Generative AI + Academic Integrity update (January 2024)
Dear students,
As we get ready for the start of a new semester, I'm writing to share a quick reminder about the use of Generative AI in your classes. Please be aware that the reason for the University's attention to this issue is not so much about preventing cheating as it is about making sure that your learning and your engagement with your coursework are not compromised by the availability of Gen AI tools.
Generative AI Policy for Students
Here is the Gen AI Policy for Students, which was also emailed to all students in August.
Among things to note: "With this in mind, remember that representing work that you did not produce as your own, including work generated or materially modified by AI, constitutes academic dishonesty. Use of Generative AI in a way that violates an instructor’s articulated policy, or using it to complete coursework in a way not expressly permitted by the faculty member, will be considered a violation of the Honor Code."
A few other things to know right now:
(1) Some instructors have policies related to Gen AI in their syllabi, and those should be followed. If you aren't sure whether a particular use is acceptable in one of your classes, be proactive and ask your professor. Don't assume that what is allowed in one class is allowed in another.
(2) If you use Gen AI to help with brainstorming or research, remember to cite or describe your use of it. Here are the instructions for doing this in a few different citation styles:
(3) Using a Gen AI tool to edit or polish your own written work is not recommended. The problem with doing this is that the amount of work done by a student and the AI can vary greatly, from a student carefully accepting or rejecting individual suggestions made by the AI on the one hand, to the AI doing so much editing that it is no longer the student's own voice or work on the other. When an AI tool makes changes to your work, it becomes difficult for your instructor to assess whether you have actually learned the course material. Individual instructors might want to allow or prohibit different things (including prohibiting this use of it entirely), so make sure that you understand what is acceptable in your particular class.
If you have questions or concerns about any of this, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Ardea Russo
Director, Office of Academic Standards