9 in 10 College Students Are Already Using AI in Class — But Only 11% of Their Instructors Got Real Training on It
90% of college students use AI in class but only 11% of their instructors have received comprehensive training on it — a gap that leaves both sides guessing about rules, accuracy, and responsible use.
The Numbers Tell a Lopsided Story
Nine out of ten college students are already using AI in the classroom — at least occasionally — according to a new Instructure poll of more than 1,100 educators and students. That number shouldn't surprise you. What should get your attention is what's happening on the other side of the lectern: only 11% of college instructors have received comprehensive AI training, and 41% have had zero formal training on the subject. You are navigating a tool that has fundamentally changed how academic work gets done, and the majority of the people grading that work have received no structured guidance on how to evaluate it.
Your Professors Are Flying Blind — And So Are You
The training gap isn't just an institutional HR problem. It has direct consequences for you. When instructors haven't been trained on AI, they're less equipped to write clear syllabus policies, spot AI-generated misinformation in your work, or help you develop the judgment to use these tools responsibly. High-profile institutions like Arizona State University and the California State University system have struck direct deals with AI companies to give students and faculty structured access, but those are the exceptions. Most colleges are still drafting policies — or haven't started at all.
“"AI is already part of how students learn and educators work. The challenge now is making sure people have the training, judgment and clear expectations to use it well." *— Melissa Loble, Chief Learning Officer, Instructure*”
The Shared Concern Both Sides Aren't Talking About Enough
Here's where students and instructors actually agree: 65% of both groups worry that AI sounds confident even when it's wrong. That's a significant finding, because it means the skepticism is mutual and widespread — it's not just frustrated professors worried about cheating. Students reported concern about overreliance on AI and the erosion of critical thinking, and a majority of educators fla
This issue draws on reporting and data from Higher Ed Dive.