The Minority Serving – Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (MS-CC) conducted a qualitative survey between May 20 and June 15, 2024, to gain insight into the MS-CC community’s perceptions of AI, their knowledge of available AI tools and resources, and how those tools and resources are being utilized.
MS-CC Community AI Survey Survey Respondents
The MS-CC community survey received 115 responses. Most respondents were faculty and academic researchers (37), instructors (30), or technology/IT professionals (33). Additionally, responses were received from academic deans (6) and individuals in C-Suite/cabinet-level positions (15).
There was a diverse distribution of institutional classifications among respondents, with 45% from public institutions, 27% from private institutions, and 28% from tribal institutions.
Specifically, 73 respondents were from 4-year Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), 21 from 4-year Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), 14 from 2-year TCUs, and one from a 2-year HBCU.
Five Key Takeaways from the MS-CC Community AI Survey
1. Familiarity with AI Tools: Respondents indicated familiarity with a wide range of AI tools, with AI grading tools being the most recognized.
Respondents from 4-year HBCUs demonstrated the strongest familiarity with machine learning resources and expressed a high likelihood of utilizing AI in future research.
Conversely, respondents from 4-year TCUs displayed a high degree of unfamiliarity with machine learning tools but showed significant interest in facilitated discussions and training on specific AI tools and resources.
2. Unfamiliarity with System Management Tools and NSF NAIRR Pilot: Across all categories, respondents showed the highest degree of unfamiliarity with system management tools and the NSF NAIRR Pilot.
This is notable because, despite a moderate level of familiarity with ChatGPT, OpenAI, and Amazon Web Services, respondents were largely unaware of the current NAIRR Pilot itself and its resources.
3. AI Research and Perceived Future Impact: Regardless of institutional classification or position, respondents indicated they were not currently conducting research using AI and were unaware of any AI research being conducted on their campuses.
However, respondents strongly agreed that AI could be a cost-effective solution for advancing research and instruction in higher education and believed that AI would become a permanent fixture in academic research within the next 3-5 years.
4. Strategic Priority of AI: Faculty and academic researchers showed the highest level of agreement that AI is a strategic priority for their institutions, with 4-year HBCUs reporting the strongest agreement. Despite this, respondents indicated that their institutions lack clear and established policies on AI usage.
5. Ethical Considerations: All respondents strongly agreed that there are still ethical questions surrounding the use of artificial intelligence that must be addressed before AI can achieve wide-scale acceptance.
The findings from this survey will inform MS-CC’s strategic direction and potential programmatic activities while also providing a platform for the MS-CC community to express their views on a topic at the forefront of higher education.