While there are concerns about artificial intelligence affecting academic classes and coursework, Hunter College professors and students are incorporating AI technology and tools to balance their workloads and utilizing it to the fullest extent.
“Hunter has held several sessions for faculty to talk about not only detecting ChatGPT and other AI tools, but also incorporating AI tools into the classroom,” said Sissel McCarthy, distinguished lecturer and director of the Journalism Program at Hunter College, in an email.
“In our Classroom to Career course, students are using AI for the first draft of their cover letter,” said McCarthy.
As a result of the issues surrounding AI in higher education and the lack of control faculty had over it in their classrooms, the City University of New York’s policy on academic integrity was revised last spring, where the university Faculty Senate recommended policies for review that defined plagiarism and cheating. For example, a professor may authorize the use of AI technologies and tools in an academic setting for specific purposes. The unauthorized use of AI-generated content in assignments or exams, even when paraphrased, or without citing the source, is considered plagiarism or cheating, according to school policy.
Ellie Ephross, a junior Art History major who said that she never used AI for her assignments, said her professors are trying to incorporate AI as much as they can into their curriculum.
“I noticed a lot of professors are trying to get ahead of AI, trying to use AI together in a class, or to use AI for this and not for that,” said Ephross.
A survey conducted by BestColleges, an education advisory, found that 56% of students used artificial intelligence in the course of completing assignments or exams in 2023.
In addition, 53% of students said that AI is required in their assignments. AI tools are used more in assignments by business majors as compared to STEM and humanities majors, alongside men who report using AI more than women.
Professors are changing their assignments rather than developing new rubrics and grading standards. For example, writing assignments are approached through a more reflective lens where students have the opportunity to share personal experiences and incorporate key course concepts, McCarthy said. In-class writing assignments and essays can also be about current events.
“Another option is an oral presentation where students showcase what they learned,” she added.
When asked if professors are using softwares to detect AI writing in student work, McCarthy said instructors “don’t use any software to detect AI writing because it is not reliable, particularly when it comes to ESL students.”
“AI writing doesn’t sound like a student,” she said.
Students have not noticed any change in fairness even though assignments have slightly changed.
“Thankfully I haven’t noticed a change in grading standards,” said Kim Smith, a senior who majors in Media Studies with a concentration in Journalism and a minor in Film Studies. Smith said she has never used AI.
Smith, who returned to college after a 23 year hiatus to take care of her children, said she had one professor from a media class who told students not to use ChatGPT.
“But personally I think you could plagiarize from Google, books, encyclopedias, ChatGPT – it’s unethical,” she said. “People will always find a way to cheat, so banning technology is crazy, so it’s better to use it as a tool, to enhance our work.”
Occasionally Ephross said she heard kids in the hallway who would say they use it when they are overwhelmed and stressed, although it’s not as accurate and helpful as they thought.
“For art history, I’m not sure if AI could be used. As someone that is in art history, I’m against it,” she said. “There is so much in art history, the context, the background, if AI was used, there would be no meaning to what I do. It feels dystopian.”
Smith thought it was better to connect with the professors and ask for help and not to take the easy route.
“There’s more dignity in not looking to cheat and go to tutoring sessions,” she said.
