In early 2022, colleges and universities were questioning if artificial intelligence (AI) would reshape education as we know it. Fast forward to 2026 and the question has shifted to “How much will AI reshape education?” From generative tools to more advanced Agentic AI systems that can take initiative, adapt to goals, and support complex workflows, AI has already affected higher education at an unprecedented speed and shows no signs of slowing.
Student Adoption of AI
A recent study by Campbell Academic Technology Services found that 86% of students extensively use AI in their studies while only 61% of faculty minimally do so. Students are using AI to study, draft, brainstorm, and solve problems—often before faculty have clear guidance on how these tools fit into coursework. Students are also encountering Agentic AI tools that don’t just respond to prompts but actively suggest next steps or manage tasks.
According to the Campbell study, as AI becomes part of the day-to-day learning for students, the “disconnect between high AI usage and low AI competency among both students and faculty underscores the urgent need for AI literacy initiatives in higher education.” Early on, many faculty were looking at institutions to give guidance and set parameters. Now, there is an opportunity for faculty and institutions to work together in supporting students in their adoption of AI, ensuring they utilize best practices while maintaining academic integrity.
“Our new assignments need to make sure students are learning,” says José Antonio Bowen, PhD, author and senior fellow at ACUE. “But mostly learning how to think and how to learn for themselves.”
Laurie Pendleton, EdD, ACUE’s Vice President of Faculty Success, addresses these concerns directly. “Students worry that using AI will look like cheating, but the real opportunity lies in learning to use these tools responsibly,” she says. “AI is already woven into students’ everyday learning. Our role as educators is to guide them with clarity, transparency, and care.”
Artificial Intelligence in Teaching
Faculty are navigating this shift in real time by asking a long list of questions: What should I allow? What should I prohibit? How do I redesign assignments? And, most importantly, how do I prepare students for a workforce increasingly shaped by AI?
One approach includes considering AI as an active part of the classroom. “We now have a collaborative partner, who is going to be giving us ideas, critiquing our work, and creating drafts,” says Dr. Bowen. As AI tools become more agentic, this partnership requires clear boundaries, intentional oversight, and explicit learning goals.
“How can I meet the needs of 30 students in my class? [That] can feel overwhelming,” says Stephanie Speicher, PhD, Academic Director at ACUE. “But when I can use AI as a tool or as a companion in lesson generation, it helps me see the ways I might be able to meet the needs of all the students in my class.”
AI Literacy in the Modern Classroom
How does one get started integrating AI in the classroom?
There are several steps faculty and institutions can take to ensure they are ready to implement AI best practices into their pedagogy, while upholding academic integrity and enriching learning.
Being transparent with students is an important first step. “Balance AI-generated materials with instructor-created content,” Dr. Pendleton says. “Maintain transparency with students about how you use AI.”
To support faculty and administrators who are building confidence with AI, ACUE Commons offers several resources for educators, including:
- Quick Studies with immediately applicable teaching strategies related to AI
- Blog posts that highlight emerging trends and address frequently asked questions
- Event recordings focused on timely AI topics
- Classroom implementation resources to support effective and responsible AI use
- Discussion boards where faculty can exchange ideas and share approaches to AI integration
If you’re an existing member of ACUE Commons, log in today!
Human Teaching Still Leads the Way
AI tools can support clarity, efficiency, and creativity in the classroom. But the human elements of mentorship, encouragement, relationships, and judgment remain irreplaceable. Educators and institutions that collaborate and invest in AI resources will be better prepared to guide students, safeguard integrity, and lead meaningful innovation across their institutions. Dr. Pendleton reminds faculty that while AI can support learning, it’s important to continue to “foster human connection and mentorship alongside those AI tools.”
It’s easy to get overwhelmed as a new paradigm emerges in education. Michael A. Baston, JD, EdD, President of Cuyahoga Community College, hopes folks will see it as an opportunity: “Our ability to continue to catalyze these opportunities of exchange, inquiry, thought, and action will make our institutions stronger, our students stronger, and our communities stronger.”
