Document Type

Student Paper

Publication Date

Fall 11-13-2025

Abstract

Generative AI is rapidly entering academic workflows, yet readiness to use these tools in graduate training and the workplace remains unclear. The SPARTA AI was administered online to faculty and graduate students in the University of New Mexico’s Psychology Department and COPH (Feb–Sep 2025). The analytic sample included N=37 respondents. Descriptives, role-stratified academic AI usage, one-sample tests of perceived preparedness vs a 3.0 midpoint, and correlations between AI interest and academic usage were computed; Wilson CIs were used for proportions. The sample comprised 20 faculty and 17 graduate students, primarily from COPH and Psychology. AI usage was generally infrequent across task domains, with “Rarely” most common. Preparedness composites for faculty perceptions of students and students’ self-ratings were near the scale midpoint, with no clear deviation in either direction. The association between AI interest and academic usage was near zero overall (r≈0.01) and small within roles (faculty r≈–0.08; students r≈0.18); all confidence intervals crossed zero. In this study, both faculty and graduate students reported modest, infrequent AI use and preparedness levels below the midpoint. Interest did not translate into higher usage. Findings highlight opportunities for targeted training and curricular supports to build practical AI competence.

Comments

This professional paper was successfully defended on 11/13/2025 as the final requirement for earning an MPH with a concentration in epidemiology.

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