On Thursday, the Faculty Senate gathered to discuss the ongoing trial of AI research tools at WSU libraries and to revisit a proposal aimed at establishing 90-credit bachelor’s degrees.
Currently, WSU libraries are testing three specialized AI research tools: Scite, Consensus, and Undermind. Unlike general generative AI platforms freely accessible online, these tools are designed specifically to focus on academic resources.
“The tools we’re evaluating serve a different function than common AI applications like ChatGPT or Copilot,” explained Science Librarian Emily Cukier. “While our AI research tools are more limited in scope, they are tailored to deliver more relevant and reliable outputs based solely on academic literature.”
Although these AI tools have a narrower focus, Cukier emphasized that this can enhance reliability, though they are not infallible.
“When students utilize these tools for information searches, they are more likely to access trustworthy sources and less likely to encounter fabricated responses or citations,” she noted. “While these tools are not 100% accurate, they do outperform general-purpose AI options.”
The ongoing trial phase will help determine the value and price of these tools, assessing which ones may be worthwhile investments.
Senator Dene Grigar from WSU Vancouver, who also serves as a professor and director of creative media and digital culture, expressed concerns about the affordability of these tools, particularly in light of budget cuts affecting books and journals in the library.
When Grigar inquired about the costs of the programs, Alex Merrill, associate dean for technology and operations, was unable to provide specifics due to live-streaming constraints. Nevertheless, Merrill indicated that some tools are competitively priced within the market.
Following guest presentations, the Senate unanimously approved several action items, including amendments to various majors and the approval of functional languages for committees. The discussion then shifted to more substantive agenda items.
The first three discussion topics revisited the proposed 90-credit bachelor’s degree first introduced in the previous Faculty Senate meeting.
At-large Senator Alair MacLean, a sociology professor at WSU Vancouver, raised concerns about discussing the proposed 90-credit bachelor’s degree before it was officially approved. He motioned to table the items and refer them back to committee.
The motion to table the discussion and return the three items to committee passed by a vote of 45 to 8. The committee will review the items and report back to the Senate at its discretion.
“Many of us have only recently learned about the plan to reduce bachelor’s degree credits at WSU from 120 to 90,” a discussion post from the Faculty Senate forum stated. “This surprising development has not undergone thorough discussion and debate among the University faculty.”
It is important to mention that the proposal does not stipulate that all bachelor’s degrees will be capped at 90 credits. Each department will have the autonomy to decide whether to offer a 90-credit option and, if so, which degrees to offer.
Senator Gordon Taub from WSU Everett, a professor of mechanical engineering, expressed that the 90-credit option could provide greater flexibility for specialized majors such as engineering technologies. He noted that while degrees like engineering technologies might not be feasible at a community college, they could potentially be completed more quickly compared to traditional engineering degrees.
