Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Some parts of a college engineering professor’s job are already getting AI help, while others remain mostly human. For example, writing tasks see a lot of AI use. About 15% of researchers report using AI tools to draft grant proposals ^[1], and many professors use chatbots like ChatGPT to sketch out syllabi, problem sets, or lecture notes ^{[2] [3]}.

One analysis found that over half of educators’ AI queries were about creating course content (curriculum development) ^[3]. These tools tend to augment the teacher’s work – generating ideas or text that the professor then edits and personalizes. In contrast, routine record-keeping and committee work remain largely manual.

We found no examples of AI running meetings or picking out textbooks; such tasks need personal judgment. Even grading by AI is still rare and experimental. In one study AI was used in only about 7% of grading tasks, often requiring a human to check the results ^{[3] [2]}.

In short, AI can help professors draft materials and proposals, but it isn’t replacing the human touch in teaching, mentoring, or complex decisions.

AI tools are cheap and widely available, so many educators have started trying them. Nearly half of university instructors say they use AI weekly to help prepare their classes ^[2]. Free chatbots like ChatGPT can whip up practice problems or grammar fixes quickly, giving busy teachers more time.

Some find this “time saved” very welcome ^[2]. However, adoption also faces hurdles. Students and colleagues sometimes worry about fairness if teachers use AI secretly ^{[2] [2]}.

For example, a French report noted clashes when students saw professors using ChatGPT after they were told not to ^[2]. Grant agencies even require professors to disclose AI use in proposals ^[1]. Overall, the benefits (free tools, time-saving) encourage use, but issues like trust, training, and academic rules can slow it.

In the end, human skills – understanding students, hands-on labs, and expert judgment – remain central in engineering teaching, even as AI lends a hand ^{[2] [3]}.