Researcher-facing Track – June 2026

2nd Thursdays of Each Month
1p ET/ 12p CT/ 11a MT/ 10a PT/ 8a HT

Should Your Institution Host an Open Source LLM?

Speakers:
Coltran Hophan-Nichols, Director of Systems and Research Computing, Montana State University
Johnathan Lee, Sr Systems Architect, Research Technology Office, Arizona State University

As interest in generative AI grows, many institutions are exploring how to support large language models in ways that align with privacy, security, research, and campus needs. This session will focus on local and institutionally managed open source LLMs as an alternative to closed, commercial, or provider-hosted services. We will discuss how institutions are aggregating demand, designing sustainable services, selecting infrastructure models, and balancing usability, cost, governance, security, and support expectations. Drawing on emerging peer examples and broader federal interest in open-source AI, participants will compare self-hosted hardware, cloud-based managed infrastructure, and hybrid approaches while considering the practical benefits, challenges, and tradeoffs of hosting open source LLMs on campus.