A new Lumina Foundation–Gallup poll finds student AI use is now routine even when institutions discourage or prohibit it, underscoring a growing gap between campus policies and student behavior. In the survey, a clear majority of students report using tools like ChatGPT or Copilot daily or weekly, while only a small share say their schools encourage maximum AI use. The study also shows students are seeking more clarity: many want training on how to use AI to understand course content, save time, and strengthen job preparation—and they report inconsistency where professors have not set clear AI rules. More than 40% of bachelor’s students and over half of associate-seekers say generative AI has prompted them to reconsider their majors. The findings frame AI preparedness as a student success and instructional design challenge. Higher education leaders are being pushed to move from uncertain guidance to transparent expectations, ethical guardrails, and practical instruction that translates AI literacy into compliant, learning-focused practice.