Professor uses ChatGPT at Northeastern, student demands refund.
Northeastern professor used ChatGPT in class; student filed a complaint and demanded a refund of $8,000, but the university rejected it.

Image by Freepik.
A Northeastern University student has requested a refund after discovering that her professor used ChatGPT to create course materials. Senior Ella Stapleton filed a formal complaint with Northeastern University officials, demanding reimbursement of the class fee, which is estimated at approximately $8,000.
Stapleton began to suspect that her professor, Rick Arrowood, had used artificial intelligence to develop the course materials after noticing certain irregularities common in such programs. Stapleton noticed grammatical inconsistencies, anatomically incorrect figures, and even an attribution to ChatGPT in the syllabus. In an interview with The New York TimesStapleton shared his frustration with his teacher:
“He tells us not to use it, but there he is using it.”
Northeastern's Decision
After a series of hearings with university authorities, Stapleton's refund was denied. However, his professor, Rick Arrowood, admitted that he did indeed use artificial intelligence to create the course materials. Arrowood admitted that he used ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, and Gamma to prepare images, notes, and presentations for the class.
“In retrospect… I should have looked at it more carefully,” Rick Arrowood told The New York Times
However, Arrowood maintains that this experience has taught him the importance of transparency between students and teachers regarding the use of artificial intelligence.
Artificial Teacher: AI in the classroom.
The arrival of ChatGPT in the hands of the public in 2022 transformed several aspects of our society, particularly in the areas of productivity and academia. When students and professors understood the potential of artificial intelligence programs like this to transform their workflow, they quickly adopted it. Institutions like Northeastern have established rules for the ethical use of artificial intelligence. But its popularity raises questions about responsibility, creativity, and the role of students in their own learning.
Renata Nyul, Northeastern's Vice President for Communication, explained the institution's attitude toward artificial intelligence in an interview with Fortune:
“Northeastern embraces the use of artificial intelligence to enhance all aspects of its teaching, research, and operations. The university offers a wide variety of resources to support the appropriate use of artificial intelligence and continues to update and implement relevant policies across the institution.”
Stapleton, who was already in his final semester of college, managed to graduate at ceremonies this month.
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