ChatGPT quickly became part of higher education in late 2022. While other artificial intelligence (AI) programs have entered the conversation, ChatGPT continues to be framed as a threat to higher education. Like other technologies, ChatGPT and AI will continue to develop and the UWC does not see these technologies leaving higher education. Rather, the UWC staff embraces technological advancements and will continue to engage writers the same as we always have.
The student and professional staff of the UWC view AI as productivity tools that can assist writers during the writing process. However, we also recognize the major limitation of AI in that current models cannot replicate human creative and critical thinking or rhetorical sophistication. Of course, not all faculty support AI or view it as a helpful tool. When working with students, the UWC student consultants will emphasize following faculty guidelines for engaging AI tools.
Our goals in the writing center continues to be helping writers build confidence in their writing, developing meta-cognitive and reflective skills, and emphasizing writing as a recursive process. To accomplish these goals, we focus on writing as a conversation. During a writing center session, if a student is interested in using ChatGPT, we will discuss possible ways for using the tool productively and transparently so as not to be accused of an academic integrity violation. We will also remind writers of the limitations of technology tools and the importance of the human component in writing.
Writing Center conversations about ChatGPT might focus on any or all of the topics listed below.
- Citing: how to cite written material generated by ChatGPT.
- Transparency: disclosing how and when ChatGPT was used during the writing process.
- Record Keeping: maintaining records such as ChatGPT transcripts as added transparency for how the tool was use.
- Fact Checking: Double checking sources, quotes, and statements of fact since ChatGPT is not always accurate.
- Plagiarism: Double checking to ensure the material generated was not taken from another source.
We encourage faculty interested in allowing ChatGPT in their writing assignments to reach out to the UWC to discuss best practices. We also recommend faculty are transparent to students on their stance of allowing or not allowing ChatGPT in their classrooms. If students are unaware if ChatGPT is allowed in the classroom, we will encourage them to reach out to faculty. We look forward to continued conversations on how ChatGPT and other AI tools will enhance the writing process.