By RYAN KNOX/Contributor
Photos by Joshua Self/Staff
UT Tyler students are surrounded by AI tools in nearly every digital space they use, but according to Center for Writing Excellence Director Miriam Rowntree, most are choosing to rely on their own writing skills rather than letting technology take over.
Rowntree said that while AI occasionally appears in student drafts, it is far less common — and far less harmful — than many assume.
She said The Center for Writing Excellence rarely sees fully AI‑generated essays. Students sometimes bring in AI‑assisted writing and ask consultants to improve it, but she said those cases are uncommon.
The center asks students during appointment scheduling whether they plan to use AI in their session, and early numbers show most do not. Out of the first 14 appointments this semester, only two students said they intended to use AI tools.
Rowntree said students are becoming more intentional about their writing and more aware of the limits of AI. Many of her freshman and upper‑division students tell her they want to learn how to write independently rather than rely on technology. She said she has noticed more personality and authenticity in student work this semester, with most submissions clearly written in the student’s own voice.
Students themselves are also forming their own boundaries. UT Tyler sophomore Jordan Alvarez, a computer science major, said he uses AI tools — but only in specific ways.
“I’ll use it to check my code or help me understand an error message,” Alvarez said. “But I don’t let it write anything for me. If I do that, I’m not learning.”
Alvarez said he sees classmates who rely heavily on AI, but he also sees many who avoid it completely. “Some people treat it like a shortcut,” he said. “But most of us know professors can tell when something isn’t our voice.”
He believes UT Tyler should offer clearer guidance on when AI is allowed.
“Every class has different rules,” he said. “One professor says you can use it to brainstorm, another says no AI at all. It gets confusing.”
Rowntree agrees that clearer policies would help students. She has been researching AI policy trends since 2023 and said institutions are slowly improving. Many policies now explain why certain assignments prohibit AI and emphasize the importance of developing students’ own cognitive skills. She said universities are learning to balance innovation with academic integrity as AI becomes more common across campus.
Despite concerns, Rowntree remains optimistic. She said writing continues to be a powerful tool for self‑expression and personal growth, and students still value that process. She hopes students will stay grounded in their own voices even as AI tools become more accessible in programs like Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
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