How do we prepare students to make thoughtful, ethical decisions when it comes to using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their academic work?
At Notre Dame 91¸ŁŔű×ĘÔ´Őľ (NDNU), Student Academic Success Dean Randie Sessler and his team are proactively addressing that very question. Their answer? Start with intentional research and reflection to equip students with up-to-the-minute information and guidance.
The ASC team explored AI’s impact on higher education in a summer research group, reading and discussing such critical works as The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in the Age of AI by Tricia Bertram Gallant and David A. Rettinger (2025) and Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI by Karen Hao (2025).
“Even a cursory glance of the barrage of articles on AI in newsfeeds, popular publications, scholarly journals, or even The Chronicle of Higher Education, will show artificial intelligence is simultaneously heralded as the best thing to happen to education since the internet and also the harbinger of the end of education as we know it,” says Sessler.
“Our obligation in the ASC is to sift through these conversations to ensure students feel confident and informed.”
AI Meets NDNU’s Core Values
Academic Success Center (ASC) Director James Hansen sees a natural alignment between NDNU’s values and the responsible use of AI.
“The Hallmarks describe the kind of person an NDNU graduate should be—someone who acts with integrity and respect.” That naturally extends to whether and how they use AI in their academic journey.
To help students navigate this new terrain, the team developed a clear, accessible introduction to both Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity—what they call AI-Squared. Thanks to Hansen, students now have access to this interactive tutorial on Canvas, NDNU’s central learning platform. The tutorial offers practical guidance for fostering academic integrity and best practices for approaching AI tools within an academic integrity framework.
Critical Thinking and Human Connection Still Reign Supreme
While the ASC has seen a rise in students using AI for research and writing support, Sessler and Hansen emphasize that technology is no substitute for critical thinking and human connection. Embracing the potential of AI technology while embodying our Hallmarks is what they believe makes an NDNU education exceptional.
“AI can be a great tool, but it doesn’t replace the value of one-on-one conversations, idea sharing, and honest feedback,” Sessler says. “Writing is inherently a process of developing critical thinking. We’re big believers in process over product.”
In other words, AI might help polish a paragraph or brainstorm a topic—but it can’t replicate the growth that comes from wrestling with ideas, asking tough questions, and learning through dialogue.