University of Wisconsin-Stout tested Microsoft 365 Copilot for Business in its classrooms. The pilot aimed to prep students for AI tools in the workplace by integrating Copilot into a senior capstone course. Students used Copilot alongside Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Teams—apps they already know.
The move came after a McKinsey survey found 78% of orgs use AI in at least one business area. The university let students explore Copilot freely, encouraging reflection on AI’s role in their work and study.
Students quickly grew confident using Copilot. They summarized Teams meetings, drafted slides, and polished emails. One said it saved time by generating meeting summaries. Another used it to check assignments against rubrics before submitting. 
Students struggled initially with prompt-writing and dealt with AI “hallucinations,” learning to double-check outputs. Some forgot to use Copilot, highlighting the need for time to build AI habits.
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Cost could limit Copilot’s wider classroom use, raising access and ethics questions. The school plans to keep expanding generative AI tools in courses, aiming to mix AI use into daily academic tasks—not just as a special topic.
Educators worry about AI’s effect on original thought and critical thinking. Early studies link AI writing help to lower cognitive effort and confidence. The university encourages students to create content first, then use AI to review.
Matthew Brewer, program director, said:
Start small, be transparent and talk openly with your students.
That’s what I did, and it’s what I’ll continue doing as I enter this next chapter of teaching and learning in the age of AI.
The pilot shows integrating AI in education means more than access. It’s about creating space to explore, experiment, reflect, and understand how AI fits into students’ personal and professional lives.
