Course Policy on Artificial Intelligence Platforms

A large component of the assessments in this course requires critical thinking and synthesis of ideas in writing. Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT could easily be used as a “student proxy” for this work. The danger in letting an AI platform do the synthesis and writing is that the student will not develop these important skills as part of the course learning objectives. Additionally, AI platforms such as ChatGPT are notorious for making things up, and it is difficult to ascertain if the information is correct or not. Therefore, the course policy is for students not to use AI platforms at all in this course. It is critical for students to develop core research and writing skills first before adding AI and other technological tools to their research toolbox. For additional details on the misuse of AI assistive technology, please go to the Academic Integrity section of the course syllabus.

(Statement adapted from Syllabus of 4th Year Introduction to Research Methods Course, by Andrea Kirkwood. Ontario Technical University)

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, are designed to assist in creating and analyzing text, code, video, audio, and other multimedia. Use of these resources in your coursework comes with benefits and risks. In this course, the rules for usage are as follows: 

• Do not use AI unless the assignment explicitly allows for it in the instructions and/or rubric. If you are unsure if your use of AI on an assignment is acceptable, ask the instructor and ensure you have documentation of permissions as appropriate.  
• Identify Contributions: Any work you submit that has incorporated AI-generated content should indicate which parts of the work are yours and which parts were generated or informed by AI. AI contribution should be no more than [XX% - faculty should update this number to meet their own needs] of assignment content.
• Provide Attribution: All use of AI tools (such as ChatGPT and others) must be explicitly cited with an explanation of how the AI tool was used and which prompts were given. This may be lengthy. Consider including as an appendix. Correct formats for attribution can be found at: . 
• Include Reflection: Any use of AI tools must include a brief reflection on what you learned by using the tool. For example, did you identify incorrect elements within generated work? How will you refine future prompts to address similar problems?

Any use of AI within the course that does not meet these rules may be considered a breach of the UAF Code of Conduct and carry substantial penalty. While exercising responsible and ethical engagement with AI is a skill you may hone over time, your unique human insights, critical thinking, and creative contributions remain pivotal to your learning experiences and success.

(Statement adapted from 2023 Syllabus for PHPH 9810 – BIOSTATISTICAL METHODS I, by Karen E. Nielsen, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biostatistics. Georgia State University)

Ethical Use of Generative AI Policy

In this class, the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (such as GPT-4) to assist with your papers is encouraged. AI can be a valuable tool to help develop ideas, constructively question sources, and integrate sources effectively into your paragraphs. However, the use of AI must be done responsibly and ethically. Here are the specific guidelines for using AI in your assignments:

Use Real Sources:

Always ground your work in credible and authentic sources. AI can help you understand and work with these sources, but it should not replace them.

Cite AI Use:

If you use Generative AI to help draft or edit any part of your paper, you must cite this in your paper. Treat the AI as you would another kind of source.

Document Your Interaction:

If you use GPT-4 or a similar tool, maintain a copy of the thread used (the input you provided and the output you received). This must be available upon request to validate your work and process.

(Statement adapted from , by Judith Sebesta - Principal, Sebesta Education Consulting LLC, Van L. Davis, Chief Strategy Officer WCET, pg. 27)

Graduate students should consult with their advisors and committees about the use of AI in their scholarship and research, as well as in the reporting of that work in their dissertations, theses, projects and papers. Any agreements (and changes in these agreements) regarding how AI can be used by the student can be documented in the reports of the advisory committee.