ISTE and Old Dominion University set out faculty standards shaping digital practice and AI use

ISTE+ASCD and Old Dominion University have launched the ISTE Faculty Standards, a research-based framework outlining digital competencies for higher education faculty across teaching, research, and service.

ISTE+ASCD and Old Dominion University (ODU) have released the ISTE Faculty Standards for Digital Teaching and Learning Competencies, a research-based framework designed for higher education faculty.

ISTE+ASCD is a global nonprofit focused on technology-enabled learning, while ODU is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia, known for its digital innovation strategy.

The standards outline how faculty should engage with technology across teaching, research, and service, defining six role-based attributes: Instructor, Coordinator, Leader, Researcher, Learner, and Contributor. ISTE states that the framework is intended to support institutions responding to enrollment shifts, workforce needs, and accelerating AI adoption in higher education.

Universities move to adopt the standards

Helen Crompton, Professor of Instructional Technology and Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning at ODU, took to LinkedIn to respond to the release. Crompton wrote that she is “thrilled to see the release of the new ISTE Faculty Standards,” noting that they represent “a major step forward in supporting higher education faculty as they navigate the rapidly changing digital landscape.”

Crompton highlighted her role leading the research behind the standards, stating that a diverse group of faculty shaped a framework that reflects the realities of digital teaching, research, and service. She added that it is “exciting to see such a strong, research-grounded foundation now available to guide faculty development and digital transformation efforts across the sector.”

Institutions including Old Dominion University, Aquinas College, and Utah Valley University have already committed to using the standards institution-wide. ISTE+ASCD notes that the framework will help universities strengthen teaching quality, support accreditation, and ensure faculty have relevant digital competencies.

Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD, says “These new faculty standards give higher education a clear roadmap for harnessing emerging technologies in ways that are meaningful, ethical, and future-focused.”

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