IBL News | New York
A national survey of 338 university presidents and other senior leaders about generative AI conducted by AAC&U and Elon University finds that these tools will enhance and customize learning and create better student learning outcomes as teaching models change.
In addition, most university presidents and senior leaders think the tools will improve students’ research skills, creativity, and writing ability.
The survey, conducted Nov. 4-Dec. 7, 2024, covered the current situation on their campuses, their struggles, the changes they anticipate, and the sweeping impacts they foresee. The results covered in a new report, Leading Through Disruption (PDF), were released at the annual AAC&U meeting, held January 22–24 in Washington, DC. [Picture above: opening of the conference].
The main finding points out that the spread of AI tools in education has disrupted key aspects of teaching and learning on the nation’s campuses and will likely lead to significant changes in classwork, student assignments, and even the role of colleges and universities in the country.
Other outcomes indicate:
- High student adoption of GenAI, lower faculty uptake: at least half of students use the tools while fewer than half of faculty use them
- The most common uses by academic leaders are for writing and communications, information gathering and summarization, idea generation, and data analysis.
- Unpreparedness: Majorities of these college and university leaders believe their institutions are unprepared to use GenAI.
- Cheating has increased on campuses since GenAI tools have become widely available, but detection doesn’t work correctly.
- Most leaders say that spreading GenAI tools will affect students’ academic integrity.
- Decreased attention spans: 66% think GenAI will diminish student attention spans, including 24% who think the tools will significantly impact this.
- The challenges often for avoiding adoption include faculty unfamiliarity with or resistance to GenAI, distrust of GenAI tools and their outputs, and concerns about diminished student learning outcomes.
“The overall takeaway from these leaders is that they are working to make sense of the changes they confront and looking over the horizon at a new AI-infused world they think will be better for almost everyone in higher education,” said Lee Rainie, director of Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center.
C. Edward Watson, vice president for digital innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), said, “The fact that 44% of institutions have already created AI-specific courses shows both the urgency and opportunity before us. The challenge now is turning today’s disruption into tomorrow’s innovation in teaching and learning.”
A persistent concern on campus relates to jobs. These college and university leaders say some reductions in employment levels could occur. Still, it will mostly be minor: 29% say they expect reductions in the number of staff at their schools (only 3% say it will be primary). In comparison, 11% expect reductions in faculty and teaching assistants (only 1% say it will be significant).
