AI as a Teaching Partner in Business and Accounting Programs

May 28, 2026 - 21:31

At Saint Michael's College, the Business Administration and Accounting program has found a new kind of classroom assistant. Faculty members Nicole Morris and Karen Popovich are showing how artificial intelligence can work alongside instructors rather than replace them.

Morris and Popovich have been integrating AI tools into their courses in a way that feels practical, not flashy. Instead of treating AI as a shortcut for students to avoid learning, they use it as a way to deepen understanding. For example, students might ask an AI to generate a first draft of a financial report or a business memo. Then the real work begins: students must critique, correct, and improve that draft. This process teaches them to think critically about the information AI produces, a skill they will need in the workplace.

The approach also changes the role of the professor. Morris and Popovich act less like lecturers and more like coaches. They guide students on how to ask better questions of AI tools and how to spot errors or biases in the output. This hands-on method helps students build confidence in using technology without becoming dependent on it.

The program's focus is on preparing students for real-world business environments, where AI is already common. By learning to work with AI now, students gain an edge. They understand that the tool is only as good as the person using it. Morris and Popovich believe this partnership between human judgment and machine efficiency is the future of business education.