{"id":55434,"date":"2025-08-28T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/online\/?p=55434"},"modified":"2026-06-03T09:47:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T15:47:48","slug":"ai-in-higher-education-how-boise-states-online-bachelor-of-business-administration-uses-ai-tools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/online\/2025\/08\/28\/ai-in-higher-education-how-boise-states-online-bachelor-of-business-administration-uses-ai-tools\/","title":{"rendered":"AI in higher education: How Boise State\u2019s online Bachelor of Business Administration uses AI tools"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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With artificial intelligence readily available to students and faculty, many university programs have begun seriously considering these tools and regulating when and how they can be used for coursework. Some are going further by building courses around AI compliance and academic integrity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boise State’s online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management<\/a> is currently integrating the study of AI into its program to teach students how to use it as a partner and not a replacement for critical thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what does that look like in a program focused on building managerial skills, leadership and business ethics? And what does it mean for university policy as a whole? Here\u2019s a closer look at how the online BBA in management administration views and utilizes AI tools in their coursework, along with general guidelines for AI use at Boise State University.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding AI’s role in higher education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As AI tools continue to gain momentum, they\u2019re more likely to become the norm rather than a novelty in higher education. University faculty and staff credit AI with speeding up the preparation of course materials and schedules and creating a more tailored experience for their students. Students are even more likely to rely on AI, with a 2025 study<\/a> confirming that nearly all students (95.6%) polled admit to using AI tools to assist with their coursework. That said, reliance on AI has its shortcomings and these tools should be used with discernment and in compliance with individual program policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is AI used in the online management program?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Karen Krier, Ed.D., course technologist for the online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, shared how AI is currently being incorporated into courses: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dAI is integrated into multiple courses as both a practical tool and a subject for critical evaluation and a majority of our instructors have an AI policy in place for their courses. Assignments are designed to help students gain hands-on experience while reflecting on the benefits, risks and limitations of AI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor example, BUSMGT 300 \u2014 which serves as the entry point \u2014 students complete a mandatory AI Literacy and Academic Success workshop to build foundational skills in responsible AI use. Advanced class BUSMGT 420 (Managing Innovation and Change) offers a 20-point extra-credit assignment in which students use OpenAI\u2019s Playground to generate a one-page bio and then write a two-page APA-formatted analysis addressing possible uses, potential misuses, productive applications and managerial applications of AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cBy pairing AI tools with strong research skills, these courses foster student agency \u2014 helping learners make informed choices, evaluate information effectively and use AI as a means to enhance, not replace, their own intellectual work.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\u2014 Karen Krier, Ed.D.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis collaboration positions AI as a partner in the learning process rather than a replacement for critical thinking. By pairing AI tools with strong research skills, these courses foster student agency \u2014 helping learners make informed choices, evaluate information effectively and use AI as a means to enhance, not replace, their own intellectual work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the online management program’s policy for AI use?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no universal policy for AI use at present, so this is left up to each instructor.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTaking classes from different instructors is like working for someone new. Each instructor has their policy regarding AI, and it must be respected. As instructors, we want students to be able to think critically and to use AI when and where it is helpful. We are continually working to develop assignments that support these goals. As AI is a moving target, so are our courses!\u201d said Karen Nicholas, Ph.D<\/a>., department chair and clinical associate professor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInstructors also make students aware that AI-generated work often appears bland and uninspiring, underscoring the importance of original thought and critical analysis. Across courses, instructors are actively developing and refining assignments that balance skill-building with ethical considerations, helping students learn when AI use is appropriate and when it is not,\u201d Krier added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic integrity and responsible AI use at Boise State<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a general policy, Boise State University prohibits students from submitting AI-created work as their own. Some AI-produced content is allowed if the use is disclosed or properly credited. AI use without citations can be considered plagiarism under Boise State\u2019s Code of Student Conduct. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While tools are available to faculty to detect improper AI use, the AI in Teaching and Learning Committee \u2014 a group of university faculty and staff \u2014 advises against adopting AI detection tools at an institutional or individual level. These tools are essentially AI detecting itself and may flag content that isn\u2019t AI-generated as suspicious, which is dangerous for students who run the risk of being reported for university policy violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When in doubt, check out Boise State\u2019s AI in Education page<\/a> to stay up to date on how to responsibly use AI tools within university policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best practices for transparent AI use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Best practices for using AI in an academic setting will vary depending on the institution, professor and how the tool is being used. Restrictions on AI use are as ever-evolving as the tools themselves, so it\u2019s a good idea to stay up to date with all policies. Boise State has its own generative AI policies in place to help protect sensitive information and copyrighted materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Generative AI use and applicable policies<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Building AI literacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

AI literacy refers to your understanding of how a particular AI tool generates its content, how to use it effectively to meet your needs and how to evaluate or edit the output provided by the tool.  If you want to improve your AI literacy and learn more about available tools, Bronco Learn<\/a> offers self-paced web courses on AI Literacy and Academic Success<\/a> and using Boise State AI<\/a>. Bronco Learn courses are free to anyone with a boisestate.edu mailing address. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI tools every Boise State student should know about<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Boise State University has a list of supported AI tools<\/a> available for student and faculty use that meet academic privacy standards:<\/p>\n\n\n\n