Teaching & Learning
- Use of AI in graded coursework is generally left to instructor discretion
- CalArts states that students must follow course- or assignment-specific guidance, and unauthorized use may be treated as plagiarism or cheating
- In admissions materials, applicants may use AI tools only in limited support roles and may not submit AI-generated or AI-edited portfolio, audition, or writing materials as their own
Since there is no universal consensus yet on how these technologies should be used in every course or context, each faculty member has the authority to decide whether AI tools are permitted in their classes and under what conditions. Students should carefully review each course syllabus and specific assignment guidelines to understand the instructor's expectations around AI use.
Depending on the instructor’s policy, using AI tools without permission may be considered a form of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or cheating, because it can involve presenting externally generated content as one’s own work.
Applicants may use AI tools to support brainstorming, organizing ideas, and suggesting edits in the process of creating writing responses, portfolios, and/or auditions. AI tools should not be used to create substantive portions of writing responses or to edit/create portfolio and/or audition submissions. It is important that all submission components honestly and authentically reflect students’ own work and creativity.
The use of AI to complete your application materials, responses, portfolio, or audition for you is not permitted and may disqualify your application or offer of admission.
- CalArts does not set a single university-wide rule for AI use in exams or assessments in the provided sources
- Instead, faculty decide whether AI tools are allowed in their classes and assignments, and students are expected to follow those directions; unauthorized use can be treated as academic dishonesty
Since there is no universal consensus yet on how these technologies should be used in every course or context, each faculty member has the authority to decide whether AI tools are permitted in their classes and under what conditions. Students should carefully review each course syllabus and specific assignment guidelines to understand the instructor's expectations around AI use.
Depending on the instructor’s policy, using AI tools without permission may be considered a form of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or cheating, because it can involve presenting externally generated content as one’s own work.
- Students are encouraged to think critically and verify AI outputs when using these tools
- CalArts permits faculty to decide whether AI may be used in their courses, and the institution emphasizes that users should evaluate outputs independently rather than rely on them uncritically
Whether using AI for research, writing, image generation, coding, or brainstorming, the same standards of academic honesty, originality, and attribution continue to apply.
Students and faculty should use critical judgment when working with AI-generated content, evaluating outputs for accuracy, bias, and appropriateness.
AI tools should not replace your own analysis, creativity, or effort unless explicitly permitted by the instructor.
- Programming-related AI use is addressed only through general course-level discretion rather than a distinct coding rule
- CalArts says faculty determine when AI tools are allowed, and students must not enter protected institutional data into third-party AI systems while using them
Since there is no universal consensus yet on how these technologies should be used in every course or context, each faculty member has the authority to decide whether AI tools are permitted in their classes and under what conditions. Students should carefully review each course syllabus and specific assignment guidelines to understand the instructor's expectations around AI use.
Examples of special/emerging technologies include but are not limited to: Artificial intelligence (AI) tools, machine learning and natural language processing services, code generation assistants, image generators, and similar cloud-based or external software with data handling capabilities.
If You use any AI or special/emerging technology to process, analyze, store, or generate output based on CalArts data, You may not input or upload: Protected data above Tier 0 as defined by the CalArts Data Classification Standard unless specifically authorized in writing by IT and the Data Owner;
Research
- CalArts does not provide a separate manuscript-writing policy in the provided sources
- Its general AI guidance applies to research and writing, requiring academic honesty, originality, attribution, and human critical judgment when using AI-generated content
Whether using AI for research, writing, image generation, coding, or brainstorming, the same standards of academic honesty, originality, and attribution continue to apply.
Students and faculty should use critical judgment when working with AI-generated content, evaluating outputs for accuracy, bias, and appropriateness.
- AI use involving research data is constrained by institutional data-protection rules
- Users may not upload CalArts protected data above Tier 0 into AI or other emerging technologies without written authorization, and any use of such tools with CalArts data must comply with the data classification standard and technology policies
If You use any AI or special/emerging technology to process, analyze, store, or generate output based on CalArts data, You may not input or upload: Protected data above Tier 0 as defined by the CalArts Data Classification Standard unless specifically authorized in writing by IT and the Data Owner;
Special/Emerging Technologies must only be used in ways that comply with: The CalArts Data Classification Standard; The CalArts Information Security Policies and Procedures; All applicable laws, regulations, and contractual obligations; and This Acceptable Use Policy and related technology policies.
- The provided sources do not set research-specific AI rules for grant proposals, IRB applications, or ethics declarations
- However, CalArts states broadly that AI use in research remains subject to academic honesty, originality, attribution, and critical evaluation of outputs
Whether using AI for research, writing, image generation, coding, or brainstorming, the same standards of academic honesty, originality, and attribution continue to apply.
Students and faculty should use critical judgment when working with AI-generated content, evaluating outputs for accuracy, bias, and appropriateness.
Academic Integrity
- CalArts requires transparency about AI use when required by an instructor or assignment
- The institution states that AI-assisted work may need acknowledgment and citation, and that standards of attribution continue to apply across research, writing, coding, and brainstorming
If your instructor or assignment requires disclosure of AI-assisted work, be transparent about the tools you used and how they contributed.
AI-generated content may need to be acknowledged and cited depending on the context and the instructor’s expectations.
Whether using AI for research, writing, image generation, coding, or brainstorming, the same standards of academic honesty, originality, and attribution continue to apply.
- The sources do not mention AI detection software
- They do state that using AI without permission may be treated as plagiarism or cheating, and misuse of institutional technology resources may trigger access restriction, disciplinary action, termination, or legal consequences under the acceptable use policy
Depending on the instructor’s policy, using AI tools without permission may be considered a form of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or cheating, because it can involve presenting externally generated content as one’s own work.
Violations of this AUP may result in temporary or permanent loss of access to CalArts technology resources, disciplinary action, termination of employment, or legal consequences, depending on the nature and severity of the offense.
Institutional & Administrative
- Faculty are empowered to set AI rules for their classes and assignments
- More broadly, faculty and staff may use AI and other emerging technologies only in compliance with data classification, information security, law, and related technology policies, and must avoid putting restricted CalArts data into such tools without authorization
Since there is no universal consensus yet on how these technologies should be used in every course or context, each faculty member has the authority to decide whether AI tools are permitted in their classes and under what conditions.
Special/Emerging Technologies must only be used in ways that comply with: The CalArts Data Classification Standard; The CalArts Information Security Policies and Procedures; All applicable laws, regulations, and contractual obligations; and This Acceptable Use Policy and related technology policies.
This policy applies to all CalArts community members and anyone else granted access to CalArts technology resources, including but not limited to faculty, staff, students, contractors, vendors, visiting artists, and guests.
- CalArts prohibits users from inputting CalArts protected data above Tier 0 into AI and similar emerging technologies unless IT and the data owner give written authorization
- The policy also bars entering confidential, regulated, proprietary, personal, or legally protected information into external tools unless explicitly approved, and requires compliance with the CalArts data classification and security framework
If You use any AI or special/emerging technology to process, analyze, store, or generate output based on CalArts data, You may not input or upload: Protected data above Tier 0 as defined by the CalArts Data Classification Standard unless specifically authorized in writing by IT and the Data Owner;
You may not enter or expose confidential, regulated, proprietary, personal, or legally protected information into any external technology platform unless explicitly approved and handled in accordance with applicable policy and law.
Special/Emerging Technologies must only be used in ways that comply with: The CalArts Data Classification Standard; The CalArts Information Security Policies and Procedures; All applicable laws, regulations, and contractual obligations; and This Acceptable Use Policy and related technology policies.
- CalArts frames its institutional approach as encouraging informed and ethical engagement with AI while recognizing that practices are still evolving
- The provided guidance does not establish a formal AI committee or roadmap, but it does articulate institution-level principles of critical use, academic integrity, attribution, and local faculty authority over classroom implementation
At CalArts, we encourage students and faculty to engage with AI thoughtfully, critically, and ethically.
As AI technologies become more common in education and creative practice, CalArts is committed to supporting informed and ethical engagement with these tools.
Since there is no universal consensus yet on how these technologies should be used in every course or context, each faculty member has the authority to decide whether AI tools are permitted in their classes and under what conditions.
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 the Arts's AI Policies
California Institute of the Arts has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
CalArts requires transparency about AI use when required by an instructor or assignment. The institution states that AI-assisted work may need acknowledgment and citation, and that standards of attribution continue to apply across research, writing, coding, and brainstorming.
The sources do not mention AI detection software. They do state that using AI without permission may be treated as plagiarism or cheating, and misuse of institutional technology resources may trigger access restriction, disciplinary action, termination, or legal consequences under the acceptable use policy.
CalArts prohibits users from inputting CalArts protected data above Tier 0 into AI and similar emerging technologies unless IT and the data owner give written authorization. The policy also bars entering confidential, regulated, proprietary, personal, or legally protected information into external tools unless explicitly approved, and requires compliance with the CalArts data classification and security framework.