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English language program professionals negotiating Generative AI: action research in a community of practice

By David Patent, David Lind, Amy Walker, Olga Oganesyan, Jeff Jiang, Haley Berl, Tara Manion & Kelsey Gillette

Educational Action Research, Connecting Research and Practice for Professionals and Communities, August 2026

Abstract

Generative AI (GenAI) adoption in English language programs (ELPs) has outpaced training and institutional support. This practitioner action research (AR) study investigates how eight professionals in a university-based ELP navigated GenAI integration through structured inquiry within a Community of Practice (CoP) framework. Following Burns’s (2010) cyclical AR model and Whitehead and McNiff’s (2006) living theory approach, participants engaged in an AR cycle (January 2025-April 2026). Data comprised transcriptions of three recorded meetings and four researcher journals, analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes were identified: implications of GenAI on professional practices, personal and professional identity, efficiency versus deskilling, ethics of GenAI use, and policies around GenAI use. Participants discussed instrumental, task-level problems alongside existential questions about authenticity, human relevance, and professional identity. The CoP developed shared repertoires, including commitments to transparency, verification as professional responsibility, and platform agnosticism, while individual trajectories ranged from systematic integration to persistent resistance. The study shifts research focus from individual perceptions to collective sense-making, extends the professional community beyond instructors, and demonstrates that GenAI integration in ELPs is not merely a technical challenge but an identity and ethical one benefiting from systematic collaborative inquiry through AR.

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The push to promote the smart city: Assessing the impacts of a government-led Smart City Challenge

By Austin Zwick, Jeffrey Biggar, Zachary Spicer

Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit, August 2026

Abstract

Cities worldwide continue to experiment with urban technology solutions to address urban problems. Smart city projects have recently emerged in North America, including Canada, but their governance implications on cities and communities remains not fully understood. This article is based on a post-hoc analysis of a pan-Canadian government-driven technology and innovation competition called the Smart Cities Challenge (SCC). The research explored the impact of the SCC across three areas: (1) municipal innovation and governance, (2) collaboration among public, private, and community networks, and (3) policy implementation within local government structures. The findings indicate that public smart city competitions do succeed in fostering strategic planning and community engagement in municipal governments, however local governments struggle to advance technology-oriented projects to the implementation stage without greater investment. For those that did, sustaining successes without further investment and capacity building. The study’s key contribution lies in revealing how the competition stimulated new governance processes, strategic planning efforts, and collaborative networks, while also exposing significant implementation challenges rooted in fiscal constraints, limited technical capacity, and the short-lived nature of competition-based incentives. The research highlights the promise and limits of government-led smart city competitions as tools for advancing municipal innovation in today’s constrained fiscal context.

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Something Wired This Way Comes: What Fracking Taught Planners That Data Center Communities Need to Learn

By Austin Zwick

Journal of the American Planning Association, August 2026

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) data centers impose the same externalities on local communities that hydraulic fracturing did a decade ago: massive water consumption, continuous noise, construction road damage, thin permanent employment, and fiscal mismatches that leave municipalities bearing infrastructure costs while states capture revenue through tax abatements.

Drawing on field work with municipal planners across five Marcellus Shale states, I argue in this Viewpoint that planners should treat data centers as heavy industrial uses and apply the targeted regulatory tools that fracking communities developed through hard experience. Outright bans invite state preemption; targeted regulation has proved durable. The analogy has limits, but the governance playbook transfers.

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Career Advancement Starts Here: Essential English Language Skills for Professionals

Whether you’re applying for a new job, working toward a promotion, or entering the workforce for the first time, strong communication skills can help you stand out. For English language learners, building English proficiency isn’t just about learning a language, it’s about gaining the confidence to contribute, collaborate, and grow professionally.

In today’s global workplace, employers value professionals who can communicate clearly across multiple teams. Cultivating greater proficiency in English is a significant investment in your continued professional development.

How English Language Skills Support Career Growth

Strong English language skills can make everyday tasks at work easier and open the door to new opportunities. Whether you’re writing emails, speaking with customers, leading meetings, or sharing ideas with coworkers, clear communication helps you build trust and demonstrate your expertise.

Improving your English can help you:

  • Communicate confidently with coworkers, supervisors, and clients
  • Build stronger relationships across cultures and teams
  • Prepare for interviews, networking events, and leadership opportunities

These aren’t just language skills. They are professional skills that employers value in every industry.

Why Employers Value Strong Communication Skills

Professional development often focuses on technical knowledge, certifications, and specialized training. Whether you’re collaborating with colleagues, presenting ideas, or building relationships with clients, strong communication helps you work more effectively and grow professionally.

Across industries, English communication skills help professionals in:

  • Healthcare: Collaborate with care teams and communicate clearly with patients and families
  • Business: Build client relationships, lead meetings, and present ideas with confidence.
  • Technology: Explain complex ideas, collaborate across teams, and contribute to global projects.
  • Education: Engage students, communicate with families, and share knowledge effectively
  • Law: Advise clients, prepare legal documents, and communicate effectively in negotiations, court proceedings, and professional settings.

For English language learners, developing strong communication isn’t about speaking perfectly, it’s about communicating clearly, confidently, and effectively in the workplace.

Develop English Skills for Career Success

Building confidence starts with practice. At the English Language Institute (ELI) at Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies, students strengthen their English through interactive discussions, presentations, collaborative projects, and real-world communication activities.

Learners develop practical skills in:

  • Speaking and conversation
  • Professional writing
  • Presentations and public speaking
  • Listening and comprehension
  • Cross-cultural communication

Whether you’re preparing for your first job, advancing your career, pursuing higher education, or looking to communicate more confidently, ELI provides the support and hands-on learning to help you reach your goals.

With experienced instructors and a welcoming community, you’ll gain practical English language skills that prepare you for success in the workplace and beyond.

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How Degree Completion Supports Career Growth and Lifelong Learning

In today’s competitive job market, completing your bachelor’s degree can be one of the most valuable investments you make in your future. Whether your education was paused because of work, family, finances, or other responsibilities, earning your degree can help you unlock new opportunities and achieve both your career and educational goals.

Degree completion isn’t just about finishing what you started. It’s about gaining the knowledge, skills, and credentials that can help you grow professionally and prepare for what’s next.

A photo of a woman reading a brochure. Text behind her head reads "Your Degree, Your Future." The bottom text reads "Why Degree Completion Matters."

Why Degree Completion Matters

1. Advance Your Career

A bachelor’s degree remains a valuable credential across many industries. Employers often look for candidates with a completed degree when hiring for leadership roles, promotions, and specialized positions.

Completing your degree can help you qualify for new opportunities, increase your professional credibility, and demonstrate your commitment to personal and career growth.

2. Increase Your Earning Potential

While every career path is different, research consistently shows that earning a bachelor’s degree can lead to higher lifetime earnings and greater career stability.

Completing your degree can position you for roles with increased responsibility, stronger benefits, and long-term career growth.

3. Build Skills Employers Value

A bachelor’s degree develops skills that extend beyond the classroom. Throughout your coursework, you’ll strengthen abilities that employers seek across industries, including:

  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem-solving
  • Collaboration
  • Project management

These transferable skills can help you adapt to changing industries and succeed throughout your career.

How Degree Completion Supports Your Educational Goals

Prepare for Graduate Study

Many graduate and professional programs require a completed bachelor’s degree for admission. Finishing your degree can open the door to advanced education, specialized certifications, and new career pathways.

Support Lifelong Learning

Education doesn’t end with graduation. Completing your bachelor’s degree builds a strong foundation for continued learning and professional development throughout your career.

Achieve a Personal Milestone

For many students, earning a bachelor’s degree represents more than an academic credential. It is the achievement of a long-term goal and a reflection of perseverance, resilience, and determination.

Why Now Is the Right Time

The workforce continues to evolve, and employers increasingly value professionals who demonstrate adaptability and a commitment to learning.

Completing your degree today can help you:

  • Qualify for new career opportunities
  • Prepare for leadership roles
  • Strengthen your professional skills
  • Increase your earning potential
  • Continue your education with confidence

Every credit you’ve earned is a step toward your future. Completing your degree allows you to build on that progress and move closer to your personal and professional goals.

Take the Next Step

Whether your goal is career advancement, graduate study, or achieving a personal milestone, degree completion can help you get there.

At Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies, flexible degree pathways help adult learners and working professionals finish their bachelor’s degree and move forward with confidence.

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