Higher Education Institutions Strengthen AI Integration Efforts
UNCW and UNK are making significant strides in integrating AI into higher education and library services.
Key Points
- • UNCW's Community of Practice has 182 participants in AI training.
- • 41% of UNCW's honor code violations in 2023-2024 were AI-related.
- • David Arredondo leads AI integration efforts at UNK's library services.
- • UNK has introduced ChatGPT Enterprise licenses for better information access.
As higher education institutions increasingly address the implications of artificial intelligence (AI), significant developments have emerged from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) and the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) as they enhance their AI strategies for better educational practice and library services.
UNCW has proactively embraced AI integration, marking a shift away from debating its use to focusing on effective incorporation into educational practices. Dr. Carol McNulty, the associate provost for undergraduate educational and faculty affairs, noted that the university's approach is collaborative, intentional, and inclusive, involving all academic majors. The recently launched Community of Practice program has gained momentum, with 182 participants currently enrolled in a self-paced AI training course, which covers a range of topics including the implications of AI for grading, plagiarism, and academic integrity.
The urgency of maintaining academic integrity is underscored by recent data indicating a significant rise in honor code violations linked to AI. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 338 violations were reported, with 41% attributed to AI, a number which slightly rose in the following year to 47%. Student Body President Skylar Stein expressed optimism about UNCW's measures, stating that the university is well-positioned to adapt to these challenges as they arise.
At UNK, David Arredondo is leading efforts to integrate AI into library services and training. With a rich background that spans over a decade within the University of Nebraska System, Arredondo supervises the collection services unit and is actively involved in teaching and research on business analytics in academic libraries. His work aims to improve access to information through AI-driven tools including the provision of ChatGPT Enterprise licenses for both employees and students.
Arredondo has also been instrumental in organizing AI training sessions to familiarize faculty and students with emerging technologies like ChatGPT, helping to demystify their usage in academic settings. He aspires to foster learning communities that share best practices for utilizing AI tools effectively in the library context.
Both institutions reflect a growing recognition within higher education of the need to advance AI integration, ensuring that tools are not only accessible but also employed in ways that uphold academic integrity and enhance the educational experience.