Half of U.S. Institutions Lack a Formal AI Policy

A new Coursera report surveyed more than 4,200 students and educators across five countries. In the United States, only 20 percent of educators report that their university has a formal AI policy in place. At the same time, 78 percent of U.S. educators and students feel positive about AI's impact on higher education. Half believe the system is unprepared to handle the change. Just 27 percent of educators feel confident identifying AI-generated content.

Why it matters for campuses
Institutions are facing a trust gap. Students are using AI for coursework while administrators are still drafting guidelines. Faculty need clear governance frameworks now, not next semester.

Read the full report

Northwestern Launches a Dedicated AI Major Starting Fall 2026

Northwestern University announced an undergraduate AI major through its McCormick School of Engineering. The program covers machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and responsible AI deployment. Non-engineering students can add it as a second major. The major builds on a successful AI minor launched in 2024.

Why it matters for campuses
This signals a broader shift. Universities are moving beyond AI electives and minors to full degree programs. Departments should begin reviewing curriculum now to meet growing student demand.

Read about the new major

Five Actionable Steps for Higher Ed to Master AI in 2026

Campus Technology published a practical guide for institutions ready to move beyond theory. The five steps include refreshing data governance strategy and starting experiments now. Institutions must also choose the right tool for the job. Building internal capacity and measuring outcomes round out the list. The piece argues that perfect preparation should not delay action. Small distributed experiments build confidence and institutional momentum.

Why it matters for campuses
This is a practical roadmap that any department can use today. It reinforces that waiting for a complete strategy is itself a risk.

View the 5 steps

Anthropic Interviewed 80,000 People About How They Actually Use AI

Anthropic used Claude to conduct 80,508 interviews across 159 countries to study real-world AI usage. The research found that 81 percent of users say AI helps them reach their goals. The findings shed light on how everyday people engage with AI tools across diverse contexts and needs.

Why it matters for campuses
Understanding actual user behavior changes how institutions design AI programs. Faculty and students are not waiting for official programs. They are already deeply engaged with these tools.

Tool of the Day

Lovable

Lovable started as an app builder but now does much more. You can upload files and it will generate reports, presentation decks, edited spreadsheets, and even short videos. Faculty can use it to turn research data into shareable presentations or to create professional-looking materials without design experience.

Free tier available. Paid plans start at $20 per month.

Try it. Upload your next set of lecture notes and ask Lovable to turn them into a one-page visual summary for your students.