Teaching & Learning
- Aspen University allows student use of AI in coursework only within stated limits and course-specific rules
- Faculty may set assignment-level AI rules, and the university default is restrictive when course rules are not otherwise established
- Students may use AI for brainstorming, study aids, proofreading, writing feedback, and exploring concepts, but they may not use it to complete assignments without substantial student input, submit AI-generated work as original work, or violate course policies
Use AI tools to enhance learning, not to replace academic work.
Allowable use of AI tools:
Brainstorming, creating study guides and practice problems, proofreading and grammar checking, seeking feedback on writing structure, tone, or clarity, and exploring complex concepts unless otherwise noted in an assignment.
Prohibited Conduct:
Completing assignments without substantial (80%) student input.
Using AI to complete assessments, assignments, or exams in violation of course policies.
Submitting AI-generated content as original work without proper citation.
Misrepresenting AI-generated content as personal understanding or scholarly effort.
If the course has established rules for AI usage, the Faculty must follow the guidelines in the course.
If the course does not have established rules for AI usage, then the faculty must clearly and concisely communicate their expectations regarding AI usage.
The range to communicate is as follows, with the university's default being Restrictive.
AI-Friendly: Students are asked to use AI tools for specific parts of their assignments, such as idea generation, outlining, drafting, or research, and depending on the assignment, might even utilize it to create final content. Students will submit the AI-generated material as part of their final submission. AI-friendly assignments are exempt from the 20% AI usage threshold.
AI-Assisted: Students can utilize AI tools to assist in their assignments, such as generating ideas, proofreading, or organizing content. Students do not submit their prompts or the AI-generated material as part of the final submission. AI-assisted assignments are held to the 20% AI usage threshold.
AI-Restrictive: AI tools are prohibited for the assignment, and all work must be the student’s original creation. AI-restricted assignments are held to the 20% AI usage threshold.
No Use of AI Allowed for the Following Assignments: Signature Assignments need to be centered on the student’s original work, as it is intended to measure institutional and programmatic outcomes, which are used for the assessment of student learning.
- Aspen University prohibits students from using AI to solve exam questions during assessments and from using AI for assessments when that violates course policies
- The policy also states that faculty and staff must not use AI to generate grades, evaluative feedback, or summative assessment decisions without professional judgment
Prohibited Conduct:
Using AI to complete assessments, assignments, or exams in violation of course policies.
Solving exam questions during assessments.
Using AI to generate grades, evaluative feedback, or summative assessment decisions without professional judgment.
- Aspen University permits students to use AI as a learning support tool rather than a substitute for their own academic work
- The university explicitly allows uses such as brainstorming, study guides, practice problems, concept exploration, proofreading, and feedback on writing, while requiring students to critically review AI-generated content for accuracy
Use AI tools to enhance learning, not to replace academic work.
Critically review AI-generated content to ensure the accuracy of information, as AI hallucinations may occur. Students are responsible for all final submissions.
Allowable use of AI tools:
Brainstorming, creating study guides and practice problems, proofreading and grammar checking, seeking feedback on writing structure, tone, or clarity, and exploring complex concepts unless otherwise noted in an assignment.
AI can be used to brainstorm ideas, generate rough drafts, inform text, etc. It is a means to assist learning when used ethically, and not a quick fix to get an assignment out of the way or as a strategy for producing work without learning along with it.
Because this is a developing technology, be aware of what it might produce as misinformation.
Students are responsible to produce and submit cohesive assignments and discussion question responses that demonstrate synthesized thought and an understanding of the topic and content, while supporting the work with scholarly sources and citations without plagiarizing beyond limits set by policy. Because of that, students are expected to critically review any AI-generated response before using it carte blanche.
- Any coding use would fall under the broader assignment rules and course-level AI expectations rather than a separate coding standard
- Aspen University mentions that AI platforms can produce computer code, but it does not set a distinct university-wide policy for programming assignments or code generation
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) assistance in producing course assignments is on the rise at Aspen University and in higher education institutions across the country. These platforms, like Open AI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, and numerous others, are state-of-the-art large language models that can be used to write human-like text and computer code, produce marketing campaigns, answer statistical problem sets, create videos and PowerPoints, etc.
If the course has established rules for AI usage, the Faculty must follow the guidelines in the course.
If the course does not have established rules for AI usage, then the faculty must clearly and concisely communicate their expectations regarding AI usage.
Research
Academic Integrity
- Aspen University requires students to cite and reference AI-generated content used in assignments and to treat such material like any other direct quote
- The policy also requires that sources used in assignments be documented through acceptable references and citations, and that the extent of source use be apparent to faculty
Properly cite and reference any AI-generated content used in assignments.
Submitting AI-generated content as original work without proper citation.
Treat AI-generated material as any other direct quote and cite appropriately.
All sources used within an assignment must be documented through acceptable references and citations and the extent to which the sources have been used must be apparent to the faculty.
- Aspen University uses Turnitin in AI- and plagiarism-related review, but distinguishes the Turnitin AI detection score from the plagiarism score
- For plagiarism review, faculty are responsible for reporting submissions with Turnitin similarity reports at 20% or higher for potential code of conduct violations
- Faculty review submissions and retain discretion on whether to report a potential conduct violation when the Turnitin AI detection score is above 20%, while plagiarism consequences can include warnings, assignment or course failure, reversal of grades, revocation of credits or degrees, and dismissal
NOTE: “Turnitin AI detection score” is separate and apart from the “Turnitin plagiarism score.” This policy only governs AI plagiarism. See Code of Conduct - Plagiarism Policy in the Catalog.
However, the “Turitin AI detection score” of 1% to 20% is always acceptable due to the risk of false positives. NOTE: “Turnitin AI detection score” is separate and apart from the “Turnitin plagiarism score.” This policy only governs AI detection.
Faculty are responsible for reviewing the student’s submission and retain the discretion to report, or not report, a potential code of conduct violation (“Turnitin AI detection score > 20%).
Faculty are responsible for reviewing the student's submission for potential plagiarism through Turnitin reports for a 20% or higher similarity rate and reporting for a potential code of conduct violation.
Consequences for plagiarism may include warnings, reflective activities, assignment failure, course failure, reversal of final course grades, revocation of credits and degrees, and/or dismissal from the University.
Institutional & Administrative
- Faculty must communicate AI expectations to students, follow course AI rules where established, and use professional judgment rather than relying on AI alone for grading, evaluative feedback, or summative assessment decisions
- Aspen also publishes faculty guidance recommending AI for lesson planning, rubrics, sample responses, formative questions, study resources, course organization, and draft feedback templates, with the expectation that faculty review and modify AI-generated content
- Aspen University allows faculty, staff, and administrators to use AI for communication improvement, generating assignment examples and scaffolds with clear authorship disclosure, and reviewing anonymized student work for grammar suggestions or general writing patterns
For Faculty, Staff, and Administrators
Communicate AI usage expectations to students as they pertain to course requirements.
Allowable use of AI tools:
Use of AI tools to improve the clarity, tone, or formatting of communication or content, generating examples, prompts, or scaffolds for student assignments (with clear authorship disclosure), and reviewing anonymized student work for grammar suggestions or general writing patterns.
Using AI to generate grades, evaluative feedback, or summative assessment decisions without professional judgment.
If the course has established rules for AI usage, the Faculty must follow the guidelines in the course.
If the course does not have established rules for AI usage, then the faculty must clearly and concisely communicate their expectations regarding AI usage.
Claude (Free through Claude 3 Sonnet): Excellent for developing detailed rubrics, assignment instructions, and providing nuanced feedback.
Generate detailed lesson plans with learning objectives, activities, and assessments
Develop rubrics with specific criteria and performance levels
Create sample responses to help calibrate grading
Generate formative assessment questions with answer explanations
Draft student feedback templates that can be personalized
Remember to review and modify all AI-generated content to ensure it aligns with your course objectives and teaching style. The goal is to use AI as a starting point, not a final product.
Being open about AI use builds trust and models digital literacy. Develop a clear AI policy for your courses that outlines:
How you use AI in your teaching practice
Guidelines for student use of AI tools
Expectations for attribution and transparency
Assessment considerations and academic integrity
- The university also states that material should never be copied into any AI tool that is not purchased or licensed by the University
- Aspen University prohibits students and employees from entering sensitive, protected, confidential, or identifiable information into AI tools, especially free tools, because they may store, reuse, or train on submitted data
- The policy specifically bars entry of personal identifiers, student-protected information, patient information, proprietary content, and identifiable student work, and it warns that misuse can violate FERPA, HIPAA, and other protected-information requirements
Privacy and data protection regulations must be adhered to when using AI tools. Free AI tools are not secure and may store, reuse, or train on data used.
Students must not input sensitive, protected, or confidential information into AI tools. This includes personal identifiable information (PII), including name, student ID, email addresses, names of family members, addresses, or indirect identifiers such as course names or unique assignment titles, student-protected information, patient information, or proprietary content. Free AI tools are not secure and may store, reuse, or train on data used.
AI tools may retain input, so personal info is prohibited.
Free AI tools are open-source, and entering protected information can violate FERPA, HIPAA, and other federal and/or state-protected information.
Inputting sensitive, protected, or confidential information into AI tools. This includes students’ work product, personal identifiable information (PII), including name, email addresses, names of family members, addresses, or indirect identifiers such as course names or unique assignment titles, student-protected information, patient information, or proprietary content. Free AI tools are not secure and may store, reuse, or train on data used.
Submitting identifiable student work (including names, ID numbers, or context-specific details). E ntering protected information can violate FERPA, HIPAA, and other federal and/or state-protected information.
Prohibited Conduct: Never copy and paste student work, student information, protected data, or proprietary content into any AI tool that is not purchased or licensed by the University. Free AI tools are open-source, and you can be violating FERPA, HIPAA, and other federal and/or state-protected information.
- No separate AI committee or formal governance body is defined in the provided sources
- The university also states that it will provide AI literacy training and regularly update AI policies as technology evolves
- Aspen University has an institution-wide AI policy that applies to students, faculty, staff, and administrators and frames AI use around responsible use, human judgment, privacy, bias mitigation, academic integrity, training, and regular policy review
This policy establishes guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies at our institution. It applies to all students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
AI tools should enhance, not replace, human judgment and decision-making.
Users must uphold the Academic Integrity Policy when utilizing AI tools.
Assess AI tools for potential biases and take steps to mitigate them
Administrative Use
Regularly review and update AI policies to reflect technological advancements.
Provide AI literacy training for faculty, staff, and students.
Ethical Considerations
Regularly assess AI tools for potential biases and take steps to mitigate them.
Foster open discussions on ethical AI use among all stakeholders.
NOTE: This policy aims to harness the potential of AI while maintaining the integrity of our educational mission. It is subject to regular review and updates as AI technology evolves.
DocuMark: Responsible AI Use for Academic Integrity
Knowing your institution's AI policy is step one. DocuMark helps enforce it fairly by empowering universities to manage AI-generated content, prevent cheating, and support student writing through responsible AI use.
Common Questions About Aspen University's AI Policies
Aspen University has defined AI policies in 9 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 75%.
Aspen University requires students to cite and reference AI-generated content used in assignments and to treat such material like any other direct quote. The policy also requires that sources used in assignments be documented through acceptable references and citations, and that the extent of source use be apparent to faculty.
Aspen University uses Turnitin in AI- and plagiarism-related review, but distinguishes the Turnitin AI detection score from the plagiarism score. Faculty review submissions and retain discretion on whether to report a potential conduct violation when the Turnitin AI detection score is above 20%, while plagiarism consequences can include warnings, assignment or course failure, reversal of grades, revocation of credits or degrees, and dismissal. For plagiarism review, faculty are responsible for reporting submissions with Turnitin similarity reports at 20% or higher for potential code of conduct violations.
Aspen University prohibits students and employees from entering sensitive, protected, confidential, or identifiable information into AI tools, especially free tools, because they may store, reuse, or train on submitted data. The policy specifically bars entry of personal identifiers, student-protected information, patient information, proprietary content, and identifiable student work, and it warns that misuse can violate FERPA, HIPAA, and other protected-information requirements. The university also states that material should never be copied into any AI tool that is not purchased or licensed by the University.