College Students Demand Refunds After Professor’s ChatGPT Scandal

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A Northeastern University student has requested a refund of her tuition fees following her discovery that one of her courses was not as described.

professors was using ChatGPT

in response to her work.

According to a report, the professor requested the chatbot to generate some “highly positive feedback” for the student. This occurred even though numerous individuals within the educational field have urged students not to utilize artificial intelligence for their assignments.
The
New York Times.

Why It Matters

With the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in the educational sector, the differing standards for AI usage among faculty and students are now under scrutiny. Typically, it’s the students who face criticism for employing generative AI tools in their work. However, recent events have revealed that instructors aren’t exempt from similar issues.

What To Know

In February, Ella Stapleton, who was finishing up her senior year at Northeastern University’s business school, observed that the notes provided by her professor seemed to contain direct questions from a chat she had previously had with ChatGPT.

A note instructed, “elaborate on every aspect. Provide greater detail and specificity,” accompanied by descriptions and bullet points characteristic of AI-produced content, as per
The
New York Times.

Additional course resources featured skewed visuals, typographical errors, and various instructions, indicating evident traces of artificial intelligence involvement.

Nevertheless, Stapleton’s business major specifically prohibited the use of unauthorized AI and other “academically dishonest actions,” prompting Stapleton to lodge an official complaint against the professor.

This isn’t the first instance where artificial intelligence has faced challenges upon integration into the educational sector. According to a study released earlier this year, nearly 90 percent of educators think that most of their students frequently utilize AI tools, particularly those powered by generative AI technology.

C. Edward Watson, who serves as the vice president for digital innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities, highlighted the advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) — including tools such as ChatGTP — as a significant “turning point” in U.S. education. He cautioned, stating, “The task ahead is transforming current disruptions into future innovations within teaching and learning.”

What People Are Saying

Lee Rainie, who directs Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center, stated in a report about scholarly responses to AI utilization.

The main insight gained from these leaders is their effort to understand the transformations they face and to peer into the future towards an AI-enhanced realm they believe will improve conditions for nearly everybody in higher education.”

It’s evident that they sense an urgent need for transformation and aspire to achieve renewed institutions that will effectively support their students and society as a whole.

What Happens Next

Educational organizations are currently determining the most effective methods for handling AI utilization among both learners and faculty members, as the technological advancements in this field keep progressing.

Correction 5/19/2025, 4:04 a.m. ET: The article has been updated to include an image of Northeastern University located in Massachusetts, replacing the previous image of Northwestern University in Illinois, as the latter was not relevant to the narrative.

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