AI @ SHSU - Articles & Insights
Write Smarter with Copilot
Published February 5, 2026
Use Copilot to generate first drafts, refine language, and summarize lengthy documents in seconds, all while maintaining your unique voice and professional tone.
Collaborate Using Copilot in Microsoft Teams
Published February 5, 2026
Copilot helps keep your team aligned by summarizing meetings, capturing decisions, and identifying action items, ensuring continuity even when you are unable to attend.
Stay on Top of Email with Copilot in Outlook
Published February 5, 2026
By summarizing long threads, drafting thoughtful replies, and highlighting next steps, Copilot helps reduce time spent in your inbox while keeping communication clear and timely.
Analyze and Visualize Data with Copilot in Excel
Published February 5, 2026
With plain language prompts, Copilot can help you explore data, identify trends, and create meaningful visualizations to support informed decision‑making.
Create Engaging Presentations with Copilot in PowerPoint
Published February 5, 2026
From outlines to polished slide decks, Copilot assists with content organization, layout suggestions, and even speaker notes, saving you valuable preparation time.
Harnessing AI in Blackboard
Published December 4, 2025
Jacob Spradlin, SHSU Online's executive director for online instructional development & support, discusses Blackboard’s AI-powered tools and how they streamline course design, grading, and student engagement. From generating course structures and rubrics to creating interactive dialogues that foster critical thinking, these tools provide a solid foundation you can customize to fit your unique style. Faculty who embrace these innovations will not only boost efficiency but also deliver richer, more engaging learning experiences for students.
Tripod: SHSU's Always-On AI Chatbot
Published September 30, 2025
SHSU's Visitor Services provides smart student support with the implementation of an AI-powered chatbot. Students have questions and needs outside of business hours and with AI, they are able to get answers to their questions 24x7.
Prompting 101: Getting the Most Out of AI Tools
Published September 22, 2025
Prompting is a foundational skill for getting the most out of AI. A prompt is simply a question or instruction that you give AI to get your outcome. Read on for practical tips as you dive into experimentation with AI and some things to avoid.
Using AI Tools Safely and Responsibly
Published September 16, 2025
AI tools offer exciting opportunities for innovation and learning, but it's essential to use them responsibly. University-approved platforms like Microsoft Copilot are great for secure tasks such as scheduling and drafting, while personal tools like ChatGPT should only be used for general research or writing help—never for handling sensitive university data. Read on for more tips on using AI safely and responsibly.
GPT-5 in Microsoft Copilot: Smarter, Faster, More Helpful
Published September 8, 2025
Microsoft Copilot recently received a major upgrade—GPT-5.
This powerful new model brings faster responses and deeper reasoning directly into the tools you already use—Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and more—while keeping your university data secure.
Unlock the Power of AI
Published September 2, 2025
Introduction of two officially approved AI tools available at SHSU: Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot. While their names may sound similar, they serve different purposes. To help you understand how each tool can support your work, an outline of key differences and use cases are included.