The body of scholarly literature on Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is rapidly expanding, exploring various potential applications for these technologies. Few studies have examined the extent and frequency of students' use of GAI at small colleges. Between August and November of 2024, we investigated the use of GAI by students at Lyon College, a small liberal arts institution in Arkansas. The primary objectives of this study were to explore the scope and patterns of GAI usage among students. We developed a quantitative anonymous survey on the use of AI in student’s academic lives, administered in classes across various departments to maximize response rates and achieve a diverse and representative sample (26%). The findings revealed the proportion of students using GAI tools in their academic work, how frequently they use these tools, the specific purposes for which they are used, and which GAI tools are most favored by students. The study highlighted differences in GAI usage between native and non-native English speakers, supported by a significant sample of international students (30.4% of the sample size). We compared GAI usage across different fields of study, uncovering notable variations between academic disciplines.

Keywords: Generative AI, Higher Education, Student AI Usage, AI and Learning.