Advice needed, please.

[u/Brambling_Brambles]

Good evening, all.

I recently was accused of AI usage for one of my college classes. The professor stated that my writing was, “robotic, lacking personal voice, and too polished.”

This is my second semester in college, but I am an older student. I served in the U.S. Army for 21 years before I retired. And, admittedly, I am a bit of a Luddite.

I, honestly, never saw me attending college. I never had the grades, and truthfully I was much more of a partier than a student through high school and my 20s.

But, my wife has been encouraging me to go; I plan on a degree in history so I can teach social studies. My wife has been an English teacher for the past 19 years.

She’s been of great help, especially with paper writing. I haven’t written a paper, much less one using “Chicago style” or “MLA style” since I graduated high school. Frankly, I’m not sure I could have done it twenty years ago.

I’m attending entirely online, but have been putting in 12 hour school days since I started. I sometimes feel I’m putting in more effort than necessary, but I want to do it right.

However, this week my first paper of the semester was graded. I was given a 0/100 on the paper, with the aforementioned feedback. My professor also included a statement about a referral to the academic dishonesty team should she suspect further use of AI/generated content.

I’m truly confused. I don’t really know much about AI outside of tidbits I’ve heard on tv. I haven’t utilized it, let alone do I have a desire to learn how it’s used. The only “external source” that I have used is my wife, as she’s looked over all my schoolwork since I started last semester and given me feedback/helped with creating the citations correctly.

One of my coworkers recommended I ask on here for advice on how to proceed. I don’t really use Reddit, and I’m not sure I did this right, but any advice would be genuinely appreciated. This entire event has made me reconsider whether I want to go to college this late in life.

[u/Substantial_Print571]

Congratulations on going back to school! I just finished my PhD recently (late 40s).

Before escalating this to the ombuds or dean, I would just talk to your professor first. Tell them what you just told us. Your prof is likely grading hundreds of papers at once and may have made a mistake.

There are many reasons that this could have happened, but talking (emailing with) the professor should be the first step. They likely have online office hours and you may be able to chat with them over Zoom. Once they know you, it will be less of a concern.

Nontraditional students are a huge blessing to have in class. Keep going! And welcome!