When Fox News Digital set out to examine how higher education is grappling with artificial intelligence, they turned to Generations College. Chancellor Dr. Grace Alexis was recently featured in a Fox News Digital article — subsequently syndicated nationally to Yahoo News, AOL, WFMD Radio, and Flipboard — where she offered a clear, forward-thinking perspective on AI in the classroom: it’s not about cheating. It’s about learning.
That distinction matters more than ever. Across college campuses, AI has sparked a debate that has largely centered on academic integrity: Can students use it? Should they be allowed to? What counts as plagiarism in an AI age? These are real questions — but they’re only part of the picture.
“It’s important for our students to understand that it is OK to use AI in the classroom. … It’s really up to the faculty members to not only embrace the technology but help their students embrace it properly and train them how to do that.”
— Dr. Grace Alexis, Chancellor, Generations College
Dr. Alexis’s position reflects something Generations College has understood for years: that the role of an educator is not to guard students from new tools, but to equip them to use those tools wisely. The conversation around AI has too often defaulted to fear and restriction. What’s been missing is a serious, honest discussion about learning.
From Suspicion to Skill-Building
Like many institutions, Generations College initially confronted AI through the lens of academic integrity. Faculty worried — understandably — about students submitting AI-generated work as their own. That concern is legitimate. But Dr. Alexis and the GC faculty have moved beyond that initial reaction to something more productive: intentional, structured training in responsible AI use.
In her conversation with Fox News, Dr. Alexis drew a compelling parallel to a tool every student already knows: the encyclopedia. An encyclopedia can inform your research without writing your paper for you. AI is similar — it can help students explore ideas, gather information, and refine their thinking without replacing the critical work of learning itself. The key is knowing how to use it that way.
That’s exactly what Generations College teaches. Faculty have been trained not just to accept AI, but to integrate it thoughtfully — showing students what responsible use looks like and why it matters for their careers and their intellectual development.
Two Groups of Students — One Mission
Dr. Alexis has been candid about the reality facing today’s faculty: there are two groups of students in every classroom. Some students approach AI as a genuine learning tool, eager to understand how it works and how to apply it. Others see it as a shortcut — a way to skip the hard work of thinking.
The challenge — and the opportunity — is to reach both. Students who want to use AI responsibly need guidance and structure to do it well. Students who are tempted to misuse it need to understand what they’re actually losing when they let a machine do their thinking for them. Faculty who lead with curiosity and intentionality can bridge that gap.
AI Programs Built for the Workforce
Generations College doesn’t just talk about AI — we’ve built curriculum around it. Our AI-focused programs are designed to prepare students for a workforce where AI fluency is no longer optional:
- A foundational degree in AI theory, ethics, and application, designed for students ready to build a future in tech.
- Business strategy meets artificial intelligence. Students learn to lead organizations in an AI-driven economy.
- For the next generation of innovators: how to launch, build, and scale ventures powered by AI tools and insights.
These programs reflect our belief that AI literacy isn’t a competitive advantage — it’s a baseline requirement. The students who graduate from these programs won’t just be familiar with AI. They’ll know how to think with it, lead with it, and build with it.
Why This Recognition Matters
Being featured in Fox News Digital — alongside a Georgia Tech regents’ professor — is a meaningful acknowledgment that Generations College is not just following the national conversation on AI in education. We’re helping to shape it. When a national outlet with millions of readers turns to a Chicago institution for expert perspective, that reflects the quality of thought and leadership happening here every day.
We are proud of Dr. Alexis for representing our college with the clarity, warmth, and depth that defines Generations College’s approach to education. And we are proud of our faculty and students, whose commitment to responsible, rigorous learning is what makes conversations like this one possible.
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FAQ
Q1: Does Generations College allow students to use AI?
A1: Yes. Generations College actively trains students to use artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively. Our faculty guide students in understanding when and how AI can enhance — rather than replace — genuine critical thinking and learning.
Q2: What AI programs does Generations College offer?
A2: Generations College offers three AI-integrated degree programs: an Associate’s in Artificial Intelligence, a BA in Business Administration with an AI concentration, and a BA in Entrepreneurial Studies with an AI concentration. Each is designed to prepare students for an AI-driven workforce.
Q3: How does Generations College approach AI and academic integrity?
A3: Generations College takes a training-forward approach to AI. Rather than focusing solely on restrictions, faculty help students understand how to use AI ethically — similar to how encyclopedias and research tools have always been used to inform student work without replacing student thinking.
Q4: Is Generations College accredited?
A4: Yes. Generations College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has maintained a 98% graduate placement rate. Founded in 1904 and based in Chicago, GC combines more than a century of educational tradition with a forward-looking approach to technology and workforce preparation.