I’m back in university, too, and it’s quite a challenge.
I’m impressed that most of my fellow students in my major (Environmental Science/ Ecolgy) take it very seriously indeed, but when I’m taking required non-major courses, it’s often pretty… horrifying. An open-armed acceptance of AI/ChatGPT, both for source material (!!!) and to “write” their papers. An unchallenged belief that anything submitted late is just fine. Viewing big ideas (Enlightenment era political thought) through their own narrow lenses, never considering other angles.
I feel badly for them, because they were definitely screwed during Covid, but our professors offer endless support and help, and it’s often shrugged off.
I’m very glad that once I graduate, I won’t be coming out of retirement to work again.