Teaching & Learning
- Use of AI for graded coursework is primarily at instructor discretion
- Baylor states that course instructors should specify what AI use is permitted and what documentation students must provide, and faculty guidance says submitting AI-produced work as one’s own is not acceptable and violates the Honor Code
8. Course instructors should specify the permitted use of AI tools and the responsibilities of students to document what and how tools and data were used in any course assignment.
Discuss this issue with students on the first day of class, communicate your expectations to them, and make clear to students that submitting work produced by an AI system as their own is not acceptable and is a violation of Baylor’s Honor Code.
- Baylor does not set a standalone university-wide AI rule specifically for exams or quizzes in the provided sources
- The available guidance instead leaves permitted AI use in academic work to instructors and recommends assessment designs such as in-class writing and verbal exams to reduce AI-produced submissions
8. Course instructors should specify the permitted use of AI tools and the responsibilities of students to document what and how tools and data were used in any course assignment.
Require writing to be done in class (by hand if possible).
Incorporate a verbal exam requirement tied to an essay so that students are required to discuss what they are turning in.
- However, students are cautioned that using it for graded assignments without instructor permission constitutes cheating
- Baylor's LibGuides suggest students can use AI tools like ChatGPT for learning support, such as brainstorming paper topics or identifying key authors on a subject
Can using ChatGPT be helpful for school? Yes, in some ways. For instance, it is a great way to brainstorm a topic for a paper or to find some key authors on a particular subject.
Research
- However, all AI-generated results must be reviewed by a human for accuracy before use
- Baylor states that AI may be used in research-related work and notes research uses such as summarizing content, conducting literature reviews, and acting as a research assistant
Baylor embraces Generative Artificial Intelligence as an effective tool to support the institution's education, research, and operation.
9. All AI-generated results must undergo human review to ensure accuracy before being used.
Generative Artificial Intelligence has the potential to accelerate research. Current AI tools can summarize research content, analyze data, identify patterns in data, generate hypotheses, conduct literature reviews, or even operate as a research assistant.
- The university also restricts confidential data in non-public AI tools under its data security standards
- Baylor explicitly recognizes AI use for research data and analysis tasks, including analyzing data and identifying patterns, but requires human review of AI-generated results before use
9. All AI-generated results must undergo human review to ensure accuracy before being used.
Generative Artificial Intelligence has the potential to accelerate research. Current AI tools can summarize research content, analyze data, identify patterns in data, generate hypotheses, conduct literature reviews, or even operate as a research assistant.
5. Confidential data should be restricted for non-public AI tools in compliance with data security standards.
- The provided sources do not define specific Baylor rules for AI use in grant proposals, IRB applications, or formal research ethics declarations
- Baylor does state generally that users are responsible for legal and regulatory compliance and that AI-generated results require human review before use
6. Users of AI-generated results bear full responsibility for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Actions resulting from AI tool usage are the sole responsibility of the user.
9. All AI-generated results must undergo human review to ensure accuracy before being used.
Academic Integrity
- Additionally, the university libraries provide students with specific guidance and examples on how to cite Generative AI tools in APA, MLA, and Chicago formats
- Baylor requires transparency in the use of AI in academic programs, with specific disclosure and documentation requirements for coursework determined by the instructor
4. Use of AI tools in academic programs should be transparent.
8. Course instructors should specify the permitted use of AI tools and the responsibilities of students to document what and how tools and data were used in any course assignment.
This guide will demonstrate how to cite text created by ChatGPT (and other generative AI) in APA 7, MLA 9, and Chicago 17.
- Baylor also discontinued Turnitin’s AI detection feature at the end of December 2023 because of uncertainty about its accuracy
- Baylor says AI policy violations are handled by academic dean’s offices and the Office of the Provost, and student misuse is reported to the Honor Council under the Honor Code
7. AI policy violations will be addressed by the appropriate academic dean’s office and the Office of the Provost. Misuse of AI by students should be reported to the Honor Council and violations will be governed by the university’s honor code.
After consultation with the Faculty Senate, the Teaching and Learning with Technology Committee, and the Honor Council, the University has decided to allow the AI detection feature within Turnitin.com to expire at the end of December 2023. Too much uncertainty exists, much of it related to accuracy, for the University to retain the feature at this time.
Discuss this issue with students on the first day of class, communicate your expectations to them, and make clear to students that submitting work produced by an AI system as their own is not acceptable and is a violation of Baylor’s Honor Code.
Institutional & Administrative
- Baylor also gave faculty and staff access to Microsoft’s Bing Chat preview, indicating institutionally supported use for those groups
- Baylor provides faculty-facing AI guidance and says humans must retain final decision-making authority when AI is used in employment, financial, and mission-critical decisions
As AI-generated insights are increasingly used in making employment, financial, and mission-critical decisions, humans must retain the final decision-making authority.
Faculty who require essays may want to use these proactive strategies:
Baylor University Information Technology Services invites all faculty and staff to explore the new Bing Chat Enterprise service, which is powered by Microsoft and most easily accessible using Microsoft’s Edge web browser.
To try Bing Chat, users must have Microsoft Edge installed on their device and must be logged into their Baylor Microsoft account. Currently, this feature is only available for faculty and staff.
- Baylor requires review and approval before adoption of new generative AI platforms or chatbots developed by faculty, staff, or students
- It also restricts confidential data in non-public AI tools under data security standards and identifies Baylor-licensed GenAI platforms on its ITS resource page
3. Any new generative AI platforms and chatbots—including those developed by faculty, staff, and students—must undergo review and approval by BaylorITS and the Office of the Provost before adoption.
5. Confidential data should be restricted for non-public AI tools in compliance with data security standards.
## Select Baylor-Licensed GenAI Platforms
- Baylor has a formal AI governance structure and strategy
- The university maintains a Generative AI Working Group to explore AI use across campus, publishes institution-level AI guidelines, and created a Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence and Institutional Research role to lead strategic AI efforts
The Baylor Generative AI Working Group is composed of 18 members of the Baylor community who have been asked to serve as representatives in exploring the University’s use of artificial intelligence and related emerging technologies. The group gathers insights, identifies concerns, and highlights innovations related to AI across campus.
Baylor embraces Generative Artificial Intelligence as an effective tool to support the institution's education, research, and operation.
Additionally, I’m pleased to announce that Dr. Carini has been appointed as Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence and Institutional Research, also effective August 1. Dr. Carini has a long history of innovation and purposefully building new programs and initiatives at Baylor, and in this new role, he will lead the University’s strategic efforts in the rapidly evolving field of AI, collaborating with stakeholders across campus and within the broader community.
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 Baylor University's AI Policies
Baylor University has defined AI policies in 11 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 92%.
Baylor requires transparency in the use of AI in academic programs, with specific disclosure and documentation requirements for coursework determined by the instructor. Additionally, the university libraries provide students with specific guidance and examples on how to cite Generative AI tools in APA, MLA, and Chicago formats.
Baylor says AI policy violations are handled by academic dean’s offices and the Office of the Provost, and student misuse is reported to the Honor Council under the Honor Code. Baylor also discontinued Turnitin’s AI detection feature at the end of December 2023 because of uncertainty about its accuracy.
Baylor requires review and approval before adoption of new generative AI platforms or chatbots developed by faculty, staff, or students. It also restricts confidential data in non-public AI tools under data security standards and identifies Baylor-licensed GenAI platforms on its ITS resource page.