Teaching & Learning
- This HSS policy explicitly covers assignments of all sizes (including problem sets and discussion posts)
- Separately, Caltech’s institute-level guidance states that when using GenAI to write, community members should follow course-instructor guidance
- For HSS courses, student use of generative AI for submitted work is at instructor discretion: students may use generative AI only in ways explicitly allowed by the course instructor, and any use not specifically allowed is disallowed
At present, students submitting work for HSS courses may use generative AI tools only in ways that are explicitly allowed by the course instructor in the course materials. Any usage that is not specifically allowed should be assumed to be disallowed. This policy applies to all assignments, including major papers and exams as well as smaller assignments like discussion board posts, reflections, and problem sets.
When using GenAI to write or publish, please make sure to follow the guidance provided by the course instructor or journal or manuscript publisher/editor.
- For HSS courses, the HSS generative AI policy states that generative AI use is only permitted when explicitly allowed by the course instructor, and it explicitly includes exams within its scope
- Separately, Caltech’s CTLO guidance notes that proctored or oral exams can help ensure answers are authentically students’ own, particularly in the age of AI, but it does not state specific AI tool rules for exams
At present, students submitting work for HSS courses may use generative AI tools only in ways that are explicitly allowed by the course instructor in the course materials. Any usage that is not specifically allowed should be assumed to be disallowed. This policy applies to all assignments, including major papers and exams as well as smaller assignments like discussion board posts, reflections, and problem sets.
At times, the most effective assessment strategy (especially in the age of AI) is to give a proctored or oral exam to students. This can ensure that student answers are authentically their own.
- HSS course policy language addresses “submitting work” rather than general studying, and does not explicitly define non-graded study assistance permissions
- Caltech’s provost/COO guidance encourages responsible use of GenAI/LLM tools in education at Caltech and requires disclosure when using GenAI, but it does not explicitly define whether or how students may use AI for non-graded study assistance
We write to provide initial guidance to encourage the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and large language model (LLM) tools and technologies, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Dall-E and Google's Bard in research, education, and administrative work at Caltech.
Disclosure: When using GenAI, always disclose promptly, or reference the use of GenAI tools and application plug-ins, as applicable.
- The Hixon Writing Center resource lists examples of code-writing AI tools, but does not state a student policy for graded programming work
- Caltech’s provost/COO guidance provides general institute-level principles for responsible GenAI/LLM use (including disclosure and following course requirements), but it does not explicitly define permissions or prohibitions for AI code generation in programming assignments
These include, but are not limited to, ensuring protection of confidential, personal, or business information and intellectual property, and adherence to the honor code, course requirements, research integrity, and publication ethics.
Disclosure: When using GenAI, always disclose promptly, or reference the use of GenAI tools and application plug-ins, as applicable.
Code Writing
GitHub CoPilot
Amazon's CodeWhisperer
Tabnine
Research
- Caltech’s provost/COO guidance requires disclosure when using GenAI and states that when using GenAI to write or publish, community members should follow the requirements of the course instructor or the journal/publisher/editor
- It notes that requirements may differ (e.g., some may require GenAI to be included as an author while others may require acknowledgement), but it does not establish a single institute-wide rule beyond disclosure and following the relevant venue’s guidance
Disclosure: When using GenAI, always disclose promptly, or reference the use of GenAI tools and application plug-ins, as applicable.
When using GenAI to write or publish, please make sure to follow the guidance provided by the course instructor or journal or manuscript publisher/editor. For example, some may require that the GenAI be included as an author, others may simply require acknowledgement.
- IMSS guidance advises special consideration when using AI tools with sensitive/private information and intellectual property, but does not provide detailed rules specific to research data analysis
- Caltech’s provost/COO guidance addresses responsible use of GenAI/LLM tools in research and emphasizes protection of information and intellectual property, but it does not explicitly define what kinds of research data or analysis tasks may be performed using AI tools
We write to provide initial guidance to encourage the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and large language model (LLM) tools and technologies, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Dall-E and Google's Bard in research, education, and administrative work at Caltech.
These include, but are not limited to, ensuring protection of confidential, personal, or business information and intellectual property, and adherence to the honor code, course requirements, research integrity, and publication ethics.
Special consideration should be taken when using AI tools with sensitive, private information, and intellectual property. When in doubt, contact Information Security for guidance at [email protected].
- Caltech’s provost/COO guidance explicitly connects GenAI/LLM use to research integrity and publication ethics, and includes Caltech’s Honor Code as a guiding principle that extends to GenAI use
- It does not explicitly define AI rules for grant proposals, IRB applications, or specific research compliance workflows, but it frames responsible use as requiring adherence to research integrity and publication ethics and avoiding unfair advantage
These include, but are not limited to, ensuring protection of confidential, personal, or business information and intellectual property, and adherence to the honor code, course requirements, research integrity, and publication ethics.
Honor Code: Caltech's honor code underscores the importance of ethical conduct and fairness and extends to the use of GenAI tools and is stated as follows: "No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community."
Academic Integrity
- For HSS courses, students are expected to follow course-specific guidance for documenting any permitted use, and students are directed to contact the professor if unsure
- Caltech’s institute-level guidance requires prompt disclosure when using GenAI and frames transparency as a way to reduce misunderstandings and potential academic dishonesty or plagiarism claims
- The HSS plagiarism guidelines also caution that generative AI outputs may include human authors’ work and state that it is the student author’s responsibility not to take credit for others’ ideas/words as their own
Disclosure: When using GenAI, always disclose promptly, or reference the use of GenAI tools and application plug-ins, as applicable. This transparent disclosure ensures that others are aware when GenAI was used to generate content and reduces misunderstandings regarding the source of information, potentially limiting claims of academic dishonesty or plagiarism.
Students will also be expected to follow specific course guidance for documenting any permitted use of these tools.
If you have questions about whether a particular use of a generative AI tool is expected, allowed, or disallowed for an assignment, contact your professor before you submit work.
Be aware that generative AI outputs may include human authors' ideas, processes, results, or words. Generative AI tools based on large language models (LLMs) are trained on huge data sets of human-authored texts. Sometimes, generative AI tools may not explicitly and accurately disclose that their outputs contain work borrowed from human authors. As the author of a text, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure you are not taking credit for a human author’s ideas, processes, results, or words and presenting them as your own.
- The provided Caltech sources do not define an institutional stance on AI detection tools (e.g., Turnitin/GPT detectors) or describe enforcement mechanisms specific to AI use
- The provost/COO guidance discusses disclosure as potentially limiting claims of academic dishonesty or plagiarism, and the HSS generative AI policy states that disallowed use should be assumed disallowed, but no detection or penalty process is specified in the provided texts
This transparent disclosure ensures that others are aware when GenAI was used to generate content and reduces misunderstandings regarding the source of information, potentially limiting claims of academic dishonesty or plagiarism.
At present, students submitting work for HSS courses may use generative AI tools only in ways that are explicitly allowed by the course instructor in the course materials. Any usage that is not specifically allowed should be assumed to be disallowed.
Institutional & Administrative
- It also states that Caltech reserves the right to disable or limit access to AI companion tools in enterprise business software (such as Zoom and Microsoft Office suites)
- The provided sources do not explicitly define rules for faculty/staff use of AI in grading, feedback, recommendation letters, or other specific instructional/HR workflows
- Caltech’s provost/COO guidance applies to “research, education, and administrative work at Caltech” and sets general principles (including disclosure and honoring the honor code)
We write to provide initial guidance to encourage the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and large language model (LLM) tools and technologies, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Dall-E and Google's Bard in research, education, and administrative work at Caltech.
Caltech is considering a subscription to a restricted GenAI and will keep you apprised of its progress in securing such a service. In the meantime, Caltech has and continues to reserve the right to disable or limit access to AI companion tools in enterprise business software and applications, such as Zoom and Microsoft Office suites.
Disclosure: When using GenAI, always disclose promptly, or reference the use of GenAI tools and application plug-ins, as applicable.
- Caltech’s provost/COO guidance includes “data and information protection” as a guiding principle and emphasizes protecting confidential/personal/business information and intellectual property
- IMSS also publishes an “AI Tools at Caltech” page listing certain tools and their availability status (e.g., Zoom AI Companion available; Microsoft 365 Copilot and OpenAI Chat GPT4 under review by IMSS)
- IMSS guidance states Caltech does not have contracts/agreements for most AI tools/services, and therefore security/privacy/compliance provisions are not in place for those tools; it advises special consideration when using AI tools with sensitive/private information and IP and to contact Information Security when in doubt
These include, but are not limited to, ensuring protection of confidential, personal, or business information and intellectual property, and adherence to the honor code, course requirements, research integrity, and publication ethics.
Caltech does not have a contract or agreement for most AI tools or services. As a result, security, privacy, and compliance provisions are not in place when using these tools.
Special consideration should be taken when using AI tools with sensitive, private information, and intellectual property. When in doubt, contact Information Security for guidance at [email protected].
AI Tool Availability Cost
Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) Copilot Under Review by IMSS $30/user/month
Microsoft 365 Copilot for Windows 11 Available Free
Zoom AI Companion Available Free
Open AI Chat GPT4 Under Review by IMSS TBD
- The provided sources do not describe a specific institute-wide AI governance body, committee, or formal strategy/roadmap beyond these evaluation statements
- IMSS states it and the Institute are continuing to evaluate AI use within higher education, including security, privacy, and ethical considerations, and that benefits and risks must be continually evaluated
- Caltech’s provost/COO guidance describes the guidance as “initial,” notes that GenAI/LLM technologies are evolving rapidly, and states that Caltech is considering a subscription to a restricted GenAI service
We write to provide initial guidance to encourage the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and large language model (LLM) tools and technologies, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Dall-E and Google's Bard in research, education, and administrative work at Caltech.
GenAI and LLM technologies have evolved rapidly in their use and application this past year and are expected to continue to evolve in ways society cannot predict. Likewise, our guidance for the appropriate use of these tools is written for the present moment and will likely evolve alongside the technology.
Caltech is considering a subscription to a restricted GenAI and will keep you apprised of its progress in securing such a service.
IMSS and the Institute continue to evaluate the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and its use within higher education. There are questions particularly around security, privacy, and ethical considerations. This field continues to evolve rapidly and as such we need to continue to evaluate its benefits and risks.
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 California Institute of Technology's AI Policies
California Institute of Technology has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
Caltech’s institute-level guidance requires prompt disclosure when using GenAI and frames transparency as a way to reduce misunderstandings and potential academic dishonesty or plagiarism claims. For HSS courses, students are expected to follow course-specific guidance for documenting any permitted use, and students are directed to contact the professor if unsure. The HSS plagiarism guidelines also caution that generative AI outputs may include human authors’ work and state that it is the student author’s responsibility not to take credit for others’ ideas/words as their own.
The provided Caltech sources do not define an institutional stance on AI detection tools (e.g., Turnitin/GPT detectors) or describe enforcement mechanisms specific to AI use. The provost/COO guidance discusses disclosure as potentially limiting claims of academic dishonesty or plagiarism, and the HSS generative AI policy states that disallowed use should be assumed disallowed, but no detection or penalty process is specified in the provided texts.
Caltech’s provost/COO guidance includes “data and information protection” as a guiding principle and emphasizes protecting confidential/personal/business information and intellectual property. IMSS guidance states Caltech does not have contracts/agreements for most AI tools/services, and therefore security/privacy/compliance provisions are not in place for those tools; it advises special consideration when using AI tools with sensitive/private information and IP and to contact Information Security when in doubt. IMSS also publishes an “AI Tools at Caltech” page listing certain tools and their availability status (e.g., Zoom AI Companion available; Microsoft 365 Copilot and OpenAI Chat GPT4 under review by IMSS).