Teaching & Learning
- The university indicates that appropriate/authorized AI use in coursework is set by the instructor for each class, and students should defer to those guidelines
- Use of generative AI to perform central requirements of coursework/assignments is treated as an academic integrity issue unless students have explicit instructor permission and provide complete attribution and citation for AI-assisted components
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas, data, illustrations, or statements of another person or source and presenting them as one's own. This includes using the assistance of artificial intelligence (A.I.) text generators to perform central requirements of an assignment (i.e. reading, synthesizing, interpreting, writing, coding, programming, etc.) without both the explicit permission of the instructor and complete attribution and citation of A.I. assisted components.
Additionally, faculty should offer, and students should defer to, guidelines about appropriate use of AI in coursework, or when such use is prohibited. Students should also be aware of the appropriate and authorized use of AI in each class as outlined by the instructor and in accordance with the University Academic Integrity Policies.
- The policy does not separately define exam-specific AI rules beyond these general academic integrity standards
- The academic integrity policy treats using unauthorized aids in examinations or other academic exercises submitted for evaluation as cheating, and also includes work generated through unsanctioned and/or undocumented AI assistance as an academic integrity violation
Cheating is the fraudulent or dishonest presentation of work. Cheating includes but is not limited to:
* the use or attempted use of unauthorized aids in examinations or other academic exercises submitted for evaluation;
* work generated through unsanctioned and/or undocumented artificial intelligence (A.I.) assistance.
- The provided sources do not define a university-wide policy explicitly permitting or prohibiting AI specifically for non-graded personal study/tutoring purposes
- Boston College’s generative AI guidance indicates that students should follow course-specific instructor guidelines about appropriate AI use in coursework (including when prohibited)
Additionally, faculty should offer, and students should defer to, guidelines about appropriate use of AI in coursework, or when such use is prohibited. Students should also be aware of the appropriate and authorized use of AI in each class as outlined by the instructor and in accordance with the University Academic Integrity Policies.
- The university also flags that unsanctioned and/or undocumented AI assistance constitutes an academic integrity violation
- Using AI tools to perform central requirements of an assignment, including coding/programming, is treated as plagiarism unless the student has explicit instructor permission and provides complete attribution and citation of AI-assisted components
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas, data, illustrations, or statements of another person or source and presenting them as one's own. This includes using the assistance of artificial intelligence (A.I.) text generators to perform central requirements of an assignment (i.e. reading, synthesizing, interpreting, writing, coding, programming, etc.) without both the explicit permission of the instructor and complete attribution and citation of A.I. assisted components.
* work generated through unsanctioned and/or undocumented artificial intelligence (A.I.) assistance.
Research
- BC research guidance states researchers should review AI-generated content carefully before using it in academic work due to risks such as inaccuracies and potential copyrighted material
- The guidance also states that AI tools cannot be authors and notes (via journal standards) that journals may require disclosure of AI-assisted technologies and description of how they were used, along with human responsibility for ensuring no plagiarism and appropriate attribution/citations
All researchers should review AI content carefully before using it in their academic work.
AI-generated content can be inaccurate, misleading, or entirely fabricated (sometimes called “hallucinations”), and may contain copyrighted material.
AI tools cannot meet the requirements for authorship as they cannot take responsibility for the submitted work.
According to ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) standards of submission, journals should require authors to disclose whether they used artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technologies (such as Large Language Models [LLMs], chatbots, or image creators) in the production of submitted work. Authors who use such technology should describe, in both the cover letter and the submitted work, how they used it. Authors should be able to assert that there is no plagiarism in their paper, including in text and images produced by the AI. Humans must ensure there is appropriate attribution of all quoted material, including full citations.
- The ITS position paper similarly warns not to enter sensitive/personal/confidential BC data or research data into AI systems due to retention and potential sharing
- BC research guidance warns that information shared with generative AI tools using default settings is not private, and directs researchers not to process sensitive, personal, or confidential data with AI tools, including not entering personally identifiable information
Information shared with generative AI tools using default settings is not private and could expose proprietary or sensitive information to unauthorized parties. Therefore, you should not process data that are sensitive, personal, or confidential with AI tools. You should not enter personally identifiable information into a generative AI tool for any purpose.
Whenever using or interacting with an AI system, such as when chatting online with ChatGPT, or asking an AI system to analyze or summarize data for you, be aware that any information you enter into the system can not only be processed but also retained and used by the AI to give answers to others. This means if you enter any personal information about yourself or any confidential Boston College information, that information will be stored and potentially shared with or sold to others. Do not share or enter any information that you consider sensitive, personal, or is confidential Boston College data or research data.
- For IRB-related research, BC states that if a researcher plans to use ChatGPT or other cloud software, they are required to complete the Get Tech process first, and the IRB cannot approve a protocol without that approval
- The guidance also states researchers should not use generative AI to code or transcribe confidential participant data unless participants are specifically informed; and it highlights confidentiality restrictions for grant review (NIH/NSF) and warns that inputting confidential information into generative AI can be considered a public disclosure for patent purposes or could breach non-disclosure obligations
If you plan to use ChatGPT or any other type of cloud software, you will be required to go through the Get Tech process first at www.bc.edu/gettech.This process ensures that any new purchase (or free download) of cloud software meets the numerous security, technical, support, and legal requirements of the University. The IRB cannot approve your protocol unless you have already received approval through this process.
You should not use generative AI to code or transcribe confidential participant data unless you are specifically telling participants that you will do so.
A June 2023 notice from NIH specifically prohibits the use of generative AI tools in grant reviews.
NSF reviewers are prohibited from uploading any content from proposals, review information and related records to non-approved generative AI tools.
Input of confidential information into generative AI - even of a novel idea - would be considered a public disclosure for patent purposes or per a non-disclosure agreement, leading to loss of patent rights or breach of our legal obligations.
Academic Integrity
- The research guidance also notes journal standards that may require disclosure and description of AI use in submitted work, and emphasizes that humans must ensure appropriate attribution and full citations
- For student academic work, the academic integrity policy requires both explicit instructor permission and complete attribution/citation for AI-assisted components when AI text generators are used for central requirements of an assignment; otherwise it is treated as plagiarism
This includes using the assistance of artificial intelligence (A.I.) text generators to perform central requirements of an assignment (i.e. reading, synthesizing, interpreting, writing, coding, programming, etc.) without both the explicit permission of the instructor and complete attribution and citation of A.I. assisted components.
According to ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) standards of submission, journals should require authors to disclose whether they used artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technologies (such as Large Language Models [LLMs], chatbots, or image creators) in the production of submitted work. Authors who use such technology should describe, in both the cover letter and the submitted work, how they used it.
Humans must ensure there is appropriate attribution of all quoted material, including full citations.
- BC’s academic integrity policy explicitly includes work generated through unsanctioned and/or undocumented AI assistance as an academic integrity violation
- The CTE teaching resource notes that AI-detection tools exist but highlights research and practical concerns, stating detectors are unreliable/biased and that running every submission through detectors is unsustainable and likely inaccurate
* work generated through unsanctioned and/or undocumented artificial intelligence (A.I.) assistance.
Research shows that detectors are unreliable and biased against several populations.
It is unsustainable for faculty to run every one of their students’ submissions through these services. It is not only an enormous time-consuming process, it is also likely that the services will be inaccurate.
Institutional & Administrative
- BC indicates that faculty should offer guidelines about appropriate AI use in coursework (or when prohibited) and that students should defer to instructor guidance for each class
- Separately, the AI tools page states that users should consult ITS and follow the University Technology Acquisition process before using or acquiring new AI tools for University business, and that all AI tool use must comply with applicable BC policies and procedures
Additionally, faculty should offer, and students should defer to, guidelines about appropriate use of AI in coursework, or when such use is prohibited. Students should also be aware of the appropriate and authorized use of AI in each class as outlined by the instructor and in accordance with the University Academic Integrity Policies.
To help protect your and Boston College’s interests, always consult with ITS and follow the University Technology Acquisition (bc.edu/gettech) process before using or acquiring new AI tools for University business. Remember that all use of AI tools must comply with applicable Boston College policies and procedures.
- BC guidance warns users not to enter sensitive, personal, or confidential information (including confidential BC information and research data) into AI systems due to privacy/retention risks
- The AI tools page states that all AI tool use must comply with applicable BC policies and procedures and directs users to consult ITS and use the University Technology Acquisition (Get Tech) process before using/acquiring new AI tools for University business
Whenever using or interacting with an AI system, such as when chatting online with ChatGPT, or asking an AI system to analyze or summarize data for you, be aware that any information you enter into the system can not only be processed but also retained and used by the AI to give answers to others. This means if you enter any personal information about yourself or any confidential Boston College information, that information will be stored and potentially shared with or sold to others. Do not share or enter any information that you consider sensitive, personal, or is confidential Boston College data or research data.
To help protect your and Boston College’s interests, always consult with ITS and follow the University Technology Acquisition (bc.edu/gettech) process before using or acquiring new AI tools for University business. Remember that all use of AI tools must comply with applicable Boston College policies and procedures.
- Boston College states that its generative AI website resources are designed to support the community’s safe, responsible, and ethical use of AI in accordance with university guidelines on AI use
- The Data Security Policy establishes a Data Security Committee chaired by the Executive Vice President and lists senior leadership membership, indicating an institutional governance structure for data security obligations relevant to AI use
The resources on this website are designed to support the Boston College community’s safe, responsible, and ethical use of AI, in accordance with University guidelines on AI use.
Data Security Committee. The Data Security Committee shall be chaired by the Executive Vice President and shall include the following Vice Presidents or their representatives: the Provost, the Financial Vice President and Treasurer, the Vice President for Information Technology, the Vice President for Human Resources, and the General Counsel.
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 Boston College's AI Policies
Boston College has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
For student academic work, the academic integrity policy requires both explicit instructor permission and complete attribution/citation for AI-assisted components when AI text generators are used for central requirements of an assignment; otherwise it is treated as plagiarism. The research guidance also notes journal standards that may require disclosure and description of AI use in submitted work, and emphasizes that humans must ensure appropriate attribution and full citations.
BC’s academic integrity policy explicitly includes work generated through unsanctioned and/or undocumented AI assistance as an academic integrity violation. The CTE teaching resource notes that AI-detection tools exist but highlights research and practical concerns, stating detectors are unreliable/biased and that running every submission through detectors is unsustainable and likely inaccurate.
BC guidance warns users not to enter sensitive, personal, or confidential information (including confidential BC information and research data) into AI systems due to privacy/retention risks. The AI tools page states that all AI tool use must comply with applicable BC policies and procedures and directs users to consult ITS and use the University Technology Acquisition (Get Tech) process before using/acquiring new AI tools for University business.