook LM – Date: 3/21/26

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Start Your AI Journey at ECC

Explore approved tools, build practical skills, and engage with responsible AI initiatives across the college.