Colleges are betting big on AI. Some students aren't convinced

Suffolk University in Boston triggered a public backlash after announcing an artificial intelligence “co-major,” an optional track that lets students keep their primary field while learning how AI applies to it. The school’s Instagram post drew nearly 1,000 comments, and students and alumni responded with a petition that collected 1,500 signatures. Critics raised concerns about AI ethics and what they described as insufficient administrative transparency, with some sharing templates to email officials. Sophia Toumi, a Suffolk junior, said students were not given enough input. The article places the dispute in the broader tension higher education faces: 91% of employers say AI skills matter, but Pew data shows young adults are increasingly wary, and institutions are also competing amid enrollment pressures. Suffolk says the path is optional and aims to prepare graduates for an AI-shaped job market.