UA President Peter Mohler on Tuesday announced the creation of the School of Data Science, scheduled to open in 2027. This is the first school specializing in data science in Alabama, according to Mohler.
UA is poised to be “a national leader in data-driven research, education and innovation. We are excited to announce this important initiative that supports discovery through research and innovation and helps us develop the workforce this state needs,” Mohler said.
The new data science school will offer certificate programs, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Faculty can specialize in quantum computing, cybersecurity, materials science and national defense.
Students will “integrate technical experience with ethical, social and economic considerations.”
Mohler said he hopes this program will impact students and faculty no matter their course of study “to ensure they have foundational skills in data literacy, translational data analytics and artificial intelligence.”
Mohler made the announcement inside the High Performance Computing and Data Center, which will be completed in early 2027. The facility “will include high-capacity GPU clusters, petabyte scale storage, and high-speed networking designed to support both campus researchers and statewide collaborations,” according to a news release.
“We are living in a moment of rapid change,” Mohler said. “The pace of innovation is accelerating and data technology and artificial intelligence are beginning to shape how we live, how we work, how we compete on a global scale in real time.”
UA is already embracing AI with the new “AI Experience” to be offered this fall that “will educate every member of our campus community to use these new tools in thoughtful, responsible and practical ways,” Mohler said.
The three-hour course will teach students, faculty and staff on how to use AI responsibly, how to protect data and effective prompting strategies.
The High Performance Computing and Data Center is a 40,000-square-foot, $96 million facility where “students, faculty and industry partners can access world-class computing resources at scale to accelerate discovery and innovation,” he said.
Mohler said the HPC isn’t the same size as the data centers popping up in cities nationwide, including Bessemer, which has become a hotbed issue for residents concerned about energy and water usage.
“What we’re imagining is that the High Performance Computing center is a resource for our faculty to do academic research, to be able to work with industry partners, but is a fraction of the level that you’re seeing,” Mohler said.
Artificial intelligence has also drawn criticism for its ethical and privacy challenges. Mohler said students need to understand the negative and positive implications of AI.
“Our students and our workforce need to understand how you use that data to make responsible decisions, whether it’s in nursing, whether it’s in business, whether it’s in law going forward,” Mohler said.
Mohler has served as UA’s president for nine months and already announced plans for a new Leadership and Public Policy school in November 2025. Students can begin taking public policy classes in 2027.
The board of trustees will start planning the data science school, including a search for the new dean, at its June 11 meeting.
©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
