Guidelines not policies: The University of Texas at San Antonios approach to gen AI [Video]

When OpenAI debuted ChatGPT, there was fear it would disrupt higher education. Some have responded by restricting it, while others are embracing it. Here, The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Melissa Vito and Kendra Ketchum explain their approach.

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From an academic integrity perspective, the dawn of ChatGPT led many to worry that students would misuse AI to cheat. There was also concern that an overreliance on AI tools could undermine critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In response, some institutions have adopted a conservative approach to AI, imposing limits on use and favoring a ‘wait and see’ approach. But not The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

Academic technology has become an industry in itself over the past 20 years, and has totally reframed what’s possible on campus. And AI is just one of these technologies.

Melissa Vito, vice provost for academic innovation at UTSA, admits she first heard …