Editor’s note: This article was updated to clarify IP was referring to intellectual property and not IP addresses.
The Faculty Senate discussed Workday updates, ChatGPT and machine learning, graduate admissions, registration and records updates Tuesday. Lastly, during the meeting, the Senate heard the first reading of two bills.
Workday updates
According to previous reporting from the Daily, concerns have arisen about the recent transition to Workday. Kristen Constant, the vice president and chief information officer of ITS, shared the Office of Student Information’s fall 2024 efforts and priorities, which include the following:
- Completion of fall 2024 financial aid distribution
- Data clean-up preparation for transcription
- New and continuing student onboarding
- Spring 2025 course registration preparation
- Support of admissions processes for the 2025 term
- Workday to become a system of records
Workday will now serve as a teaching dashboard to view teaching schedules.
“You can use it to view class roster names, print class roster photos and assign midterm and final grades, as well as change a student’s grade,” Constant said. “Instructors now have the option to assign grades in Canvas or Workday.”
Using Iowa State’s course roster, the student’s class roster photo will now appear bigger. An up-to-date photo will be on a larger scale for all students, sorted by last name or first name.
“You can use Canvas for their photos, but not all students have a profile picture set as it is optional,” Constant said. “Some have their picture as themself, their dog or a fictional character. That’s why we will be using their student ID photo.”
ChatGPT/AI in the classroom
Peter Dorhout, the vice president for research, shared his thoughts on the up-and-coming advanced AI systems that students may use to cheat or get extra help on their schoolwork.
“Can machine learning be used for good?” Dorhout asked. “My answer is no. For authors and reviewers, machine learning tools can be an ethical trap. ChatGPT, Elicit and others learn from your input and prompts. If you enter content or data into the prompt, it becomes part of the machine.”
Students using machine learning programs to review manuscripts or research proposals have now entered someone else’s intellectual property, Dorhout said.
“NIH, NSF and others have very specific reviewer policies about not using AI to review proposals,” Dohourt said.
Graduate admissions update
Programs can now:
- Review application materials sooner
- Add or update assistantship and recruitment scholarships
- Use a questionnaire rather than overlook the comments box
- Select from four denial reasons
- View additional self-reported information
- Better compare certain admissions criteria
Registration and records update
- Waitlisted courses no longer appear on the schedule grid for current classes
- Registration appointments for spring 2025
- Late Schedule Change form (launched in week 2)
- New Workday functionality – final grade posting date control
- New request framework – student Incomplete contract
- Non-standard schedule change date controls updates
- Teaching Dashboard – schedule change notifications updates
Bills
Two bills were read on the first reading and will be voted on at the next Senate meeting.
- Program proposal for an undergraduate certification in risk management and insurance
- Program proposal for an undergraduate certification in real estate
The next Faculty Senate meeting is slated for Nov. 12.
