The Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence is an initiative of Elon University‘s Imagining the Digital Future Center, in partnership with the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). It is a continuation of a 2023 global collaboration that established a statement of principles to guide development of AI policies and practices in higher education. The statement was released at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto, Japan, and was supported by more than 140 higher education organizations, administrators, researchers and faculty members from 48 countries.
For more information about the Guide and Elon’s Imagining the Digital Future Center, contact Daniel J. Anderson, special assistant to the president, Elon University: andersd@elon.edu
About the partners
Elon University is a mid-sized private university in Elon, North Carolina, with a national reputation for experiential learning, teaching excellence and close relationships between students and their faculty and staff mentors. Elon enrolls more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 48 U.S. states and 54 countries. Elon was founded in 1889 and includes a law school campus in Greensboro, NC, and national campus locations in Los Angeles, Charlotte, New York City and Washington, D.C.
The American Association of Colleges and Universities is a global membership organization dedicated to advancing the democratic purposes of higher education by promoting equity, innovation, and excellence in liberal education. AAC&U serves as a catalyst and facilitator for innovations that improve educational quality and equity and that support the success of all students. Our membership includes degree-granting higher education institutions around the world as well as other organizations and individuals.
Contributing authors, editors and reviewers
Haya Ajjan, associate dean, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, Elon University
Mustafa Akben, assistant professor of management and director of artificial intelligence integration, Elon University
Bryan Alexander, senior scholar, Georgetown University; creator of the Future of Education Observatory
Daniel J. Anderson, special assistant to the president, Elon University (lead author)
Janna Anderson, professor of communications and senior researcher, Imagining the Digital Future Center, Elon University
Neeli Bendapudi, president, The Pennsylvania State University
Connie Book, president, Elon University
Drissia Chouit, professor, Moulay Ismail University (Morocco); co-chair, International Steering Committee of UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Alliance
Emma Dooley, junior, statistical science major, Marquette University
Peter Felten, assistant provost for teaching and learning and executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning, Elon University
Divina Frau-Meigs, professor, Sorbonne Nouvelle University (France); UNESCO chair Savoir devenir in sustainable digital development
Stephan G. Humer, professor and director, Internet Sociology department, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
Alan Inouye, senior director, public policy & government relations, American Library Association
Klaus Bruhn Jensen, professor of communication, University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
Dennis-Kenji Kipker, research director, Cyberintelligence Institute; professor of UT security law, Bremen University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
Paul LeBlanc, former president, Southern New Hampshire University
Pedro U. Lima, professor, Instituto Superior Técnico, and president, Institute for Systems and Robotics, University of Lisbon (Portugal)
Ryan McCurdy, senior vice president and president, Lenovo North America
Hoda Mostafa, director, Center for Learning and Teaching, and professor of practice, The American University in Cairo (Egypt)
Francisca O. Oladipo, vice chancellor and professor of computer science, Thomas Adewumi University (Nigeria); executive director, VODAN Africa
Arlindo Oliveira, IST distinguished professor, University of Lisbon; president, Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC) (Portugal)
Sonia Parratt, professor of journalism, Complutense University of Madrid (Spain)
Adam Clayton Powell III, executive director, University of Southern California Election Cybersecurity Initiative
R. Siva Prasad, former honorary professor, Centre for Digital Learning, Training & Resources, University of Hyderabad (India)
Edson Prestes, professor and head of the Robotics Research Group, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) (Brazil)
Lee Rainie, director, Imagining the Digital Future Center, Elon University
Catherine Régis, professor of law, University of Montreal; CIFAR Chair in AI and Human Rights, Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute (Canada)
Paula Rosinski, professor of English/professional writing and rhetoric and director of Writing Across the University, Elon University
Philippa Smith, associate professor and deputy director, Toroa Centre for Communication Research, Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand)
Jeff Stein, president, Mary Baldwin University
Amanda Sturgill, associate professor of journalism, Center for Engaged Learning Scholar focused on AI and engaged learning, Elon University
Evelyne Tauchnitz, senior researcher, University of Lucerne (Switzerland)
Aaron Trocki, associate professor of mathematics, Center for Engaged Learning Scholar focused on the use of AI in the assessment of learning, Elon University
C. Edward Watson, vice president for digital innovation, The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Amelia Zurcher, director, University Honors Program and professor of English, Marquette University
Licensing
This publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY-NC license. You are free to share and adapt this work for non-commercial purposes, but attribution to Elon University is required.
Colleges and universities may request a customized version of the Guide including their institution’s logo on the cover. For information about receiving a custom-cover logo, send a request to imagine@elon.edu.
Use of Generative AI in production of the Guide
Text prompts
“What are some core principles for students regarding the use of AI at colleges and universities?” prompt. ChatGPT, OpenAI; Gemini, Google; Claude, Anthropic; Perplexity; Perplexity.com; Meta AI, Meta; 29 May 2024.
“Based on your knowledge of the AI revolution and the prospects for transformational change in employment and daily life, please produce a complete guide for 2024’s college freshmen to help them navigate their higher education and prepare for a future in an AI-influenced future. The guide should include at least three central themes, explain the importance of each idea and include practical tips for students to follow in pursuit of the themes of the guide.” prompt. ChatGPT, OpenAI; Gemini, Google; Claude, Anthropic; Perplexity, Perplexity.com; Meta AI, Meta; 29 May 2024.
“Create a simple explanation to promote AI literacy among students, using the concepts of machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, large language models, LLM implementations and AI productivity tools.” prompt. ChatGPT, OpenAI; 27 June 2024.
“How are employers using AI tools in managing position searches and what are the implications and recommendations for students use AI to facilitate their searches for positions after graduation? Prompt. ChatGPT, OpenAI; Gemini, Google; Claude, Anthropic; 19 June 2024.
Graphics and images
Adobe Firefly
Meta AI
Icons from Flaticon.com