AI, Universities, and the Question of College Impact
Debates surrounding artificial intelligence are intensifying, and universities are no exception. Recent controversies over AI-assisted academic misconduct have sparked public concern. Media reports have highlighted students recording professors’ voices for later AI use while paying little attention during lectures. Some universities have begun experimenting with real-time translation AI in classes for international students. At the same time, there is ongoing disagreement over how AI should be used in research, and many institutions still lack clear guidelines for AI-related practices. The changes students undergo through higher education, and the complex interplay of factors shaping those changes, can be broadly understood through the concept of college impact. A substantial body of research demonstrates that higher levels of student engagement and a stronger sense of belonging are consistently associated with more positive educational outcomes. As AI becomes embedded in everyday life...