College professors grapple with student use of AI in coursework
Students across higher education are using ChatGPT and similar AI tools to complete assignments, forcing professors to redesign how they teach and assess student work. Some educators allow limited AI use; others prohibit it entirely and have caught students submitting AI-generated work as their own.
English professor Vanita Neelakanta banned AI from her classroom. When she announced that students would write assignments in blue books during class time, they responded with relief. "I think a lot of people wanted that reassurance that somebody else in the class was not going to cheat," she said.
The problem accelerated after ChatGPT launched in November 2022. Professors now encounter assignments entirely written by AI or work where students use AI output without attribution.
How professors detect AI use
English professor Megan Titus recognizes AI-generated work by spotting inconsistencies in student writing. The assignments sound nothing like how students speak in class. "AI does have a very particular kind of style," she said.
Titus teaches a strict "no AI policy" in most of her courses, though she incorporates AI for Education instruction in her "professional writing and emerging technologies" class. Students who violate the policy receive a zero and the option to rewrite the assignment.
History and philosophy chairwoman Nikki Shepardson designs assignments specifically to catch AI use. She requires students to analyze historical documents and answer open-ended questions like "What is enlightenment?" She has received responses showing students used AI, which concerns her. "This is really scary, because it actually is taking away the analysis," she said.
A 2025 Colorado State University survey found that 68% of professors do not use AI detection software, suggesting many rely on manual review instead.
Students divided on AI as a tool
Some students use AI strategically for specific tasks. Senior cybersecurity major Jordyn Bostick uses it to optimize resumes and brainstorm projects, but not to write full papers. Her professors encourage this approach. "They're very big on us learning how to use it to help ourselves," she said.
Senior accounting major Asia Adkison found AI helpful for grammar and sentence structure. Junior graphic design major Tazabrie Morales avoided AI entirely, worried teachers would see her as lazy.
Junior political science major Zack Leshner saw AI misuse firsthand during a Model United Nations competition. Other teams used AI to write position papers. "In that type of circumstance, when there's anything competitive, I think it's kind of stupid and not really fair," he said.
The academic concern: skill loss
Neelakanta observed that anxious students often turn to AI for help, then become dependent on it. Professors worry that reliance on AI erodes fundamental literacy and critical thinking skills.
Shepardson emphasized the contradiction in using AI to complete an assignment about independent thinking. Students lose the opportunity to develop analysis skills that employers expect.
Research from the University of St. Augustine suggests AI can benefit education by supporting inclusive learning and providing resources to underserved populations. But the evidence on academic integrity remains contested, with professors and students disagreeing on where the line between aid and cheating lies.
Your membership also unlocks:
