Teaching & Learning
- For undergraduate admission essays and application materials, AI may support the writing process, but the submitted work must remain substantially the applicant’s own and not AI-generated
- For general student coursework, Emerson does not set a single college-wide rule and states that legitimate versus illegitimate AI-assisted work is defined at the department and course level
The principles establish that transparency about AI use in creative processes is expected. Beyond that, what constitutes legitimate versus illegitimate AI-assisted work will be defined at the department and course level.
Building AI into a course assignment? Use the tools marked Supported and available to all users. Tools that rely on a free personal account, such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Grammarly, have daily usage caps and a paid upgrade path, so students reach the limit at different points. Requiring them for graded work creates an access gap between students.
You may use AI tools to support your writing process, but your essays and application materials must be substantially your own work—not AI-generated.
- Emerson does not define a specific AI rule for exams or quizzes in the AI guidance provided
- Existing academic integrity policies prohibit passing an examination by improper means, but they do not specifically address AI use in examinations
The attempt of any student to present as his or her own work, the work of another, or any work which he or she has not honestly performed, or to pass an examination by improper means, renders the offender liable to immediate suspension.
- Emerson explicitly encourages AI for learning support such as exploring unfamiliar topics, coding, and concepts with guided assistance
- The college also states an institutional commitment to AI literacy and to providing every student an opportunity to develop AI literacy relevant to their field
AI can be an incredible assistant for:
* Learning: Exploring unfamiliar topics, coding, or concepts with guided AI assistance.
Preparation for the job market increasingly requires familiarity and engagement with AI and emerging technologies. We commit to providing every student with the opportunity to develop AI literacy tailored to their respective professional fields.
Our principles do not require faculty to use AI tools in their pedagogy. They do establish that the College has an institutional commitment to AI literacy.
- In staff guidance, AI-generated code requires technical review before deployment, emphasizing human oversight for code use
- Emerson permits AI assistance for learning coding concepts, but it does not set a specific student policy for AI use in programming assignments
AI can be an incredible assistant for:
* Learning: Exploring unfamiliar topics, coding, or concepts with guided AI assistance.
If AI helps you write code, design workflows, or handle content outside your expertise, consult a colleague before using it. For example:
* AI-written code should not be deployed unless reviewed by technical staff
Research
- Emerson does not define a research-specific AI policy for research data workflows, but its AI safety guidance allows AI assistance with data analysis when validated
- The same guidance also prohibits entering personally identifiable, confidential, sensitive, or restricted data into AI tools unless authorized and says only de-identified, non-confidential data should be shared
AI can be an incredible assistant for:
* Data Analysis: Assisting with early insights into large datasets or reports (with validation).
Per the Data Governance Policy, unless authorized, do not enter:
* Personally identifiable information (PII)
* Confidential College data
* Sensitive or restricted data Even small bits of info, when combined, can create privacy risks. Only share de-identified, non-confidential data.
- It defines research misconduct as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism and applies across disciplines
- Emerson’s research misconduct policy does not mention AI specifically, but it applies to research proposing, performing, reviewing, and reporting
This document applies to allegations of research misconduct (fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results—see Section II.) involving a person who, at the time of the alleged research misconduct, was employed by, was an agent of, was under the authority of, or was affiliated by contract or agreement with this institution.
Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.
Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.
Academic Integrity
- Emerson’s broader principles also state that transparency about AI use in creative processes is expected
- If AI was used only to brainstorm, refine, or improve content the person developed themselves, the guidance says no disclosure is necessary
- Emerson expects disclosure when AI-generated content contributes substantial original language or ideas and is shared with others; the disclosure should identify the tool and generation date
If you use AI-generated content that contributes substantial, original language or ideas, particularly things you wouldn't otherwise be able to produce without it, and include that content in materials shared with others, you should clearly disclose it. Include:
* The name of the AI tool
* The date the content was generated
If you used AI to brainstorm, refine, or improve content you developed yourself, similar to how you might bounce ideas off a colleague, no disclosure is necessary.
The principles establish that transparency about AI use in creative processes is expected.
- Emerson’s provided policies do not state a position on AI detection tools
- For enforcement, suspected academic misconduct must be addressed by faculty immediately, reported to the department chair, and reviewed through the student conduct process; plagiarism and dishonest work can carry severe penalties including immediate suspension
Academic misconduct includes traditional textual plagiarism and its manifestations, including self-plagiarism (submitting work to meet a requirement in one class that was submitted to meet a requirement in another class without the explicit authorization of the class’s instructor), falsifying work or academic records, cheating, substitution of work or the work of another, actively participating in or condoning these activities with others, appropriating creative works of art in whole or part(images, sounds, lighting designs, audio tracks, scripts, etc).
Faculty members should speak with a student suspected of committing an act of academic misconduct immediately and report it to their department Chair without delay. Resolution of cases of academic misconduct will be reviewed in accordance with the Student Conduct Process.
The attempt of any student to present as his or her own work, the work of another, or any work which he or she has not honestly performed, or to pass an examination by improper means, renders the offender liable to immediate suspension.
Institutional & Administrative
- Faculty are not required to use AI in pedagogy
- Emerson’s AI use guide for staff permits AI for brainstorming, summarizing, drafting, editing, data analysis, visual design, and learning, but requires human input, oversight, and careful review
- Staff may not let AI fully draft, approve, and send communications without their input, may not let AI attend or summarize meetings they were not present in, and may not use AI to substitute for duties requiring human judgment
This guide supports thoughtful and transparent use of AI by staff with the goal of enhancing our work.
AI can be an incredible assistant for:
* Brainstorming: Generating ideas, outlines, or first drafts for creative or administrative work.
* Summarizing: Condensing long documents, transcripts, or meeting notes into digestible insights.
* Writing & Editing: Drafting memos, reports, presentations, or emails (as long as you review and personalize the results).
* Data Analysis: Assisting with early insights into large datasets or reports (with validation).
AI can help you do your job, but it shouldn’t do your job for you. AI should not:
* Fully draft, approve, and send communications without your input
* Attend or summarize meetings independently, without you having been present
* Substitute for job duties. Use it to get started, generate a rough draft, or automate low-risk repetitive tasks—but always review the results with care.
Our principles do not require faculty to use AI tools in their pedagogy.
- Emerson also identifies institutionally supported tools such as Gemini, NotebookLM, Adobe AI, Zoom AI Companion, and Canva under enterprise arrangements
- The college directs users to vetted or approved platforms and requires security review before departments purchase or enable new AI tools for broader use
- Emerson prohibits entering personally identifiable, confidential, sensitive, restricted, or proprietary college data into public or unauthorized AI systems unless authorized, and says only de-identified, non-confidential data should be shared
We prohibit the input of sensitive, confidential, or proprietary College data into public or unauthorized AI systems.
Per the Data Governance Policy, unless authorized, do not enter:
* Personally identifiable information (PII)
* Confidential College data
* Sensitive or restricted data Even small bits of info, when combined, can create privacy risks. Only share de-identified, non-confidential data.
Stick to vetted tools or platforms approved by Emerson. Tools from lesser-known companies may not meet our privacy, security, or ethical standards.
Before a department enables or purchases a new AI tool for broader use, it must undergo a security review per the Procurement Policy, just as with any application that will store College data.
Emerson IT offers two of Google's AI productivity tools for students, faculty, and staff: Gemini and Gemini Notebook. Both are now available under Emerson's Google Workspace for Education environment.
This feature is now available to all Emerson Zoom users with privacy-focused defaults.
- Its 2025–2030 strategic plan also calls for integrating AI and other emerging technologies across curricula, facilities, and co-curricular activities, with continuing assessment and implementation milestones
- Emerson has a defined institutional AI framework built around guiding principles, annual review, AI literacy commitments, academic infrastructure for departmental standards, and an Emerging Tech Initiative that involves leadership, chairs, deans, faculty, and staff
These principles guide our approach, with the ambition that Emerson helps set the standard for creative, innovative, and responsible use.
These principles are not static. We will review and update this document annually to remain aligned with technological and professional shifts and ethical concerns.
Emerson has also established a set of AI Guiding Principles and launched a strategic initiative focused on three areas: AI literacy training for students, faculty, and staff; academic infrastructure to help departments develop standards and expectations for AI in their fields; and a public-facing web presence that catalogs our principles, highlights AI-related courses, and showcases how our community is engaging with these technologies.
The initiative is co-led by IT and Academic Affairs leadership, in consultation and collaboration with academic chairs and deans and the Emerging Tech Initiative.
Build experiential components within the curriculum focused on emerging innovations such as artificial intelligence, starting in the first year and infused throughout the curricula.
This new initiative will help the College rethink how emerging technology interacts with students, faculty, and staff in a forward-thinking manner. It will focus on expanding support for teaching that goes beyond traditional models. This effort will also establish an ongoing assessment process to ensure cutting-edge technologies remain embedded in current facilities, curricula, and organizational structures. This approach will facilitate the seamless integration of emerging technologies such as XR and AI into academic and co-curricular activities, ensuring the continuous strategic and creative use of facilities in Emerson’s unique context.
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 Emerson College's AI Policies
Emerson College has defined AI policies in 11 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 92%.
Emerson expects disclosure when AI-generated content contributes substantial original language or ideas and is shared with others; the disclosure should identify the tool and generation date. If AI was used only to brainstorm, refine, or improve content the person developed themselves, the guidance says no disclosure is necessary. Emerson’s broader principles also state that transparency about AI use in creative processes is expected.
Emerson’s provided policies do not state a position on AI detection tools. For enforcement, suspected academic misconduct must be addressed by faculty immediately, reported to the department chair, and reviewed through the student conduct process; plagiarism and dishonest work can carry severe penalties including immediate suspension.
Emerson prohibits entering personally identifiable, confidential, sensitive, restricted, or proprietary college data into public or unauthorized AI systems unless authorized, and says only de-identified, non-confidential data should be shared. The college directs users to vetted or approved platforms and requires security review before departments purchase or enable new AI tools for broader use. Emerson also identifies institutionally supported tools such as Gemini, NotebookLM, Adobe AI, Zoom AI Companion, and Canva under enterprise arrangements.