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MIT Report Highlights 'Cognitive Surrender' to AI Among College Students, Proposes Solutions

MIT Report Highlights 'Cognitive Surrender' to AI Among College Students, Proposes Solutions

A recent report from MIT's Ad Hoc Committee on AI Use in Teaching, Learning, and Research Training has identified a growing trend among college students: 'cognitive surrender' to artificial intelligence. The report indicates that AI technologies can now produce credible and reasonable responses to nearly any undergraduate assignment, including essays, proofs, math problems, and coding tasks. This capability has led students, even at top institutions, to rely on AI at the first sign of academic difficulty. The committee also observed increased student isolation, with fewer students attending office hours or participating in study groups. This phenomenon, described as a significant challenge to higher education, necessitates a comprehensive response, particularly from institutions like MIT.

Rhodes College Board Extends President Jennifer Collins' Contract Through 2031

Rhodes College Board Extends President Jennifer Collins' Contract Through 2031

The Rhodes College Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to extend the contract of President Jennifer Collins for an additional five years, securing her leadership through June 2031. President Collins, who assumed her role as the college's 21st president on July 1, 2022, has overseen several significant achievements during her tenure. These include Rhodes College moving into the top 50 in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings for liberal arts colleges. The college has also experienced a 23 percent increase in fundraising in the last fiscal year, marking its highest total of gifts and pledges to the endowment since 2007. Furthermore, Rhodes College has increased the percentage of students from lower-income backgrounds in its entering classes and enhanced resources for these students, as well as for first-generation students. Deborah Craddock, chair of the Rhodes College Board of Trustees, expressed the board's full support for President Collins and acknowledged her substantial contributions to the college's...

Trinity Washington University Survey Reveals Student Perspectives on AI Use and Concerns

Trinity Washington University Survey Reveals Student Perspectives on AI Use and Concerns

Trinity Washington University conducted a survey in October 2026 to understand student usage and opinions regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI). The survey, created by Dr. Rachel Poirier, gathered responses from 158 students across various academic units. Key findings indicate that 53% of respondents are CAS students, followed by NHP students at 21%. The majority of students (88%) disagreed with the statement that they avoided work because AI could accomplish it, and 93% expressed confidence in completing academic work effectively without AI. However, 69% admitted to relying on AI more than they would prefer, and 50% used AI when feeling overwhelmed. ChatGPT was identified as the primary AI platform used by most respondents, with usage typically 1-3 times per week for personal purposes like planning or problem-solving. For academic tasks, students primarily use AI to develop ideas, check information, or generate responses, with less than 2% admitting to simply copying and pasting AI output. A significant ...

Stephen Colbert Accused of Crossing Harvard Picket Line During Event with Yo-Yo Ma, Event Cut Short by Fire Alarm

Stephen Colbert Accused of Crossing Harvard Picket Line During Event with Yo-Yo Ma, Event Cut Short by Fire Alarm

Stephen Colbert, host of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' and renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma were accused of crossing a picket line set up by the Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU) during an event at Harvard University. The event, titled 'Arts for Life's Sake,' was abruptly cut short approximately 40 minutes in by a fire alarm, forcing an evacuation. The HGSU, which has been on strike since October 27, had urged Colbert and Ma to cancel, postpone, or relocate their appearance in solidarity with their demands for better pay and working conditions. Approximately 50 union protesters demonstrated outside the Sanders Theatre, chanting and beating drums. The union denied any involvement in pulling the fire alarm, stating it was unrelated to their picketing activity and that they had no knowledge of its cause. The HGSU is seeking annual pay of $55,000 for research assistants and $45,000 for teaching fellows, along with 3% annual raises, an independent grievance process for harassment and discrimination, and p...

University of Miami Launches Dual Degree in Industrial Engineering and Business to Meet AI-Era Demands

University of Miami Launches Dual Degree in Industrial Engineering and Business to Meet AI-Era Demands

University of Miami Launches Dual Degree in Industrial Engineering and Business to Meet AI-Era Demands

Temple University's Essential Needs Hub Organizes Thanksgiving Food Drive for Students

Temple University's Essential Needs Hub Organizes Thanksgiving Food Drive for Students

Temple University's Essential Needs Hub, through its Cherry Pantry, is conducting a Thanksgiving food drive to ensure that all students can enjoy a full holiday meal. The pantry is collaborating with Philabundance to distribute turkeys and chickens to students in need. Members of the university community can contribute by purchasing items from the Thanksgiving Amazon Wishlist or by delivering donations directly to the Essential Needs Hub, located in the lower level of the Howard Gittis Student Center, by November 17. The distributed food will be shared with students on November 19. Jodi Bailey Accavallo, vice president for student affairs, emphasized that this initiative helps students and their families celebrate the holiday while reinforcing the university's year-round support system. The Essential Needs Hub consolidates various services, including food and housing assistance, and emergency resources, into a single location to simplify access for students and ensure they receive support with dignity.

Howard County to Host Native American Heritage Month Celebration in Columbia

Howard County to Host Native American Heritage Month Celebration in Columbia

Howard County is set to host a Native American Heritage Month Celebration in Columbia, Maryland. The event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, located at 8045 Harriet Tubman Lane. This celebration aims to recognize the rich history, significant achievements, and diverse cultural contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Attendees can expect to experience both traditional and contemporary artistic expressions from Native American communities, not only within Maryland but also from broader regions. The program will feature performances by notable artists and groups, including Lance Ma'heonenahkohe Fisher, Huey Xolotl, and Native America's Protectors. This initiative underscores the county's commitment to cultural recognition and education, providing a platform for community members to engage with and appreciate Native American heritage.

University of Vermont Celebrates Bicentennial of First English Department, Tracing Roots to James Marsh's Reforms

University of Vermont Celebrates Bicentennial of First English Department, Tracing Roots to James Marsh's Reforms

The University of Vermont (UVM) is celebrating the bicentennial of the first university English department in the Americas, established as part of a series of structural reforms initiated by its fifth president, James Marsh, in 1826. Marsh, who became president in October 1826, arrived at a university facing significant challenges, including a fire that destroyed University Hall and a period of instability with three presidents in five years. Despite these difficulties, Marsh, with the support of the UVM Board of Trustees and faculty members like Joseph Torrey, undertook a comprehensive examination of university education. Within a year, they introduced a new curricular system that included the formation of four departments: English Literature; Mathematics and Physics; Languages; and Political, Moral, and Intellectual Philosophy. This innovation allowed students to pursue a bachelor's degree within a specific concentration, marking the beginning of the 'major' system in American higher education.

Fairmont State University Receives Grant to Enhance Campus-Wide Civic Engagement

Fairmont State University Receives Grant to Enhance Campus-Wide Civic Engagement

Fairmont State University has been awarded a $10,000 grant through the Institute for Citizens and Scholars Campuswide Immersion program. This funding is specifically designated to bolster and expand civic engagement initiatives across the university campus. The grant aims to support programs that prepare all students, not just those who opt into specific courses, to become active participants in their communities. Dr. Samantha Godbey, Director of the Fairmont State University Civics Institute, emphasized that the grant will enable the collection of data to understand where credible information skills are currently taught and practiced. This evidence-based approach will inform the development of future Civics Institute programming. Additionally, the grant will facilitate the redesign of introductory-level courses to integrate civil discourse, credible information evaluation, and collaborative problem-solving skills, embedding civic skills early in students' collegiate experience. A Civic Fellow will be hire...

Harvard Graduate Student Union Rallies for Contract Settlement Amidst Second Strike

Harvard Graduate Student Union Rallies for Contract Settlement Amidst Second Strike

More than 200 members of the Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Auto Workers (HGSU-UAW) rallied outside University Hall, urging deans to intervene and push the University towards a contract settlement. This demonstration occurred one week into their second strike of the year. The union, representing over 4,000 undergraduate and graduate student workers, delivered a letter to Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dean Emma Dench, emphasizing the need for University leadership to advocate for its workers. The union's demands remain consistent: higher wages and benefits, protections for noncitizen workers, and an independent process for handling harassment and discrimination complaints. Speakers at the rally included Harvard Law School professor Nikolas E. Bowie, local elected officials, and members of the Harvard College Democrats. Professor Bowie criticized Harvard's stance, drawing a parallel between the University's opposition to the Trump administration's actions and its current position with the unio...

Columbia College Chicago to Relocate Library to Smaller, More Digital Space by Spring 2028

Columbia College Chicago to Relocate Library to Smaller, More Digital Space by Spring 2028

Columbia College Chicago is planning to relocate its library from its current location at 624 S. Michigan Ave. to a smaller space at 33 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. This move, not anticipated before spring 2028, reflects a broader trend in academic libraries towards digitalization. A 2025 survey by the Association of College and Research Libraries indicated that nearly 80% of academic library holdings are digital, with 98.2% of circulation being digital. The new library will be situated in the same building as the Center for Student Success and the Academic Center for Tutoring, aiming to provide easier access to resources for students. Library workers have already begun reviewing books and media for removal to accommodate the condensed space. The construction of the new library space will be funded by a $5 million grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, which also supported the Center for Student Success.

Harvard Graduate Student Strike Enters Second Week, Disrupting Campus Activities and Midterm Exams

Harvard Graduate Student Strike Enters Second Week, Disrupting Campus Activities and Midterm Exams

The strike by the Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Auto Workers (HGSU-UAW) has entered its second week, causing significant disruptions across Harvard University's campus. The ongoing strike has led to the cancellation of various campus events and, in at least one instance, the disruption of a midterm exam. Union members have actively appealed to scheduled speakers and faculty to support their cause by canceling or relocating events and adjusting classes. Author John Green, for example, moved his scheduled lecture to a closed livestream and donated his honorarium to the union's strike fund in solidarity. However, some faculty members have expressed frustration with the disruptions, particularly after a midterm exam was reportedly subjected to a 'sonic assault' by picketers outside the building, affecting students. Danoff Dean of Harvard College David Deming appealed to union leaders to cease disruptions to classrooms, emphasizing that students are innocent bystanders. HGSU-UAW president Denish Jaswal...