As Generative AI (GenAI) is transforming education, the FASCA Albany Chapter hosted an insightful webinar, "GenAI & Your College Journey: Boosting Success, Avoiding Pitfalls," led by Shou-Bang Jian, Director of Academic Technology at Siena College. The webinar attracted nearly 120 registrations, with over 70 attendees from multiple FASCA chapters, including Albany, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Princeton, Raleigh, SFBA, New York, and Vancouver.
With GenAI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot increasingly integrated into college classrooms, research, and study habits, students must develop AI literacy before entering post-secondary education. Drawing from his firsthand experience working with college faculty and students in the GenAI era, Mr. Jian provided an accessible and comprehensive overview of the opportunities and challenges that GenAI presents in higher education. He explained how GenAI can enhance note-taking, tutoring, creative projects, and coding. These benefits align with the AI Literacy Framework, which emphasizes the importance of understanding, applying, analyzing, and even creating AI to become informed users. Mr. Jian underscored that AI literacy is becoming an essential skill in college and beyond, much like digital literacy has been over the past two decades.
Despite GenAI’s promising capabilities, attendees also explored ethical considerations, including data privacy, academic integrity, and the risks of over-reliance. Mr. Jian stressed that while GenAI can be a powerful aid, students must be aware of how colleges and universities are rapidly adapting to AI’s growing presence. Many institutions are revamping their academic programs and strengthening their academic integrity policies to address AI-related challenges. More and more professors are instituting course-specific GenAI policies and adopting technology tools to detect AI-generated content. "Never assume the use of GenAI is acceptable," Mr. Jian cautioned. To prevent pitfalls stemming from common misconceptions—such as "AI can do my assignments for me" or "Professors don’t know about AI"—students must develop realistic expectations for GenAI in higher education. Additionally, he encouraged students to consider the long-term impact of AI on their critical thinking and learning habits, urging them to use GenAI as a supplement rather than a replacement for academic efforts.
The webinar was highly interactive, with participants sharing their experiences using GenAI and posing insightful questions about AI’s role in their future college experience and career paths. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many participants expressing that the session provided a clearer understanding of how to use AI as a learning tool rather than a shortcut. Mr. Jian remarked, "AI is here to stay, and mastering its use wisely will give FASCA members a major advantage in college and beyond."
Recognizing AI's growing impact on education, FASCA Albany is planning to host more discussions on technology and academic success, ensuring that FASCA students are well-equipped to thrive in an AI-driven college environment.
