Alabama colleges develop AI policies balancing academic integrity with job readiness

Calhoun Community College and Athens State University in Alabama are developing comprehensive AI policies for classrooms as generative AI becomes more prevalent in education. The institutions are working to balance academic integrity concerns with the practical need to prepare students for AI-integrated workplaces, particularly in high-demand fields like cybersecurity.

What you should know: Both colleges are still finalizing their AI policies, with approaches varying significantly by department and program focus.

• Calhoun currently categorizes AI use into three levels: restricted, limited, and integrated, with different rules applying across departments.
• The Computer Information Systems (CIS) division actively encourages AI use, recognizing that graduates will need these skills in the cybersecurity job market.
• “Our approach in CIS is probably a little different than some of the other departments in the school,” said Jeremy Blevins, department chair of CIS at Calhoun. “They’re more worried about students plagiarizing using AI. But looking at where our students are going to be getting jobs, we know that they’re going to have to leverage AI as a part of the work.”

How it works in practice: CIS classes incorporate AI tools for legitimate educational purposes that mirror real-world applications.

• One network security class uses AI to generate examples of bad code for vulnerability analysis, helping students examine issues in programming languages they haven’t mastered yet.
• Students create cover letters and resumes, then use AI to optimize them for applicant tracking systems (automated software that screens job applications) that many employers now use.
• AI serves as a study aid, with students asking models to explain difficult concepts or create practice quizzes.

The verification challenge: Instructors are learning to identify AI-generated work while teaching students to validate AI outputs.

• Professors can spot AI assistance through overly polished grammar and technical language beyond students’ typical skill levels.
• Blevins teaches students to verify AI information by requesting sources, referencing Reagan’s “trust but verify” principle.
• He warns about the “garbage in, garbage out” concept—the idea that AI can perpetuate human biases and produce hallucinations (incorrect or illogical answers).

Professional development efforts: Colleges are investing in faculty training to navigate AI integration effectively.

• Calhoun instructors have participated in training at Auburn University’s Biggio Center, focusing on AI best practices and identification techniques.
• The Alabama Community College System is scheduling additional professional development sessions for fall 2024.
• “Additional professional development sessions focused on AI integration are scheduled for this fall to further support our faculty in adapting to this rapidly changing technology,” said Wesley Rakestraw, Calhoun’s Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Expert recommendations: Independent AI consultant Randy Sparkman advises schools to build on existing policies rather than starting from scratch.

• “My advice to schools is not to develop a lot of new AI policies, but to use the ones you have already for computer use. That’s the first thing,” Sparkman said.
• He recommends forming collaborative committees of interested faculty members to develop institution-specific approaches.
• Schools should focus on cultivating AI literacy among staff and students rather than implementing blanket restrictions.

Why this matters: Alabama colleges are grappling with the same challenge facing educational institutions nationwide—how to maintain academic integrity while preparing students for an AI-integrated workforce. The varying approaches between departments highlight the complexity of creating policies that serve both educational goals and industry demands, particularly in rapidly evolving technical fields where AI proficiency is becoming essential for career success.