Vanderbilt Says Use of Artificial Intelligence Now Acceptable For Coursework

Image: Kirkland Hall – Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee) Image Credit: Corey Seeman / CC

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

Vanderbilt University is the latest institution of higher education to embrace the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its coursework.

According to the university newspaper The Hustler, students who are taking classes in the College of Arts and Sciences will now be allowed to use AI for their courses unless the professor explicitly states that it is not allowed. This is a change from their general policy regarding AI, which states that faculty members must give permission for it to be used.

“The College of Arts and Science recognizes that AI is an increasingly prominent presence in the lives of our students and the world,” stated a university representative. 

Timothy McNamara, Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Science initiated the change, which was then discussed and considered with faculty input.

The policy change is expected to allow professors to exercise flexibility and set the individual standards for AI use in their courses. 

“Given the breadth of disciplines and courses that A&S covers, it is important that we provide our faculty with the flexibility to establish a policy that advances the pedagogical and learning goals for their unique course,” said the representative.

While the announcement was shared with faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences, the information was not sent out to students because the university expects professors to share their individual policies in each class.

“Faculty will determine the policy within their own classes; therefore, they will communicate their expectations directly to their students,” stated the representative.

The policy requires that all faculty members must include their AI guidelines in each course syllabus. 

Students and faculty alike have expressed support for the new policy, stating that it would “expand resources” and provide students with an opportunity to increase creativity and research procedures. Some, however, worry that using AI will lead to students cutting corners on their assignments, lessening the quality of their actual learning.

This past summer, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville announced that they would be integrating AI into coursework, claiming that it would “enhance” students’ learning experiences.