Build AI Tools. Earn tuition credit.
The University of Minnesota AI Hub and CSE AI Makerspace connect practical faculty and staff AI and data science needs with UMN students ready to build useful solutions. Students gain hands-on experience, technical support, credentials, and public recognition.
Tuition-credit award tiers
5–15 hours
Simple scripts, automations, API setup15–40 hours
RAG chatbots, web UIs, data pipelines40–60 hours
Fine-tuning, multi-agent systems, advanced integrationIllustrative examples only; no real quest activity shown
Example award tiers, not paid totals
Static program design, not certificates earned
Institutional Google account required
How AI Quests works
Every quest moves through gated review. Proposals stay private until they are approved and deliberately published.
- 1
Submit a proposal
UMN faculty and staff describe the campus need, target outcomes, definition of done, data considerations, and any optional additional tuition-credit budget. Submissions remain private during review.
- 2
Vetting and tiering
AI Hub and CSE AI Makerspace reviewers assess technical feasibility, University policy and data requirements, project scope, and the appropriate award tier.
- 3
Quest launch
Only explicitly approved quests are published. Published quests are available to UMN students across departments, colleges, and campuses.
- 4
Development
A student or student team claims the quest and builds the solution, with optional technical support from the CSE AI Makerspace.
- 5
Evaluation and award
The AI Quests team and project requester evaluate the completed solution against its approved definition of done before tuition credit, credentials, and recognition are issued.
Rewards and career-building recognition
Each approved quest includes $250–$1,000 in University of Minnesota tuition credit based on scope, complexity, available program funding, and project requirements. Project sponsors may add an optional Quest Booster from an eligible departmental, grant, or external funding source.
- A Vice Provost for AI certificate of quest completion
- Recognition on the digital and physical AI Makerspace Quest Hero Wall of Fame
- A project profile with links or QR codes to suitable demos and repositories
- Potential spotlight or showcase opportunities when available
Initial rollout: Award amounts and recognition are issued only after the completed solution passes the required AI Quests and project-requester reviews.