Teaching & Learning
- Georgia Southern states that the use of AI in coursework is determined by the instructor rather than by a single university-wide allowance or ban
- Faculty are encouraged to explain in their syllabus and assignment directions whether AI use is prohibited, limited, or allowed with attribution, and students are directed to ask instructors when expectations are unclear
Given the broad range of courses taught at Georgia Southern University and the broad range of ways in which AI might be used in the completion of assignments, there is no one set of rules that can be applied to all courses. Instead, instructor expectations should be clear in the syllabus and assignment directions so that students know what is acceptable in a given course.
When use of AI by students is prohibited
The use of AI in this assignment is prohibited. You are expected to complete this assignment using your own original thoughts and words.
When use of AI by students is limited and acceptable with attribution
The use of AI tools in this assignment is acceptable to brainstorm, identify possible references or data points, and improve readability. You may not copy and paste generated text and submit it as your own. You are expected to cite all use of AI and to be able to explain and support all work submitted.
When use of AI by students is acceptable with no attribution requirement
This assignment includes opportunities to use AI support systems to support your work. You are expected to be thoughtful about the use of AI and to not violate academic integrity standards by representing AI generated work as your own. As with all academic work, if you use AI generated information, image, code, or output, ensure it is not inaccurate or misleading.
Generative artificial intelligence is increasingly available to us. Students, please talk with your instructor if you have questions about use of artificial intelligence in this class. Instructors, please indicate in your syllabus and communicate to students your expectation regarding student use of generative artificial intelligence in this class.
- The university does not provide a separate, university-wide AI rule specifically for exams or quizzes in the provided sources
- Instead, assessment use is left to instructor direction within course materials, with model syllabus language allowing instructors to prohibit AI for particular work
Given the broad range of courses taught at Georgia Southern University and the broad range of ways in which AI might be used in the completion of assignments, there is no one set of rules that can be applied to all courses. Instead, instructor expectations should be clear in the syllabus and assignment directions so that students know what is acceptable in a given course.
When use of AI by students is prohibited
The use of AI in this assignment is prohibited. You are expected to complete this assignment using your own original thoughts and words.
- Georgia Southern encourages educational use of AI as a learning support tool when used thoughtfully and critically
- The university describes AI as useful for tutoring-like functions such as clarifying concepts, generating examples, and helping students study, while also warning users to verify outputs because AI can be inaccurate, biased, or fabricated
Generative AI is a rapidly developing and promising technology. When used thoughtfully and critically, AI can be a useful tool to support teaching and learning.
Here are some ways that GenAI can support student learning:
• Learn about concepts and topics with the help of a chatbot
• Get examples and explanations of difficult concepts
• Review your learning materials and create flashcards
• Brainstorm ideas and create outlines for writing assignments
• Review your own writing and get feedback
• Get support for writing code
Information generated by AI can be misleading or fabricated. Students need to learn how to evaluate the information AI provides and use AI critically.
Use AI as a guide, not a final authority. Remember, while AI can be a valuable tool for explaining concepts or providing examples, it should complement—not replace—your engagement with peers, instructors, and class materials.
Double-check its responses against your course materials and ask your instructor if you are unsure about something.
- The university explicitly recognizes AI as a tool that can support coding, but it does not set a uniform rule for programming assignments across all courses
- Whether AI-generated code is allowed in coursework depends on instructor expectations, and students are warned to verify any AI-generated output for accuracy
Here are some ways that GenAI can support student learning:
• Get support for writing code
Given the broad range of courses taught at Georgia Southern University and the broad range of ways in which AI might be used in the completion of assignments, there is no one set of rules that can be applied to all courses. Instead, instructor expectations should be clear in the syllabus and assignment directions so that students know what is acceptable in a given course.
This assignment includes opportunities to use AI support systems to support your work. You are expected to be thoughtful about the use of AI and to not violate academic integrity standards by representing AI generated work as your own. As with all academic work, if you use AI generated information, image, code, or output, ensure it is not inaccurate or misleading.
Research
- For scholarly writing, Georgia Southern allows AI tools to be used in limited ways such as editing for readability, grammar, and syntax, but the human author remains fully responsible for the content
- AI cannot be listed as an author, and any substantive use beyond editorial assistance should be disclosed according to the standards of the relevant discipline, publication venue, or other governing body
As stated in the UMGC Library: "While there are no established citation standards for all disciplines for all contexts and uses of AI, some individual disciplines have developed standards for AI use in their own publications and journals. Most seem to agree that if you use AI in any way, you are responsible for saying how and why."
The recommendations from this committee are:
● Follow your discipline’s standards, if available
● Follow publication guidelines, if available
● Follow grant or funding body guidelines, if available
● Disclose the use of AI, if substantive, by the standards of your discipline/publication/grantor/other relevant body.
● AI should not be listed as an author.
The broad use of AI in editing to improve readability, grammar, and syntax with clear human oversight and review should be accepted.
The use of AI in generating ideas, finding references, and shaping, drafting, and revising manuscripts should be disclosed and should be compliant with standards and expectations of a given discipline/publication/grantor/other relevant body.
It is the responsibility of the researcher/author to verify the reliability and validity of all information included in a manuscript, regardless of whether this information is generated by AI.
- Georgia Southern permits research use of AI for tasks such as coding, literature review, and data analysis, but requires researchers to use AI intentionally, ethically, and with human validation
- Researchers remain responsible for checking AI-generated analyses and outputs, and they are cautioned against entering restricted, private, or non-public data into AI systems unless they are using an approved enterprise platform and complying with data governance requirements
Researchers can use GenAI throughout the stages of the research process. AI may be used to assist with:
• idea generation,
• coding and project design,
• literature review,
• grant writing,
• data analysis,
• manuscript formatting and editing,
• and visual and oral communication.
Most importantly, researchers should use AI intentionally and ethically.
It is the responsibility of the researcher/author to verify the reliability and validity of all information included in a manuscript, regardless of whether this information is generated by AI.
Do not submit restricted, private, unpublished, or copyrighted material to non-approved AI tools. Use of AI should be aligned with institutional policies on data governance and publication/research confidentiality norms.
Exercise caution with research data and any non-public, sensitive, protected, or confidential information. Any data, information, or text entered into a GenAI system should be reviewed to ensure it does not violate institutional or legal restrictions.
Researchers should use specialized AI applications, such as software packages accepted in their area of work, rather than public-facing general use systems, when possible.
- Georgia Southern requires IRB review when a study involves an AI intervention with human participants and treats such studies as human subjects research
- The university also bars the use of AI to write grant proposals submitted to federal agencies that prohibit it, and it places responsibility on researchers to disclose substantive AI use when required and to ensure research compliance and confidentiality
Q: If my research is using AI, does it require IRB review?
A: Yes, if your study involves a human subject interacting with an artificial intelligence intervention. More specifically, if your research includes a living person exposed to the intervention who contributes data through interaction or whose identifiable private information is used, the project is considered Human Subjects Research and requires IRB review.
Researchers may use AI tools in preparing grant proposals or progress reports if such use does not violate any USG, GSU, sponsor, or publication restrictions/guidelines. Researchers are encouraged to be aware of sponsor restrictions on AI use. For example, federal funding agencies prohibit AI use in proposal writing, and many agencies prohibit or limit AI use in technical and progress reports.
Do not use AI-generated text, images, or citations in federally funded grant proposals if the funding agency does not permit it.
Follow publication guidelines, if available
● Follow grant or funding body guidelines, if available
● Disclose the use of AI, if substantive, by the standards of your discipline/publication/grantor/other relevant body.
Use of AI should be aligned with institutional policies on data governance and publication/research confidentiality norms.
Academic Integrity
- Georgia Southern requires disclosure of AI use in some contexts and leaves other contexts to instructor direction
- In coursework, model language requires citation when AI is used in limited, supported ways; in research and scholarly writing, substantive AI use should be disclosed according to disciplinary, publication, or funder standards
When use of AI by students is limited and acceptable with attribution
The use of AI tools in this assignment is acceptable to brainstorm, identify possible references or data points, and improve readability. You may not copy and paste generated text and submit it as your own. You are expected to cite all use of AI and to be able to explain and support all work submitted.
As stated in the UMGC Library: "While there are no established citation standards for all disciplines for all contexts and uses of AI, some individual disciplines have developed standards for AI use in their own publications and journals. Most seem to agree that if you use AI in any way, you are responsible for saying how and why."
● Disclose the use of AI, if substantive, by the standards of your discipline/publication/grantor/other relevant body.
The use of AI in generating ideas, finding references, and shaping, drafting, and revising manuscripts should be disclosed and should be compliant with standards and expectations of a given discipline/publication/grantor/other relevant body.
- The provided sources do not establish a university-wide AI detection or enforcement regime based on AI-detection software
- Instead, the materials emphasize that students must be able to explain submitted work and that presenting AI output as one's own can violate academic integrity standards, but they do not specify detection tools or formal AI-specific penalties in the supplied documents
You may not copy and paste generated text and submit it as your own. You are expected to cite all use of AI and to be able to explain and support all work submitted.
This assignment includes opportunities to use AI support systems to support your work. You are expected to be thoughtful about the use of AI and to not violate academic integrity standards by representing AI generated work as your own.
Institutional & Administrative
- Georgia Southern encourages faculty and staff to use AI as a support tool for teaching, administrative work, and communication, but recommends human oversight and careful review of outputs
- The university specifically notes possible uses such as creating teaching materials, improving administrative efficiency, and drafting recommendation letters, while warning users not to upload sensitive information and to edit AI-generated content before use
Generative AI can support instructors, advisors, and staff in many areas of their work. Some possible uses of AI include:
• Generating ideas for class assignments, lesson plans, and activities
• Creating rubrics for assignments
• Developing examples, cases, simulations and roleplay scenarios
• Creating support materials to clarify difficult concepts or common student misconceptions
• Improving efficiency in administrative work
• Assisting with emails and communication
As a scholar/teacher, how should I think about using AI to draft recommendation letters?
Using AI to draft recommendation letters should be approached with caution and care. Specifically, individuals should be aware of the potential for plagiarism and “hallucination,” as well as the potential for disclosures of FERPA protected information or confidential information. A recommendation letter drafted with AI should be substantially revised and personally reviewed before being submitted.
Review all output from AI critically. Information generated by AI can be misleading or fabricated. AI can also reflect harmful bias and stereotypes.
Do not upload any sensitive, protected, or confidential information. This includes employee records, student information, and personal identifying information.
- Georgia Southern requires users not to enter sensitive, protected, or confidential information into public AI tools and directs them to review institutional guidance on data governance before using AI
- The university identifies Microsoft Copilot Chat as a licensed enterprise AI platform available through institutional Microsoft 365 accounts, while warning that non-approved AI tools should not receive restricted or unpublished materials
Do not upload any sensitive, protected, or confidential information. This includes employee records, student information, and personal identifying information.
In addition to considering FERPA and confidentiality issues, faculty and staff should review institutional guidance about use of AI and data governance.
Do not submit restricted, private, unpublished, or copyrighted material to non-approved AI tools. Use of AI should be aligned with institutional policies on data governance and publication/research confidentiality norms.
Microsoft Copilot Chat (formerly Bing Chat Enterprise) is an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that allows users to engage in AI-powered chat conversations and utilize various AI prompts within the web browser version. This platform offers enhanced security and privacy, and all conversations are protected under your institution’s Microsoft 365 account. The image creation capability remains available, but the data is not covered by your institution’s Microsoft 365 account.
Who can use Copilot Chat? Students, faculty, and staff can use Copilot Chat if they are a Georgia Southern faculty, staff, or student with an active Georgia Southern email account and are 18 years old or older.
- Georgia Southern has an institutional AI working group that produced recommendations and a set of guiding practices for campus AI use
- Its strategy emphasizes thoughtful adoption, human oversight, academic freedom for instructional decisions, data governance, and ongoing development of resources and training rather than a single prescriptive AI code
This resource was developed by the Georgia Southern University AI Working Group.
The AI Working Group was tasked by the Provost to make recommendations about the use of AI in teaching and learning activities at Georgia Southern University.
This report summarizes the work of the committee over the summer of 2024 as it met to discuss the use and impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on work of faculty and students at Georgia Southern University. This report should be read in conjunction with the first committee report (“AI is Here. Now What?”), which focused on broad recommendations and concerns regarding AI in teaching and learning. This second report addresses issues related to the use of AI in scholarship and research.
Most importantly, users of AI should think carefully about its use in relation to the work they are trying to accomplish. AI tools can support learning, teaching, research, and administrative work, but users should think carefully and intentionally about how AI is being used. Consider the following:
• Use AI intentionally.
• Review all output from AI critically.
• Do not upload any sensitive, protected, or confidential information.
• AI can support academic work but should not replace your own critical thinking, analysis, and work.
• Stay informed. Information about AI is rapidly evolving.
• Instructors should communicate expectations clearly. Use of AI by students should be communicated clearly in syllabi and assignment instructions.
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 Georgia Southern University's AI Policies
Georgia Southern University has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
Georgia Southern requires disclosure of AI use in some contexts and leaves other contexts to instructor direction. In coursework, model language requires citation when AI is used in limited, supported ways; in research and scholarly writing, substantive AI use should be disclosed according to disciplinary, publication, or funder standards.
The provided sources do not establish a university-wide AI detection or enforcement regime based on AI-detection software. Instead, the materials emphasize that students must be able to explain submitted work and that presenting AI output as one's own can violate academic integrity standards, but they do not specify detection tools or formal AI-specific penalties in the supplied documents.
Georgia Southern requires users not to enter sensitive, protected, or confidential information into public AI tools and directs them to review institutional guidance on data governance before using AI. The university identifies Microsoft Copilot Chat as a licensed enterprise AI platform available through institutional Microsoft 365 accounts, while warning that non-approved AI tools should not receive restricted or unpublished materials.