The California State University system is integrating artificial intelligence into its educational framework, for all students to enhance their learning opportunities across all 23 CSU campuses.
The initiative is costing $16.9 million which is less than anticipated for these technologies. It is said to represent significant savings rather than a new investment.
“We are excited that the CSU is at the forefront of the use of AI in higher education and how it can be used effectively and ethically,” wrote a CSU spokesperson.
With the significant ethical concerns of AI, the CSU’s have convened an AI Oversight Advisory Committee, to oversee the ongoing governance requirement for AI in the CSU system.
The investment is quickly stirring up excitement and controversy within the universities, in particular at Cal State Bakersfield. With the progression of AI evolving faster than expected, the CSU system believes AI tools will enable students with greater opportunities and prepare a vast number of educated people to contribute to California’s future.
As part of the system-wide implementation, CSUB already incorporated AI into its educational settings. On March 7 a mass email was sent by the ChatGPT Edu Project Team announcing the implementations of OpenAI on campus.
Although ChatGPT Edu is coming to campus students, staff and faculty have the opportunity to opt-out of the transition by submitting an opt-out request by March 19. For those who require guidance, additional help and resources are available to navigate through ChatGPT Edu.
Emily Poole Callahan, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students for Student Integrity and Well-Being, has an outward approach for the innovative partnership. She believes AI is our future and a positive step towards education. Callahan is working to ensure that all students have the tools and resources to make the transition.
“I’m excited about the possibilities of what it can do for learning. For humans, whether in the workspace or what it can do in an educational setting. I don’t envision artificial intelligence to ever take the place of humans,” said Callahan.
CSUB has an Academic Integrity Committee and within it subcommittees that is focused solely on Artificial Intelligence which was formed prior to the Chancellor announcement on AI. The issue of academic integrity is a significant concern amongst faculty. Nate Olsen, Interim Director at the Kegley Institute of Ethics and Associate Professor of Philosophy expressed the ethical concerns between AI and education.
Olson shared that AI has the potential to be biased in the way it creates its predictive models AI uses. As the director of KIE, Olsen understands the importance of values within education that include equity, integrity and preparing students for the future.
“If we lose sight of that, when we’re trying to incorporate new things, then we can run into new ethical problems,” said Olsen.
He explained that ethical issues may arise if not everyone has equal opportunities or the unintended effects of different groups being treated differently because of the use of AI. Olsen claims it is crucially important for faculty to be consulted first as integrating AI into education is a major decision that not only affects students but faculty as well.
This sentiment doesn’t just end at faculty, students express similar concerns.
“ChatGPT is like a double edged sword,” said Josue Rosas, a communications major.
Rosas expresses that he utilizes ChatGPT in certain classes but does not fully rely on using it because he is paying for his education and needs to learn the material.
Amber Chiang, a Communications professor at CSUB shares her negative encounters with AI and is not exactly in favor of the initiative. Although Chiang understands the need to become modernized she deems it problematic as the learning process starts to fail.
“I understand the value of AI, but it is a shortcut and a work-around for a lot of students to keep them from doing their own work,” said Chiang.
Chiang also believes that some of the responsibility belongs to the professors to engage with these new technologies and incorporate them into courses but in other scenarios AI is completely prohibited.
She will continue to approach AI in different ways and advises students to always follow the syllabus. Here is where you can find more information: https://www.csub.edu/ai/
