College and university faculty nationwide are sounding alarms about generative artificial intelligence's effects on teaching and student learning, with 95% warning that the technology will increase student overreliance on AI tools, according to a new survey released Wednesday.
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Academic integrity has emerged as a pressing concern, with 78% of faculty reporting that cheating has increased since GenAI tools became widely available. Nearly three-quarters said they have personally dealt with academic integrity cases involving student use of AI.
"When more than nine in ten faculty warn that generative AI may weaken critical thinking and increase student overreliance, it is clear that higher education is at an inflection point," said Eddie Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation at AAC&U.
The survey, conducted between October 29 and November 26, 2025, shows faculty believe the technology threatens the value of college degrees. Seventy-four percent said GenAI will affect academic degrees' integrity and value for the worse, while only 8% expect positive effects.
Faculty remain divided on what constitutes legitimate AI use. About half consider it cheating for students to follow detailed AI-generated outlines when writing papers, while the other half view it as acceptable or remain unsure.
Despite concerns, many faculty acknowledge potential benefits. Sixty-nine percent address AI literacy topics in their teaching, and 61% believe GenAI could enhance personalized learning. However, 59% said their institutions are not adequately prepared to use the tools effectively.
"These faculty are divided about the use of generative AI itself," said Lee Rainie, director of Elon University's Imagining the Digital Future Center. "Some are innovating and eager to do more; a notable share are strongly resistant; and many are grappling with how to proceed."
The research reveals significant gaps in institutional preparation. Sixty-eight percent of faculty said their schools have not prepared instructors for using GenAI in teaching, and 63% believe spring 2025 graduates were not ready to use AI in the workplace.
Only 48% of respondents said their institutions have created campus-wide guidelines for AI use in teaching and learning, while just 35% reported departmental policies exist.
Faculty concerns extend to students' future prospects. Forty-nine percent said GenAI's impact on students' careers will be more negative than positive, compared with 20% who see more positive effects. Sixty-two percent believe the technology will worsen student learning outcomes over the next five years.
The survey sample includes diverse academic disciplines, school sizes, and faculty ranks, though results are not generalizable to all college faculty. Thirty-nine percent of respondents were full professors, while 26% were non-tenured instructors.
