Teaching & Learning
- Fairfield University states that the use of AI in coursework depends on the instructor and course context
- Students may use AI only when the professor explicitly allows it and when they follow the professor’s conditions and the Academic Integrity Tutorial guidance; using AI without authorization is treated as plagiarism and a violation of academic integrity expectations
Fairfield University’s Academic Integrity Tutorial includes a section on Artificial Intelligence and Plagiarism. “The use of generative AI in higher education should support learning while preserving academic integrity. Guidelines for appropriate use may vary by course and instructor.” “Faculty may permit the use of AI tools under specific conditions to enhance learning. However, using AI beyond the professor's directions and parameters may violate academic integrity.” “Instructors can prohibit AI use in assignments or require disclosure and explanation of how students use these technologies.” “Always follow the guidance in the syllabus and ask if you are unsure.” “Unapproved use of AI is a form of plagiarism.” “Using AI to generate all or portions of your work without acknowledgment and permission is dishonest.” “Students should use generative AI tools as an aid to learning and with explicit permission from faculty.”
- Fairfield University does not publish a university-wide AI rule specifically for exams or quizzes in the provided sources
- The available guidance indicates that instructors may prohibit AI use in assignments and set course-specific rules, but no explicit examination-specific AI policy is defined in the provided materials
not defined
- Fairfield University permits AI to be used as a learning aid when faculty explicitly allow it
- The university frames acceptable use as supporting learning rather than replacing student work, and directs students to follow syllabus guidance and ask instructors when uncertain
“The use of generative AI in higher education should support learning while preserving academic integrity. Guidelines for appropriate use may vary by course and instructor.” “Faculty may permit the use of AI tools under specific conditions to enhance learning.” “Students should use generative AI tools as an aid to learning and with explicit permission from faculty.” “Always follow the guidance in the syllabus and ask if you are unsure.”
Research
- Fairfield University does not set a direct rule in the provided sources on using AI to draft or edit manuscripts, theses, or dissertations
- However, its research page advises researchers to review whether journals or conferences prohibit AI authorship and to avoid listing AI as an author when publishers do not allow it
“Before starting, one should first understand the requirements of the target publisher – does the Journal, Conference, etc. permit the use of AI generated writing, is the use of AI checked through software, does the Journal allow for AI generated images?” “Some publishers do not allow the use of AI and also require that AI not be listed as an author. As these rules are changing rapidly, one should always check the publisher's policy before using AI.”
- Its guidance also notes that federally funded projects may impose additional restrictions and that researchers should obtain necessary permissions before using AI in research workflows
- Fairfield University warns researchers not to submit sensitive or restricted research materials into public generative AI systems and emphasizes compliance with IRB and data-handling requirements
“Researchers must carefully review how these tools will be used in academic work and not enter any sensitive, restricted, or proprietary information into public AI systems. Any use of GenAI must also align with human subjects research protocols and federal funding requirements.” “For work involving human participants or restricted data, researchers must follow Fairfield University IRB guidance and obtain necessary approvals before using AI tools in analysis, drafting, or dissemination.” “not enter any sensitive, restricted, or proprietary information into public AI systems” “Review whether your data use agreement (DUA), funding agency, or research sponsor places restrictions on AI tool use.”
- Fairfield University requires researchers to follow IRB protocols, federal funding requirements, and publisher rules when using AI in research-related work
- For human subjects or restricted data, researchers must obtain appropriate approvals before using AI in analysis, drafting, or dissemination, and the university cautions that public AI systems may create privacy and confidentiality risks
“Researchers must carefully review how these tools will be used in academic work and not enter any sensitive, restricted, or proprietary information into public AI systems. Any use of GenAI must also align with human subjects research protocols and federal funding requirements.” “For work involving human participants or restricted data, researchers must follow Fairfield University IRB guidance and obtain necessary approvals before using AI tools in analysis, drafting, or dissemination.” “If your study involves student educational records or other protected information, GenAI tools may introduce privacy and confidentiality concerns. Consult the IRB and your department chair if uncertain.” “Before starting, one should first understand the requirements of the target publisher – does the Journal, Conference, etc. permit the use of AI generated writing, is the use of AI checked through software, does the Journal allow for AI generated images?”
Academic Integrity
- Fairfield University states that instructors may require disclosure of AI use and explanation of how students used the technology
- The university also treats unacknowledged AI-generated work as plagiarism, so transparency and permission are required when faculty set those conditions
“Instructors can prohibit AI use in assignments or require disclosure and explanation of how students use these technologies.” “Using AI to generate all or portions of your work without acknowledgment and permission is dishonest.” “Unapproved use of AI is a form of plagiarism.”
- Fairfield University does not define a specific institutional position on AI detection tools in the provided sources
- It does, however, state that unauthorized AI use is plagiarism and dishonest conduct, which places undisclosed or unapproved AI use within the university’s academic integrity enforcement framework
“Unapproved use of AI is a form of plagiarism.” “Using AI to generate all or portions of your work without acknowledgment and permission is dishonest.”
Institutional & Administrative
- Fairfield University encourages faculty and staff to engage with AI for teaching and administrative practice through workshops, showcases, and institutional resources
- The provided sources emphasize faculty development and pedagogical experimentation, but they do not establish a binding university-wide rule governing faculty use of AI for grading, recommendation letters, or administrative communications
“AI at Fairfield is a university-wide initiative aimed at helping our community understand, engage with, and thoughtfully integrate artificial intelligence into teaching, learning, scholarship, and service.” “Our goal is to provide faculty, staff, and students with resources, guidance, and opportunities to explore AI’s potential while remaining attentive to ethics, equity, academic integrity, and human-centered values.” “This showcase highlighted innovative examples of how Fairfield faculty are integrating artificial intelligence into teaching and learning.” “Faculty members from across disciplines shared practical classroom applications, pedagogical experiments, and reflections on how AI is reshaping the educational experience.”
- Fairfield University prohibits entering sensitive, restricted, or proprietary information into public AI systems in the research context
- The provided sources do not identify a university-wide approved AI platform list, but they do impose a clear data-protection restriction for AI use involving research and protected information
“Researchers must carefully review how these tools will be used in academic work and not enter any sensitive, restricted, or proprietary information into public AI systems.” “If your study involves student educational records or other protected information, GenAI tools may introduce privacy and confidentiality concerns. Consult the IRB and your department chair if uncertain.”
- Its stated strategy is to provide resources, guidance, and opportunities while emphasizing ethics, equity, academic integrity, and human-centered values
- Fairfield University has an institution-wide AI initiative focused on helping the community understand and integrate AI in teaching, learning, scholarship, and service
“AI at Fairfield is a university-wide initiative aimed at helping our community understand, engage with, and thoughtfully integrate artificial intelligence into teaching, learning, scholarship, and service.” “Our goal is to provide faculty, staff, and students with resources, guidance, and opportunities to explore AI’s potential while remaining attentive to ethics, equity, academic integrity, and human-centered values.”
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 Fairfield University's AI Policies
Fairfield University has defined AI policies in 11 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 92%.
Fairfield University states that instructors may require disclosure of AI use and explanation of how students used the technology. The university also treats unacknowledged AI-generated work as plagiarism, so transparency and permission are required when faculty set those conditions.
Fairfield University does not define a specific institutional position on AI detection tools in the provided sources. It does, however, state that unauthorized AI use is plagiarism and dishonest conduct, which places undisclosed or unapproved AI use within the university’s academic integrity enforcement framework.
Fairfield University prohibits entering sensitive, restricted, or proprietary information into public AI systems in the research context. The provided sources do not identify a university-wide approved AI platform list, but they do impose a clear data-protection restriction for AI use involving research and protected information.