The AI Imperative: A Study of AI Policies for Faculty and Students in U.S. Higher Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 1:45 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Rapid Waves: Instituitons Responses to Shifting Political and Tecnological Enviornments

Abstract

The rapid rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Grok is reshaping U.S. higher education, creating both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges. This study examines how top U.S. universities address AI integration through policies and resources for faculty and students. Analyzing publicly available documents from the top 50 institutions using grounded theory and thematic analysis (supported by NVivo), the study identifies key trends: decentralized governance granting instructors autonomy, policies distinguishing permissible (e.g., brainstorming, coding) from prohibited uses (e.g., uncredited AI-generated work), and emphasis on transparency and disclosure. Institutions also invest in AI literacy, secure platforms, and faculty training. This study captures how U.S. universities are proactively shaping academic policies in the early stages of the AI era.

Author

• Yufeng Qian, Louisiana State University