Students Forced to Use AI Under Mandatory 'Ungrading' Policies Are Denied Real Learning and Have No Way Out

Summary

Students are increasingly being forced to hand over their learning to AI tools in courses that also use ungrading or self-graded policies. A psychology student described being docked points for not using enough AI tools, feeling completely disengaged, and planning to propose a 'C' grade because she believes she is learning nothing. She is trapped because dropping the course would end her financial aid and delay graduation. No opt-out, policy safeguard, or alternative pathway exists for students who want to learn through traditional methods instead of AI-generated assignments. This is causing severe frustration, academic alienation, and devaluation of genuine skill development in higher education.