An editorial that claims a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, is being compelled to teach basic math to underprepared college students has gained considerable traction online. The piece, attributed to Professor Zvezdelina Stankova, criticizes the admissions standards at UC Berkeley. She was among many faculty members who signed an open letter this year advocating for the return of SAT and ACT tests in the admissions process.
However, Stankova later acknowledged that artificial intelligence played a role in the editorial’s creation. The Daily Californian, a student newspaper, reported on her admission.
Stankova stated, “A team of teachers and journalists collaborated closely on my draft for three weeks, engaging in numerous revisions and discussions.” She clarified that while AI aided in the editing, the extensive human collaboration accounted for hundreds of hours of work—about 80 of which were her own.
The California-based publication noted that AI detection software, Pangram, identified the article as containing 33% AI-generated or assisted content. A joint statement by the faculty members also mentioned that the open letter on standardized tests appeared to be similarly edited with AI assistance.
Stankova’s article has sparked substantial debate regarding the adequacy of the University of California’s admissions requirements. She attributed the decline in student quality to the removal of standardized testing, stating it has led to a divide in lecture halls between students who are prepared for advanced learning and those requiring significant remedial support.
Standardized testing became optional in 2020 amid pandemic disruptions and equity concerns, with a court ruling mandating that the University of California remain test-blind until 2025.
The involvement of AI in creating academic works raises questions, especially as there is growing criticism regarding students misusing AI to circumvent academic integrity. Faculty are increasingly focused on combatting these practices.
“Right now, this feels misleading, or at the very least a bit insincere,” commented Hannes Bajor, a fellow professor at UC Berkeley, to The Californian. “The individual making the claim is expected to stand by what they’ve written.” Yet, he acknowledged that societal norms about using AI in writing might evolve significantly in the near future.
