Developing Clear Course GenAI Policies
Because our students are increasingly turning to GenAI to help with their schoolwork,1 it is imperative that faculty set clear expectations for AI use both in their courses as a whole and for each graded assignment. Setting clear AI policies for a course can help students navigate potential misunderstandings regarding AI use in their classes, particularly as each instructor may have their own policy around AI.
As you design your courses and assessments, consider your learning outcomes and goals for the class and determine how much AI use you will allow. Include a clear statement of AI use in your syllabus and graded assignments, and take time both at the beginning of the semester and when introducing new assignments to emphasize the course AI use policy and how it corresponds with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes students are being asked to develop. AI misuse in a class does constitute an Academic Honesty violation, but it is difficult to adjudicate such violations if the policy is not clearly articulated. An academic honesty hearing may result in an exoneration if the board cannot understand your expectations regarding AI use and thereby conclude the student wouldn’t have been able to understand them either.
If you don’t want to create your own AI policy, below are three examples of course AI policies ranging from no use at all to complete freedom. Choose one to include in your syllabus and modify it as necessary to fit your goals and personal policy. I would be happy to meet with you to discuss your choice and any modification you feel is necessary.
These policies have been adapted from similar policies in place at Syracuse University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Harvard University.
1 Almost 7/8 high school students in May 2025 reported using GenAI for their schoolwork in some capacity. https://research.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ai-research-brief-1_vf.pdf
No GenAI use Allowed Example
All graded assessments in this course must be completed without the use of any GenAI. Do not use AI tools to generate any content, such as text (including translation or editing software such as Grammarly), video, audio, code, or data for this course that will ultimately be submitted to me. The use of GenAI for any assignment will be considered a violation of the SAS/Hajim Academic Honesty Policy. If you have any questions about whether a resource or tool is permissible under this policy, please talk to me first before using it.
Some GenAI use is Allowed Example
There will be times in this course when a particular AI tool may be used to support the learning outcomes of the course and give you experience with leveraging the power of AI in positive and ethical ways. When I want you to use these tools, I will always clearly state what tools are allowed, how they may be used, and when they may be used (for example, only in class). When the use of AI is not clearly stated, then you should assume that it is not allowed. When AI is allowed and you use the tool, you must clearly and appropriately acknowledge its use. See, for example, the APA Style Guide for how to cite AI generated content. Note that although the use of AI is allowed for some parts of this class, you are still responsible for the accuracy of the content you submit. Submission of inaccurate or hallucinated content may be considered a form of fabrication and could result in an academic honesty case being filed. If you have any questions about a particular tool or how to use it for this class, please talk to me.
Open use of AI is Allowed Example
AI can be a powerful tool for both learning and productivity. You are allowed to use any AI tool in this course [or one or more specific tools], provided that you clearly acknowledge its use and explain how you used it. See the APA Style Guide for how to cite AI generated content, or this paper for an example on how to write an AI Contribution Statement. Failing to cite verbatim quotes or paraphrased material from a Generative AI tool is considered plagiarism. Note, too, that you are still responsible for the accuracy of the content you submit for this course. Submission of inaccurate or hallucinated content may be considered a form of fabrication and could result in an academic honesty case being filed. If you have any questions about a particular tool or how to use it for this class, please talk to me.