JERSEY CITY, NJ —
June 18, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
The college sets rules and training for using artificial intelligence ethically.
It started with a professor showing a student how to use ChatGPT to draft a paragraph for a history paper. The student blinked. “Is that cheating?” And the professor didn’t have a simple answer.
That moment is playing out at Hudson County Community College. And now, the college is taking a big step to answer it—not with a ban, but with a plan.
The college announced the creation of the HCCC Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Governance Council, or AISGC. This group of faculty, staff, and administrators will guide how the campus uses AI. Their job isn’t to block it. It’s to make sure everyone—students, teachers, and staff—knows how to use it well, and ethically.
“Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how we learn, work and live,” the college said. “HCCC is addressing the advantages and challenges posed by this rapidly evolving and transformative technology.”
The council will write guidelines for using AI in the classroom and in administrative work. It will also offer training sessions. The goal is to empower the community, not scare them.
How we got here
AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and image generators started hitting the mainstream last year. Since then, universities across the country have scrambled to figure out rules. Some schools banned AI outright. Others opened their arms wide.
HCCC took a middle path. They recognized that AI isn’t going anywhere—and that banning it might put students at a disadvantage in a job market that increasingly demands tech skills.
“It’s not about catch-and-punish,” one faculty member told the River View Observer. “It’s about teaching students to be savvy and responsible.”
What it means for Hudson County
For many HCCC students, this decision hits close to home. Many are commuters, working parents, or first-generation college students. They don’t have the luxury of ignoring a major technological shift. They need to know how to use AI to write a cover letter, analyze data, or create a marketing plan—because their future employers will expect that.
Think about a single mom from Union City, hunched over her laptop after her kids go to bed. She’s trying to finish a research paper. AI could help her find sources faster or organize her thoughts. But she needs to know what’s allowed and what’s not. The council’s work will give her clarity.
What people are saying
HCCC officials emphasized that the council is about inclusion. “We want to ensure students, faculty, and staff learn to engage AI ethically and effectively,” they said. “We want to empower the entire community.”
Not everyone on campus is thrilled. Some faculty worry about students using AI to cheat on assignments. But the council hopes to address those fears through clear policies and open conversations.
“I’d rather teach them how to use it well than have them use it badly in secret,” one professor said.
What comes next
The council will meet regularly over the next semester to draft a set of guidelines and a training plan. They plan to share drafts with the campus community for feedback. If you’re an HCCC student or faculty member, you can expect to see surveys and open forums in the coming weeks.
This is not a storm to weather. It’s a tool to learn. And thanks to the AISGC, Hudson County students won’t be left behind.
Source: River View Observer
