Skip to main content
Michigan GenEd ResourceHigher Education Research

Research

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on General Education

Large language models challenge assumptions about writing-intensive general education. Michigan institutions are piloting AI literacy outcomes, integrity policies, and pedagogical integration.

The AI Inflection Point

Generative AI tools can draft essays, solve quantitative problems, and summarize readings — activities central to traditional general education assessment. Faculty report both opportunity and crisis in first-year writing and communication courses.

AAC&U and Michigan institutions including the University of Michigan and Ferris State University are developing policies ranging from prohibition to structured AI collaboration, with implications for information literacy and ethics outcomes.

AI Literacy as a Gen Ed Outcome

Proponents argue that AI literacy — understanding capabilities, limits, bias, and ethical use — should join writing and quantitative reasoning as cross-cutting competencies.

Critics warn that rapid tool evolution outpaces curriculum revision cycles, requiring flexible outcome frameworks rather than tool-specific training.

AI in Higher Education

Generative AI is reshaping writing instruction, academic integrity, and gen ed learning outcomes.

Faculty across Michigan are revisiting information literacy, ethics, and communication outcomes in light of large language models. AAC&U and institutional task forces recommend treating AI literacy as a cross-cutting gen ed competency. Ferris and UM pilot policies illustrate the tension between prohibition and pedagogical integration.

AIgenerative AIacademic integritydigital literacy

Related reading

  • Artificial Intelligence, Liberal Education, and the Future of General Education (2023)
  • Generative AI in First-Year Writing: Ferris State Pilot Evaluation (2024)

Related publications

  • Scholarly2023

    Artificial Intelligence, Liberal Education, and the Future of General Education

    AAC&U Task Force on AI

    AAC&U

    Recommendations for embedding AI literacy, ethics, and critical evaluation into general education curricula.

    AIethicsdigital literacy
  • Ferris Report2024

    Generative AI in First-Year Writing: Ferris State Pilot Evaluation

    Ferris State Department of English

    Ferris State University

    Pilot study of AI use policies in composition courses counting toward general education requirements.

    FerrisAIwriting
  • Institutional2024

    AI Literacy in General Education: University of Michigan Task Force Report

    UM LSA General Education Executive Committee

    University of Michigan

    Proposal for AI literacy outcomes integrated across LSA general education requirements.

    UMichAIliteracy
  • Scholarly2025

    Reimagining General Education for 2030: Scenarios and Recommendations

    Institute for the Future of Higher Education

    Change Magazine

    Scenario planning for general education amid demographic shifts, micro-credentials, and AI disruption.

    futureinnovationtechnology
Explore all current trends →