Policies and Guidance

IU does not currently have any specific policies around the use of generative AI, other than policies related to data security and privacy.  

Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat Enterprise) is IU's preferred generative AI service for faculty and staff. It can handle data up to University-Internal level. When using public tools, usage of data is more restrictive, even when the data are anonymized. See Acceptable uses of generative AI services at IU. Understanding the way data is classified can be complicated, and IU provides a Data Classification Matrix to help faculty make the most appropriate decisions with using data. 

Students are expected to adhere to the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, which addresses Academic Misconduct. However, it may be useful for instructors to address generative AI more specifically, such as in their syllabi.

The IU Bloomington FACET Leadership Institute team, which is working on a project related to GenAI, has produced the following sample syllabus statements that you may consider as starting templates.

The use of generative AI (GAI) is permitted in this course for all assignments and assessments with no penalty. However, students should note that all large language models (basis of GAI) still have a large tendency to make up incorrect facts or fake citations, produce inaccurate outputs, or generate highly offensive products. You will be responsible for any inaccurate, biased, offensive, or otherwise unethical content you submit regardless of whether it originally comes from you or a GAI platform.

Any use of such tools must be appropriately acknowledged and cited. Use of GAI without acknowledgement will result in a penalty. The disclosure of use of GAI for spelling and grammar checkers is not necessary, but all other uses of GAI require proper acknowledgment and citations.

APA Citation Example:
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

The use of GAI platforms without disclosure will be considered plagiarism and/or cheating and will be reported to the Dean of Students and handled according to university policies. Sanctions for academic misconduct in this course may include a failing grade on the assignment, a reduction in your final course grade, or a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities. If you have any questions about the acceptable use of GAI tools, please consult with the instructor before submitting your work.

With the understanding of the limitations and necessary acknowledgments, we encourage the use of GAI as a means for you to submit higher quality assignments in less time. Learning how to use Gen AI is an emerging skill, and it would be to your advantage to learn how to use it well. GAI can be a valuable tool for augmenting human decision, but it is not a replacement for critical thinking.

In this course, you are expected to do your own work and properly cite any sources you use. The use of generative AI (GAI) tools, such as chatbots, text generators, paraphrasers, summarizers, or solvers, is strictly prohibited for any part of your assignments. Students must complete all work independently and without GAI-generated content. The use of GAI platforms will be considered plagiarism and/or cheating and will be reported to the Dean of Students and handled according to university policies. Sanctions for academic misconduct in this course may include a failing grade on the assignment, a reduction in your final course grade, or a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities. If you have any questions about the acceptable use of GAI tools, please consult with the instructor before submitting your work.

Of course, you should always check with your department, school, or campus to see if there are specific GenAI statements or policies that should be included. 

No matter what policy you use, IU Bloomington English Associate Professor Justin Hodgson has the following suggestions for how you may want to talk about GenAI in your classes: 

  • "Include a permission and acknowledgement disclaimer. 'AI generators/programs such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, QuillBot, Spinbot, Dall-E, etc. should not be used for any work for this class without explicit permission of the instructor and appropriate attribution.' -- from IUB College of Arts & Sciences, Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs 
  • "Repeat policies frequently. Students have multiple classes, each which may have some variation in generative AI policy. To help students understand your expectations, be sure to: 
    • Include the policy on your syllabus 
    • Cover the policy in class 
    • Repeat the policy regularly, and 
    • Remind students of the policy for each relevant assignment by including it, in some form, on assignment handouts/guides and Canvas pages 
  • "Focus on an ethics of practice. The simple truth is that students need to learn how to use these tools and to do so responsibly. Banning them outright is not only likely a losing battle, but may do students a disservice as they enter a working world where the use of these technologies are not only allowed but encouraged. There are some clear cases where banning these tools make sense (e.g., language acquisition courses), but leaning into the possibilities and helping students learn to ethically and responsibly use these technologies may pay greater dividends in the long run. For an example, review Generative AI – Ethics of Practice." 

Uses in Teaching and Learning

Overview