AI Is Here. Are Our Policies? What College Students Tell Us About Learning with AI

Students are not waiting for permission to use AI. They are already turning to it to clarify difficult concepts, manage coursework, and think through academic decisions. Insights from the 2026 Lumina Foundation–Gallup State of Higher Education Study highlight a growing disconnect between campus policies, uneven faculty guidance, and the ways students are actually integrating AI into their learning. If AI is shaping how students learn and plan their futures, how should higher education respond? This session unpacks the latest data and invites a candid conversation about aligning policy, practice, and student success.