Generative AI Tools

Teaching and Learning: Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools 

Effective: Fall 2024

Version History: Campus review confirmed by UCC April 23, 2024, approved by EVCAA June 26, 2024

Policy Owner: Academic Affairs

Policy Contact(s): Jennifer Mencl (undergraduate education); Erik Brown (graduate education)

 

  1. Student use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) as part of course work requires written instructor permission. Without instructor permission, the default will be to treat student use of generative AI for assigned course work as scholastic dishonesty (policies: Student Conduct Code; Student Academic Integrity). 
    1. Instructors should clarify in writing when use is permissible, along with any limitations and guidelines, such as in syllabi and/or assignment instructions (resource: UMN example statements). 
    2. If a student is unsure whether a particular technology is permitted for an assignment, they should clarify in advance with the assigning instructor.
       
  2. In addition to scholastic dishonesty, faculty and students are encouraged to consider the following issues and recommendations for the responsible use of generative AI: intellectual property of both inputs and outputs, equitable access to tools, accessibility, privacy, and responsibility for errors.
    1. Author permission and/or appropriate rights to share content should be secured before submitting content to an AI system. For example, instructors should secure student FERPA and copyright consent before submitting student work to generative AI systems. This extends to any intellectual property of content being submitted to the AI system, including but not limited to student work and course learning materials such as slides and assignment prompts, textbooks, and academic publications. An instructor's submission of student work to an approved plagiarism-detection or AI-detection program without student consent does not constitute a violation of this policy. Should an approved detection program not be available through the University for an instructor's assessment, the instructor may use an appropriate alternative.
    2. Careful documentation of how AI is used in generating visual, written, or other materials should be part of the process of producing creative work and course work because U.S. law holds that copyright requires human authorship. For example, showing how AI outputs are transformed or curated as part of human creative projects/products including instructional materials and student work.
    3. Generative AI tools allowed in the production of course work should be equitable and accessible. As examples, any subscriptions to services should be communicated to students as early as possible, compatibility with assistive technologies should be considered, and cost and compatibility with commonly available technology should be kept in mind.
    4. Users should take care to reduce or avoid sharing potentially sensitive information, such as passwords, health status, or personally identifiable information, because generative AI systems raise privacy and security concerns regarding storage and use of contributions.
    5. Generative AI is prone to a variety of well-documented errors, including biased outputs, unattributed reproduction of others’ work, misrepresentation of facts, and falsification of data and sources. Using generative AI tools ethically requires both instructors and students to guard against these mistakes. Because meaningful responsibility involves more than merely blaming users for a technology’s errors, or blaming technology for flawed outputs: 
      1. Students are responsible for checking outputs for errors.
      2. Instructors should provide support and guidance for how to appropriately review AI-generated outputs as they construct assignments given the extent of this work and resource loads required for students to be successful in this regard. 
    6. If faculty allow students to use generative AI and a student is unsure of any of the above issues for an assignment, they should clarify in advance with the assigning instructor.

 

Please also refer to the University of Minnesota’s policy: Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources.

 

Related Policies

Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources

Student Conduct Code

Student Academic Integrity

Syllabus 

 

Resources

UMN Teaching Support Resources for Instructors using AI in Teaching

UMN Office of Information Technology Appropriate Use of Generative AI Tools