Artificial intelligence (AI) is a reality for many industries and individuals. We use it for fun, in business and in the classroom. The question of how to use it appropriately drove some new revisions to 91ֿ’s administrative policies.
A revision of the Administrative Policy 3342-3-01.8 Regarding Cheating and Plagiarism adds language surrounding content generated by internet-based generative artificial intelligence (GAI) programs for both cheating and plagiarism.
The university’s definition of generative artificial intelligence is “any internet-based generative artificial intelligence programs that make use of large language model algorithms to make something new.”
Tools used for auto-complete, minor text predictions, and/or grammar, spelling and punctuation suggestions, commonly found in most word-processing applications, are not considered generative artificial intelligence.
The policy was changed to add the “generative artificial intelligence” language, to clarify its meaning and to indicate that any use beyond what is permitted by instructors is considered a violation of academic integrity.
Jennifer Marcinkiewicz, Ph.D., director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and an associate professor of biological sciences, hopes that faculty will be transparent and clear on the expectations and permissions of the use of generative artificial intelligence.
“It’s never in our intention to try to trick the students into doing something or not make them aware,” Marcinkiewicz said.
As with most things, what is allowed in the classroom is up to the instructors. The choice to let students use artificial intelligence for assignments or in class is up to each class and its instructor.
For instance, the definition of “cheating” in the policy was updated to include work generated by AI, “except as expressly permitted by the instructor” in relation to examinations, tests and quizzes as well as other assigned coursework.
The university definition of plagiarism was revised to “means to take and present as one’s own a material portion of the ideas or words of another person, persons, or GAI and present it as one’s own idea or work.”
“We’re certainly in favor of faculty doing that and being just as clear and transparent with students as they possibly can so that they can communicate to their students,” Marcinkiewicz said.
The 91ֿ Board of Trustees was made aware of these changes during its quarterly meeting on March 6.
The Center for Teaching and Learning has developed additional resources that educate professors on AI and will continue to create and update university resources for students.
“We are working very hard at developing new language to include this whole big new area of artificial intelligence. It’s a work in progress,” Marcinkiewicz said.
The University Policy Register serves as a compilation of the official university, administrative, and operational policies of 91ֿ. The policy register provides the university community with a source of reliable information and a foundation on which decisions can be made.
All revised sections of the policy will be reviewed by the Office of General Counsel and the President’s Cabinet and will go into effect on Aug. 19.
Review generative artificial intelligence syllabus language examples.