As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize a multitude of industries, the higher education field is not left out. Although many people have expressed their concerns when it comes to AI being used in higher education, most of those initial concerns were about student usage. Let’s discuss the positives and negatives of AI in higher education for administrators, faculty and students, while also digging deeper into where the future of higher education is headed.
Positives of AI in Higher Education
AI tools in higher education are here to stay. Data show that students are already outpacing faculty when it comes to using AI tools. The more students, faculty and administration can adapt to AI tools, the more benefits they’ll experience.
1. Students Use AI Tools to Assist With Writing
Higher education students who struggle with writing can use AI tools to help research topics, use proper grammar, and turn in a well-written piece of writing. For example, Grammarly is a popular AI writing tool that helps students correct grammar mistakes, fix sentence structure, and ensure the assignment is at its best. ChatGPT is also an AI writing tool students can use to create written content, answer questions, change text based on a suggested tone, and summarize or simplify text. Not every student is an expert writer when they enter college, so these AI tools benefit students who need extra help when it comes to extensive writing assignments.
2. Faculty Use AI Tools to Provide Interactive Learning Experiences
Not all students learn the same, and higher education faculty know this. However, when faculty are teaching hundreds of students every semester, it becomes increasingly difficult to provide personalized learning, catering to every student’s pace and proficiency. Faculty who incorporate AI tools into their curriculum automatically provide more than one way of learning the content — a positive for students who learn differently.
According to a Hanover Research report, “AI-driven tools can create interactive learning environments, such as simulations and virtual reality, enhancing comprehension and engagement.” The report continues to say as long as AI usage is carefully used to ensure equitable access, prevent misuse and protect data privacy, then faculty who use AI tools can enhance student learning ethically.
3. Administration Use AI Tools to Efficiently Complete Tasks
Higher education administration can use AI to eliminate routine work that can be automated and streamline their processes. For example, the administration could use AI tools to send paperwork after a student receives an acceptance notice, identify students who may be at risk of dropping out, and produce stronger hiring of employees. There are a myriad of AI tools targeting administration in higher education and other industries. So, it’s best to first take stock of where repetition is occurring, and then decide which tools are most valuable to the people and the institution.
Now that we’ve gone over positive examples of AI tools in higher education, let’s dive into negative examples.
Negatives of AI in Higher Education
Like most tools, some risks occur when used incorrectly. For students, faculty, and administration, AI tools in higher education can be a concern if ethics aren’t taken into consideration.
1. Students May Over Rely on AI Tools to Complete Assignments
Although most faculty can spot an AI-written paper, this isn’t stopping students from using ChatGPT to write full assignments. According to a survey from Intelligence, 75% of college students who use ChatGPT to complete assignments believe it’s cheating but use it anyway. At Concordia-Chicago, “the unauthorized use of artificial intelligence bots” is considered cheating.
2. Faculty Must Consider Equity and Accessibility
For faculty who integrate AI tools into their curriculum, equity and accessibility need to be taken into consideration. While AI tools may enhance learning experiences, they may also unintentionally divide students who don’t have access to these technologies. For example, students who live in remote areas or those from low-income backgrounds may not have the ability to fully benefit from AI-enhanced learning due to a lack of resources.
3. Administration Must Be Aware of Security Risks
Students care about data privacy and whether or not their institution is putting proper systems into place to protect their information. Because of this fact, data privacy is a primary concern when integrating AI tools into higher education. These systems can gather, process and analyze large amounts of personal information from students. Without the forethought of putting controls into place to combat cyber and fraud attacks, sensitive information is at risk of being misused. Therefore, the administration may struggle with increased security risks if they’re not completely prepared.
How Will AI Affect the Higher Education Industry?
No one can tell the future when it comes to how AI will change higher education for better or for worse. One can argue we’re in the initial stages of AI, so as time goes on and people become more fluent with its tools, the later stages will present different positive and negative outcomes. What higher education professionals can do today is stay current with new developments, use AI as a tool when it makes sense, and continue learning about its benefits and risks.
Learn more about the higher education industry and how to excel as a higher education administrator by enrolling in our MA in Higher Education Leadership degree program or our EdD/PhD in Higher Education Leadership. Contact your admission counselor with any questions you may have.
