2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Faculty Strategies for Integrating Generative AI Across Disciplines: Emerging Practices, Policies, and Pedagogical Insights

Presented at The Intersection of AI and Methods for Research and Teaching

The emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has transformed how educators design, deliver, and assess learning experiences, yet approaches to its use vary widely across disciplines and institutions. This multi-case qualitative study examines how faculty from Engineering, Project Management, Computer Science, and Public Administration across multiple institutions have integrated, or regulated, GenAI in their teaching and assessment practices. Structured reflective narratives were collected from ten coauthors responding to five open-ended prompts exploring instructional applications, extent of use, student-use policies, perceived benefits and limitations, and ethical considerations. Supplementary artifacts, including AI-generated rubrics, assignments, and course policy statements, were analyzed to triangulate findings. Using thematic analysis, responses were coded, categorized, and synthesized to identify shared patterns and discipline-specific nuances. Results reveal an emerging consensus around a broad “orange zone” of adoption, in which selective, transparent, and pedagogically guided GenAI use is encouraged while maintaining human oversight and academic integrity. Faculty report substantial gains in efficiency, creativity, and feedback quality, balanced by concerns over factual accuracy, student overreliance, and unresolved questions of authorship and accountability. Interpreted through Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations framework, the findings highlight how perceived advantage, compatibility, and complexity influence faculty adoption across disciplinary contexts. The study concludes with a set of evidence-based good practices and a replicable framework for balancing innovation, ethics, and learning outcomes in the evolving landscape of GenAI-enhanced education.

Authors

Dr. Mostafa Batouli http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8092-4187 The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Mostafa Batouli is an Associate Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering at The Citadel. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Florida International University and holds two master’s degrees—one in Civil Engineering/Construction Engineering and Management and another in Public Administration—as well as a Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Dr. Batouli is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in South Carolina. He also earned the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2020. He teaches a broad range of courses in civil engineering, construction engineering, and project management. His teaching philosophy focuses on inspiring students to think critically and ethically while developing the professional judgment necessary to lead effectively. In recognition of his teaching excellence, he received The Citadel’s Harry Saxe Teaching Award in 2022, based on student nominations and evaluations.

Dr. Batouli’s research has produced over 40 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications, as well as several research reports. His work has received multiple distinctions, including a Third-Place Best Poster Award at the ASCE Construction Research Congress and a Dissertation Year Fellowship from Florida International University in 2016.

An active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Dr. Batouli has played a leading role in developing South Carolina’s Infrastructure Report Card. For his sustained service and professional contributions, he received ASCE South Carolina’s highest honor, the LeTellier Cup, recognizing lifetime achievement in the civil engineering profession.
Dr. Simon Thomas Ghanat P.E. The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Simon Ghanat is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Citadel (Charleston, S.C.). He received his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Arizona State University. His research interests include Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Education.
Dr. Nahid Vesali P.E. The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Nahid Vesali is the Head of the Department of Engineering Leadership and Program Management (ELPM) in the School of Engineering at The Citadel. She joined the program in August 2020. She teaches a wide range of engineering project management courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a focus on cultivating essential professional and leadership skills in the next generation of technical experts.
Her earlier research focused on risk management and decision-making under uncertainty. Currently, her scholarship explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into project management practices and engineering education. She is also actively engaged in outreach initiatives that provide opportunities for minorities and underrepresented groups in engineering.
Dr. Dimitra Michalaka http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7001-0579 The Citadel [biography]

Dimitra Michalaka, Ph.D., P.E., is a professor in the civil, environmental and construction engineering department at The Citadel, the Associate Director for the Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility (C2M2), and a register professional engineer at the state of SC. She received her undergraduate diploma in civil engineering from the National Technical University of Athens in 2007. Shortly thereafter she moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the University of Florida. She graduated with a M.S. in CE in 2009 and a Ph.D. in 2012. Dr. Michalaka is passionate about teaching in college and K-12 levels and conducting research in both transportation engineering, focused on traffic operations, congestion pricing, and traffic simulation, and engineering education. In 2020, she also obtained a Master of Science in Project Management from The Citadel.
Dr. Bryn Elizabeth Seabrook University of Virginia [biography]

Bryn Seabrook is an Assistant Professor in Science, Technology, and Society at the University of Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Science and Environment with a minor in Vocal Performance in 2012, a Master of Science and Technolo
Dr. Gafar Abbas Elamin P.E. The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Gafar Elamin is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The Citadel. He earned his PhD and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina A & T State University, and his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical
Deepti Joshi The Citadel
Heath Kaufman The Citadel [biography]

Dr. Heath Michael Kaufman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering at The Citadel, where he teaches statics, mechanics of materials, structural analysis, reinforced concrete design, steel design, and engineering practice and professional licensure. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati (2024) with specialization in structural engineering, and previously served as part-time faculty at Miami University teaching structures courses to architecture students. Dr. Kaufman brings significant industry experience from his role as a Structural Engineer at Schaefer Inc., where he designed projects ranging from large-scale distribution facilities to multi-story steel structures. His professional practice experience informs his approach to integrating industry-standard software and real-world applications into undergraduate curriculum. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Kentucky and currently serves as Instructional Secretary for the Special Interest Division of ASEE's Southeast Region. His research interests include structural fire engineering and engineering education pedagogy, with particular focus on bridging the gap between academic instruction and professional practice in structural analysis education.
Kaila Witkowski Florida Atlantic University
Gorgin Mansourian Jacksonville State University

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on July 31, 2026

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