An Essential Glossary for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education

Generative artificial intelligence’s (genAI) impact on institutions of higher education is significant. Since ChatGPT’s release in November 2022, genAI has been changing classroom instruction, research methodologies, and administrative practices in unprecedented ways. Accordingly, many professionals working in higher education – faculty, staff, and administrators – are shifting their practices to address ways to leverage and address this technology within their context. To support them, this study presents the methods used to create a foundational glossary of 24 terms needed for engaging genAI within higher education settings, along with applied examples for each term. To structure the article, the researchers first present a review of existing glossaries focused on genAI before sharing their methods for generating and validating this glossary based on feedback from experts. As will be discussed, the researchers envision this glossary as a “living” document that higher educational professionals can adopt and refine to further meet their needs and those of their institution and colleagues. Keywords: Generative Artificial Intelligence, Glossary, Professional Development, Higher Education