Newman University establishes The Newman Institute for AI and the Common Good with Board of Trustees approval and third-party financing. The institute addresses Kansas workforce AI training needs through existing programs, statewide partnerships, and federal funding support.
-- Newman University's Board of Trustees approved The Newman Institute for AI and the Common Good on June 12, establishing a concrete institutional commitment backed by initial third-party financing. The institute represents a new educational and training resource for Kansas businesses, grounded in real funding and governance approval. With formal board authorization and financial mechanisms in place, the institute addresses urgent workforce development needs across the state.
More information is available at https://ai.newmanu.edu/
A regional survey of Heartland employer decision-makers reveals the pressing need driving the institute's creation: 81% are already deploying or piloting AI tools, yet 68% require AI training and 74% expressed strong interest in a Newman-led training cohort. National data from McKinsey's 2025 State of AI report shows that 88% of organizations have adopted AI in some form, but fewer than 10% have successfully integrated it into actual work processes. The gap between adoption and effective implementation creates significant challenges for Kansas employers seeking competitive advantage through technology.
Newman brings proven institutional capacity to address this skills gap through its Master of Science in Applied AI program, undergraduate degrees in artificial intelligence, and AI bootcamps delivered to regional industries. The institute builds on these existing programs, representing a natural evolution of demonstrated expertise. By expanding established educational foundations, Newman positions itself to serve businesses across Kansas with training grounded in practical application and ethical frameworks.
The university is building the AI Education Alliance, a statewide network of Kansas higher education institutions designed to make AI education accessible beyond the Newman campus. Garden City Community College has already committed as a partner. Through collaborative partnerships, Newman extends its reach to businesses and workers throughout Kansas, ensuring regional access to training resources regardless of geographic location.
David Cochran, Ph.D., will lead the institute as director while also serving as dean of AI and Emerging Technologies at Newman University, bringing both academic credibility and industry connectivity to the role. Cochran founded Data Professionals of Wichita, growing the organization from 40 to over 200 members, demonstrating his dual understanding of academic rigor and employer needs. His vision emphasizes technology that helps workers grow and enables organizations to serve communities with clarity, care, and responsibility-an approach grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, the Vatican's "Antiqua et Nova," and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran is supporting a request for $1.6 million in congressionally directed spending for fiscal year 2027 to support the institute and its statewide partner network, strengthening the initiative's credibility with concrete federal backing. The institute has already launched operational initiatives, including regular AI user group meetings and a new Wichita AI Club, positioning Newman as a convening force for AI practitioners across the region. These immediate activities demonstrate that the institute is community-focused and operational, serving Kansas businesses now.
For more details, visit https://newmanu.edu/
Contact Info:
Name: Clark Schafer
Email: Send Email
Organization: Newman University
Address: 3100 McCormick , Wichita, Kansas 67213, United States
Website: https://newmanu.edu/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89198037
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