Research Symposium

BIO

Willa is a second year student from Sarasota, FL pursuing a dual degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, with a minor in music. Her research project is one of several ongoing projects in FSU’s Machine Learning Lab (MLab) directed by Dr. Jonathan Adams. Earlier this year, she presented her project at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) at USF. In the rest of her undergraduate career, she looks forward to continuing research in the MLab as well as the Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee. Ultimately, Willa envisions a career in software engineering or machine learning.

Evaluating University Faculty Perceptions of AI in Higher Education: A National Survey

Abstract

This study investigates university faculty opinions on the acceptability of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in higher education. As AI continues to advance and transform academia, understanding faculty perspectives is critical to ensuring its integration into university life is productive and responsible. Using Thurstone’s law of paired comparison, the research establishes a ranking of key faculty concerns and perceived benefits of AI in academic settings. The study surveyed faculty from 92 public universities (the two largest by enrollment in each U.S. state) and 16 private universities, with two departments randomly selected from each institution. Faculty contact information was collected using regex-based web scraping of departmental websites, resulting in 6,005 emailed surveys. Findings reveal variability in acceptability across faculty, with academic honesty identified as a major concern among skeptics, and improved efficiency highlighted as a key benefit by supporters. Ultimately, this research provides actionable insights for educators and technology developers, guiding the responsible integration of AI into academia while addressing the opportunities and challenges it presents.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, higher education, survey