Teaching & Learning
- Colorado State University states that AI use for graded coursework is not uniformly allowed; students must have explicit instructor permission to use AI for work they receive credit for
- CSU materials also provide sample syllabus approaches ranging from prohibition to conditional or limited use at the course level, indicating that practice is largely instructor-discretion within academic integrity rules
On this terrain, you must stop and get a permit from your trail guide (your instructor) before proceeding. Using AI for any work you get credit for requires their explicit permission.
Getting a “permit” means asking your instructor if, and how, you can use AI for a specific assignment. Every guide runs their trail differently.
Check with your instructor before using AI to help you:
* Write or co-author any part of a graded essay, lab report, or paper.
* Outline or organize your arguments for a graded assignment.
A Prohibitive Statement
You may NOT use AI when completing any assignments, assessments, or other work for credit in this course. You MAY use it to investigate, study, summarize, etc. course material, concepts, etc.
A Permissive (Conditional) Statement
You may only use generative AI in this class in specific ways. I will use a color-coded framework to make it clear HOW you can use AI and WHEN you can use it.
A Statement Allowing Limited & Guided Use
You are not authorized to use artificial intelligence to produce work for this class except on assignments that I have explicitly identified. On those assignments, you will receive significant guidance on the appropriate use of such technologies.
- CSU states that using AI on quizzes or exams without authorization is academic misconduct
- For take-home quizzes, exams, or other assessed work, students must obtain explicit instructor permission before using AI
Check with your instructor before using AI to help you:
* Complete any portion of a take-home quiz, exam, or assignment.
The #1 Rule of the Trail: When in doubt, ask your guide. An unauthorized trip here is considered academic misconduct.
Here are examples of AI use that are considered academic misconduct:
* Unauthorized exam assistance: Using an AI tool in any way to answer questions during a quiz or exam.
- CSU explicitly encourages AI use for personal learning and study support
- Acceptable uses include concept explanation, exploring course-related topics, and creating study aids, but students remain responsible for checking accuracy and quality
This trail is clear for you to explore. You are encouraged to use AI as your personal guide for learning and discovery. These activities are always acceptable:
* Getting Your Bearings: Use AI to explain a complex topic from class in a new way.
* Surveying the Landscape: Explore concepts related to your course. For example, ask it for a list of the key figures in a historical movement or the main debates in a scientific field.
* Training for the Climb: Create practice questions or flashcards to study for an exam.
Hiker’s Wisdom: Even on an open trail, you need to be smart. AI tools can sometimes lead you astray with wrong information (hallucinations). You are always responsible for verifying the facts and the quality of your work.
You may NOT use AI when completing any assignments, assessments, or other work for credit in this course. You MAY use it to investigate, study, summarize, etc. course material, concepts, etc.
- CSU treats AI-assisted code generation for credit-bearing work as requiring explicit instructor approval
- Submitting AI-generated code as one's own work without authorization is identified as academic misconduct
Check with your instructor before using AI to help you:
* Generate code or solve problems for credit.
Here are examples of AI use that are considered academic misconduct:
* Misrepresenting your skills: Submitting AI-generated code, formulas, or solutions and claiming them as your own work
Research
- The graduate school thesis and dissertation pages may also address AI use in scholarly work
- These sources were not retrieved in the original extraction and should be reviewed for a complete policy summary
- CSU likely has guidance on AI use in research writing and manuscript preparation available through the Writing Center AI statement, library AI citation guides, and the Interim AI Guidelines document
Possible relevant sources include: the CSU Writing Center AI statement (https://writingcenter.colostate.edu/ai-statement/), the library AI citation guide (https://libguides.colostate.edu/ai/cite), the Interim AI Guidelines PDF (https://www.ir.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2024/09/Interim-AI-Guidelines.pdf), and graduate thesis/dissertation pages. These pages were identified but not extracted; content should be retrieved to determine whether a policy exists.
- The Interim AI Guidelines document may contain additional institutional guidance on AI use in research data analysis and should be reviewed for completeness
- CSU restricts the use of AI tools with sensitive research data to three approved enterprise tools (CSU-GPT, Microsoft Copilot Chat with CSU NetID, and Microsoft Teams Premium), all operating within CSU's secure Microsoft Azure environment
Only three tools are currently approved for handling sensitive CSU data (such as research data, student information, or protected university records): CSU-GPT, Microsoft Copilot Chat (when logged in with your CSU NetID), and Microsoft Teams Premium. These are enterprise tools provided through CSU's Microsoft 365 agreement. They meet university security and compliance standards. Additional guidance may exist in the Interim AI Guidelines PDF (https://www.ir.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2024/09/Interim-AI-Guidelines.pdf).
- CSU's Data Governance Committee has issued governance guidelines emphasizing ethical, secure, and transparent AI use across research domains, including responsible data stewardship and human oversight
- However, the Interim AI Guidelines PDF likely contains more specific guidance on AI use in grant proposals, IRB applications, and formal research ethics declarations and should be retrieved to complete this classification
Developed by the CSU System Data Governance Committee, this resource outlines institutional guidelines for the ethical, secure, and transparent use of AI across administrative, research, clinical, and educational domains. It emphasizes responsible data stewardship, equity, and human oversight, offering classification-based protocols and principles for AI use. The Interim AI Guidelines PDF (https://www.ir.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2024/09/Interim-AI-Guidelines.pdf) was not retrieved but may contain specific research ethics provisions.
Academic Integrity
- Fabricating AI-generated citations or sources is also prohibited
- CSU's library AI citation guide likely provides specific guidance on how to attribute AI tool use and should be reviewed for a complete picture of attribution requirements
- CSU requires students to disclose AI use when an instructor has explicitly asked for such declaration; intentionally hiding AI use in those circumstances is academic misconduct
Here are examples of AI use that are considered academic misconduct: Undeclared use: Intentionally hiding your use of AI on an assignment where your instructor has explicitly asked you to declare it. Fabricating information: Including fake sources, data, or citations that an AI made up in a research paper or bibliography. Additional citation and attribution guidance may be available at https://libguides.colostate.edu/ai/cite.
- CSU states that unauthorized AI use on work for credit is academic misconduct and frames several specific behaviors as violations of academic integrity
- The supplied sources mention faculty discussion of AI detection tools, but they do not provide a binding university-wide detection-tool policy in the retrieved text
The #1 Rule of the Trail: When in doubt, ask your guide. An unauthorized trip here is considered academic misconduct.
This area is strictly off-limits. Entering it is a violation of CSU’s Academic Integrity Policy and misrepresents your own learning and effort. This applies to anything considered “work for credit” (graded, pass/fail, or marked as completed).
Here are examples of AI use that are considered academic misconduct:
* Unauthorized exam assistance: Using an AI tool in any way to answer questions during a quiz or exam.
* Undeclared use: Intentionally hiding your use of AI on an assignment where your instructor has explicitly asked you to declare it.
The Question Occasionally, I’m asked to recommend an AI detection program. Usually, I’m asked by our faculty because they are fed up, worried, and they want something to help them manage what they suspect is AI cheating in their courses.
Institutional & Administrative
- CSU provides faculty guidance for using generative AI in grading rather than an outright ban or mandate
- Faculty are expected to use AI responsibly, be transparent with students, maintain human oversight, and prioritize approved tools; course-level syllabus statements are also offered for instructors to set student-facing AI rules
The P.A.T.H. Framework is designed to guide Colorado State University faculty in the responsible use of generative AI tools for grading. It emphasizes transparency, ethical considerations, and maintaining human oversight to ensure AI use enhances learning outcomes while protecting student rights and privacy.
The P.A.T.H. Framework helps faculty reflect on four key principles when considering AI in grading:
* AI: Ensure responsible and secure use of AI tools.
* Transparency: Be open with students about how AI is used.
* Humanity: Keep human oversight and relationships central to the grading process.
* Have you consulted your department chair or leadership about the implications of using AI in grading?
* Are you prioritizing AI tools that are approved by CSU, such as Microsoft CoPilot, or RamGPT?
The right statement for your course will depend on your specific learning objectives. Below are several examples you can adopt or adapt.
- CSU explicitly limits use of sensitive university data to approved enterprise AI tools
- The university identifies only three currently approved tools for sensitive CSU data and emphasizes that they operate within secure environments and meet university security and compliance standards
What AI tools are approved for use with CSU sensitive data?
Only three tools are currently approved for handling sensitive CSU data (such as research data, student information, or protected university records):
* CSU-GPT
* CSU-GPT gives every student, faculty, and staff member a safe way to explore generative AI—inside CSU’s secure Microsoft Azure environment
* Microsoft Copilot Chat (When logged in with your CSU NetID)
* Microsoft Teams Premium
* Teams Premium provides meeting AI notes and recaps, much like other services like read.ai and otter.ai
* All conversations are kept within the CSU Microsoft Tenant, ensuring privacy
These are enterprise tools provided through CSU’s Microsoft 365 agreement. They meet university security and compliance standards.
- CSU has formal AI governance and strategy structures in place
- The university points to system governance guidelines for ethical, secure, and transparent AI use, and it has both a joint task force and an enterprise design team focused on integrating AI across teaching, research, operations, infrastructure, risk, privacy, and long-term adoption
AI Governance Guidelines
Developed by the CSU System Data Governance Committee, this resource outlines institutional guidelines for the ethical, secure, and transparent use of AI across administrative, research, clinical, and educational domains. It emphasizes responsible data stewardship, equity, and human oversight, offering classification-based protocols and principles for AI use.
The CSU System AI Task Force brings together experts from CSU Fort Collins and CSU Pueblo to enhance the integration of AI practices, processes, and technologies across both campuses. Our mission is to leverage existing strengths and develop innovative solutions in teaching, research, and operations.
### Expected Outcomes
* Assessment of current AI state
* Pilot program recommendations
* Resource planning
* Risk and privacy management
The Enterprise AI Technology Design Team is a cross-campus group of professionals from the Division of IT and Distributed IT units, brought together to help lay the technological foundation for CSU’s AI future. This 8-month initiative focuses on building the infrastructure, strategy, and skills needed to responsibly and effectively adopt artificial intelligence across the university.
To advance CSU’s technology environment in support of mission-aligned AI and data analytics goals—like improving student success—while addressing cybersecurity, scalability, and workforce readiness.
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 Colorado State University's AI Policies
Colorado State University has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
CSU requires students to disclose AI use when an instructor has explicitly asked for such declaration; intentionally hiding AI use in those circumstances is academic misconduct. Fabricating AI-generated citations or sources is also prohibited. CSU's library AI citation guide likely provides specific guidance on how to attribute AI tool use and should be reviewed for a complete picture of attribution requirements.
CSU states that unauthorized AI use on work for credit is academic misconduct and frames several specific behaviors as violations of academic integrity. The supplied sources mention faculty discussion of AI detection tools, but they do not provide a binding university-wide detection-tool policy in the retrieved text.
CSU explicitly limits use of sensitive university data to approved enterprise AI tools. The university identifies only three currently approved tools for sensitive CSU data and emphasizes that they operate within secure environments and meet university security and compliance standards.