University of Kentucky Expands CATS AI Literacy and Ethics Support as AI Major Enrolls More Than 30 Students

Spectrum News reported on August 23 that the University of Kentucky will strengthen AI literacy and ethics in the new academic year and expand its cross-disciplinary CATS AI strategy. The university says the initiative provides students and faculty with resources and guidance for using AI in class and at work. Earlier this year it announced a Microsoft partnership and an artificial-intelligence bachelor's degree, which has more than 30 students registered for fall 2026. The university also encourages professors to include an AI policy in every syllabus and, where use is permitted, apply a tiered scale to explain which parts of an assignment may involve AI.

The university is advancing general support, course rules, and a specialist degree at the same time, spanning campus-wide governance and dedicated talent development. More than 30 registrations indicate initial demand, while the report gives no completion rate, learning outcomes, faculty policy adoption, or details of Microsoft's contribution. Students can receive clearer course-level AI boundaries and pursue systematic AI study through the new degree. Faculty can use CATS AI resources and a tiered scale to create explainable rules balancing academic integrity and workplace skills.