Artificial Intelligence in Graduate STEM Education
Problem
The extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) has been integrated into graduate STEM education and its broadening impact are unclear.
Graduate schools are focusing on ways to implement AI in administrative and academic processes and student experiences. While higher education leaders recognize the transformational power of AI, its use can produce both positive and negative impacts. AI’s ability to benefit some populations while disadvantaging others is particularly concerning. For example, AI may offer personalized instruction that aligns with different learning styles. However, it may also share biased information that perpetuates misconceptions.
With support provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (Grant Number: G-2024-22540), NORC researchers are working with U.S. graduate schools to ensure that AI innovations will strengthen the entire enterprise, including efforts to broaden success in science technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and ultimately, participation in STEM careers.
Solution
NORC will survey STEM graduate school deans to produce a comprehensive portrait of AI policies, practices, and motivations.
NORC will survey deans who work at the top 300 STEM PhD-awarding universities to answer the following questions:
- What policies and processes are currently in place or being considered at the institutional level regarding the integration of AI into the management and practice of graduate education?
- What drives these policies and processes, and how do they broaden impact?
- What community-grounded guidelines can universities use to assess the impact of AI applications to broaden impact in STEM fields?
Following data collection, we will produce a white paper summarizing survey findings and host a convening with institutional leaders to review and engage with study results.
Result
Our study will promote understanding of AI applications in graduate STEM programs and raise awareness of ways to ensure impartiality in AI implementation.
This study will produce a rigorous landscape analysis of current practices and motivations that are driving AI applications in graduate STEM education. In addition, NORC researchers will work toward creating graduate community-based guidelines for evaluating applications of AI as they evolve. With Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's support, this research aims to significantly advance the understanding of ways that AI can enhance graduate education while diminishing risks to fairness.
Related Tags
Project Leads
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Erin Knepler
Senior Research DirectorPrincipal Investigator -
Debra W. Stewart
Senior FellowCo-Principal Investigator -
Mehmet Celepkolu
Senior Data ScientistAI Subject Matter Expert
Frequently Asked Questions
The survey seeks to understand the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in graduate education, including policy, processes, and motivations for adopting AI in institutional activities.
You were selected as the senior officer for Graduate education at your institution engaged in AI-related initiatives or decision-making within graduate education.
We will send you a personalized link to the survey. The survey is available online and is formatted for all computers and mobile devices (computers preferred).
If you believe that you are in the study population but have not received a survey link, please contact us for assistance by email at AI-GradEd@norc.org
The survey collects information on institutional AI policies, processes, motivations, and challenges in graduate education.
Your participation is encouraged but not required. Likewise, should you choose to participate, you may skip any questions that you do not wish to answer.
The survey will take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete. If you are unable to complete it in one sitting, the survey instrument will save your progress so you can return to it later.
Findings will be reported in aggregate form. Individual responses will remain confidential. NORC will disseminate the final report on the project’s webpage.
NORC at the University of Chicago conducts research and analysis that decision-makers trust. As a nonpartisan research organization and a pioneer in measuring and understanding the world, we have studied almost every aspect of the human experience and every major news event for more than eight decades. Today, we partner with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to provide the objectivity and expertise necessary to inform the critical decisions facing society.
If you have questions or concerns about your participation in this survey, please email AI-GradEd@norc.org.
