Teachers unions are beginning to incorporate concerns about artificial intelligence from peer group discussions into contract negotiations.
The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) primarily shocked the general public when ChatGPT launched in November 2022, but it soon began to cause concern among some faculty across the country. . Teacher unions, from local state associations to national giants, are now debating how to ensure their concerns are addressed by university administrators.
“As AI continues to evolve, we are considering ethical concerns, data protection, and educator engagement,” said Noel Candelaria, executive director and treasurer of the National Education Association (NEA).
The NEA, which represents about 200,000 members, expects to finalize language in July that members can use as a framework for their own negotiations. The union hopes to lay the groundwork around issues such as ethical concerns, data protection, and educator engagement that teachers should ask administrators when developing AI policies.
“We know what it looks like at the moment, but things will evolve and look different depending on how we as educators maintain a central role in the policy process. “It will be,” he said.
Boston University's Dean of Arts and Sciences Stan Sklaroff sent an email to faculty suggesting they use AI to manage course discussions, labs, and student feedback during the graduate student strike. University faculty members were alerted earlier this month.
“Dean Sklaroff asserts in his memo that if some discussion groups are affected by the union's professional actions, the professors will compensate for the absence of the striking teaching assistants. This means we should consider the wide range of educational tools available to us,” Boston University said in a statement. Inside higher education.
The mention of AI, among other “creative” options, set off alarm bells for the Service Employees International Union Local 509 chapter, which represents BU faculty and staff.
“We sincerely hope that the university reconsiders this proposal and instead focuses on adequately compensating those who do the critical work that keeps the university open,” the union BU the branch said in an email. Inside higher education.
Some large university unions, such as the University of California Faculty Association and the Unified University Professions (UUP), which represents the State University System of New York, are not worried about being replaced by AI anytime soon.
“I think job displacement is a legitimate concern. [faculty and staff] It's natural to be nervous about that,” said Kevin Wehr, chairman of the California Teachers Association's bargaining team. “Am I panicking? No. Should other people be too? No, I don't think they should think the sky is falling.” There are many problems, and this is just one of many.”
However, concerns are emerging among teachers' unions across the country about the impact of AI on faculty intellectual property rights, workloads, and the potential for reduced autonomy.
“We're not Luddites. It's not, 'People are going to lose their jobs because the technology is bad,'” said Laurie, a member of the United Campus Workers of Arizona, which represents Arizona's three public universities.・Stoff said. Stoff, a professor at Arizona State University, is also a member of the Faculty Senate's “AI Concerns” subcommittee.
“Our proposition is that it is our job to serve and educate students, ensure their success, uplift and provide them with the best opportunities for learning. I don’t think this is a worthwhile way to do it,” she said of the concept of using AI in education.
“There's a lot of potential to learn from workers in other sectors who have worked on automation in the past,” said Alyssa Karl, vice president of academic affairs at UUP. “We can be in a place where we can be creative and look at other industries.”
The State University of New York system has doubled down on investments in AI in recent years, including a $200 million statewide AI initiative to advance research, policymaking and workforce development. The UUP contract will be ratified in August 2023 and expires in 2026.
Although none of the union representatives interviewed called for a ban on artificial intelligence in higher education, Carl said that discussions about AI policy are best done through concrete, detail-oriented conversations. Stated.
“We're hearing off-the-cuff claims from leaders about how our lives would be easier if we could write syllabi using AI, and that's raising a lot of concerns,” she said. . “If someone creates a syllabus with the help of her AI, will that person be disciplined for it? I don't know. We don't have clear guardrails or boundaries.”
Several unions, including the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers, say the “golden rule” for developing AI policy is specific language in collective bargaining agreements that can be enforced in the event of disagreements between faculty and administration. It is suggested that it should be included.
Unions require university administrators to codify AI policy language in employee handbooks for faculty and staff working in states without organized or strong unions, such as Arizona, where it is illegal to have collective bargaining agreements. I recommend that you get it. Arizona State University's Stoff said he uses demonstrations, social media, petitions and direct requests to state regents to demand better working conditions.
“Our goal is to make the university the best place for the students we serve, because our working conditions are their learning conditions,” Stoff said. “If we improve these things, everyone benefits. The university as a whole becomes a better, more welcoming, more constructive place.”
