Teaching & Learning
- Example syllabus language provided includes approaches ranging from fully prohibiting AI use for submitted work to encouraging AI use for assignments with required acknowledgment/citation and student responsibility for outputs
- Harvard FAS instructor guidance requires faculty to communicate course-specific generative AI rules to students (e.g., forbidden, permitted, or encouraged), and notes that AI policies can differ across classes with responsibility on students to follow each course’s expectations
All faculty are required to inform students of the policies governing generative AI use in class.
Whether students in your course are forbidden from using ChatGPT or expected to explore its limits, a policy helps ensure that your expectations for appropriate interaction with generative AI tools are clear to students.
You can choose from among the below example policies to add to your Canvas site, or you can design your own to suit the needs of your course.
We expect that all work students submit for this course will be their own.
We specifically forbid the use of ChatGPT or any other generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools at all stages of the work process, including preliminary ones.
Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct.
We draw your attention to the fact that different classes at Harvard could implement different AI policies, and it is the student’s responsibility to conform to expectations for each course.
This course encourages students to explore the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools such as ChatGPT for all assignments and assessments.
Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.
It is each student’s responsibility to assess the validity and applicability of any GAI output that is submitted; you bear the final responsibility.
Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct.
Certain assignments in this course will permit or even encourage the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools such as ChatGPT.
The default is that such use is disallowed unless otherwise stated.
Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.
It is each student’s responsibility to assess the validity and applicability of any GAI output that is submitted; you bear the final responsibility.
Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct.
- Overall, the approach presented is course-specific: instructors set the policy and students must follow the policy for each class
- Harvard FAS instructor guidance indicates exam/quiz controls may be used to prevent AI use unless the course permits it, and provides sample policies that can allow AI for assessments if acknowledged/cited
Starting in Fall 2025, faculty can find Respondus, a new browser lockdown tool, on their Canvas site(s) to use for in-person seated exams and quizzes to ensure that students do not use AI unless the course asks them to do so.
This course encourages students to explore the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools such as ChatGPT for all assignments and assessments.
Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.
We draw your attention to the fact that different classes at Harvard could implement different AI policies, and it is the student’s responsibility to conform to expectations for each course.
Research
- Harvard Medical School IT guidance recommends citing AI contributions appropriately in research and academic work, and HMS academic/research integrity guidance states that AI tools cannot be listed as an author on a paper
Cite AI contributions appropriately in research and academic work.
AI Tools cannot be listed as an author on a paper.
- The guidance states most AI tools are approved for Level 3 and below, and requires contacting HMS IT before proceeding for Level 4 or regulated data; it also references compliance with regulations such as HIPAA, FERPA, and sponsor-specific requirements
- Harvard Medical School IT guidance states users must comply with Harvard data and security policies before using generative AI tools, including avoiding entry of confidential information into public-facing AI platforms and classifying data appropriately
Before using any generative AI tools, ensure you're complying with Harvard’s data and security policies:
Avoid entering confidential information (Level 2 and above) into public-facing AI platforms.
Classify your data appropriately. Most AI tools are approved for Level 3 and below. For Level 4 or regulated data, contact hms-it-ai@hms.harvard.edu before proceeding.
Comply with regulations such as HIPAA, FERPA, and sponsor-specific data requirements.
You should not enter data classified as confidential (Level 2 and above), including non-public research data, into publicly-available generative AI tools, in accordance with the University’s Information Security Policy.
- Harvard Medical School IT guidance frames responsible AI use as requiring verification of outputs, upholding academic integrity, transparency, and appropriate citation in research/academic work
- HMS academic/research integrity guidance also states that confidential (including non-public research) data should not be entered into publicly-available generative AI tools and that AI tools cannot be listed as an author on a paper
Responsible AI use at HMS includes ethical, transparent practices:
Verify outputs. AI-generated content may be incorrect or fabricated. Always fact-check before using or publishing results.
Uphold academic integrity. Follow faculty or student handbook policies. Be transparent with students and colleagues about acceptable use.
Cite AI contributions appropriately in research and academic work.
You should not enter data classified as confidential (Level 2 and above), including non-public research data, into publicly-available generative AI tools, in accordance with the University’s Information Security Policy.
AI Tools cannot be listed as an author on a paper.
Academic Integrity
- Harvard FAS instructor guidance provides sample course policies stating that when AI use is allowed, it must be acknowledged and cited
- HMS IT guidance similarly recommends citing AI contributions appropriately in research and academic work and calls for transparency with students and colleagues about acceptable use
Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.
Any such use must be appropriately acknowledged and cited.
Be transparent with students and colleagues about acceptable use.
Cite AI contributions appropriately in research and academic work.
- The sample AI syllabus policies provided state that violations of the course AI policy will be considered academic misconduct
- Harvard FAS instructor guidance notes availability of Respondus as a browser lockdown tool for in-person seated exams and quizzes to ensure students do not use AI unless the course asks them to
Starting in Fall 2025, faculty can find Respondus, a new browser lockdown tool, on their Canvas site(s) to use for in-person seated exams and quizzes to ensure that students do not use AI unless the course asks them to do so.
Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct.
Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct.
Violations of this policy will be considered academic misconduct.
Institutional & Administrative
- HMS IT guidance recommends ethical and transparent practices including verifying outputs and being transparent with students and colleagues about acceptable use
- Harvard FAS guidance requires faculty to inform students of the generative AI policies governing AI use in class and recommends posting the policy on the Canvas site
All faculty are required to inform students of the policies governing generative AI use in class.
More specifically, you should post your policy on your Canvas site.
Responsible AI use at HMS includes ethical, transparent practices:
Verify outputs. AI-generated content may be incorrect or fabricated. Always fact-check before using or publishing results.
Uphold academic integrity. Follow faculty or student handbook policies. Be transparent with students and colleagues about acceptable use.
- HMS IT guidance instructs users to comply with Harvard data/security policies before using generative AI, including avoiding entry of confidential information into public-facing AI platforms, classifying data, and seeking review/permission before using Level 4 or regulated data
- HMS academic/research integrity guidance similarly states confidential (Level 2 and above) data (including non-public research data) should not be entered into publicly-available generative AI tools, and lists tools it states can be used for Level 3 and below (including Harvard AI Sandbox and OpenAI ChatGPT Edu)
Before using any generative AI tools, ensure you're complying with Harvard’s data and security policies:
Avoid entering confidential information (Level 2 and above) into public-facing AI platforms.
Classify your data appropriately. Most AI tools are approved for Level 3 and below. For Level 4 or regulated data, contact hms-it-ai@hms.harvard.edu before proceeding.
You should not enter data classified as confidential (Level 2 and above), including non-public research data, into publicly-available generative AI tools, in accordance with the University’s Information Security Policy.
Level 3 data and below can be used with the following tools:
Harvard AI Sandbox
OpenAI ChatGPT Edu
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 Harvard University's AI Policies
Harvard University has defined AI policies in 9 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 75%.
Harvard FAS instructor guidance provides sample course policies stating that when AI use is allowed, it must be acknowledged and cited. HMS IT guidance similarly recommends citing AI contributions appropriately in research and academic work and calls for transparency with students and colleagues about acceptable use.
Harvard FAS instructor guidance notes availability of Respondus as a browser lockdown tool for in-person seated exams and quizzes to ensure students do not use AI unless the course asks them to. The sample AI syllabus policies provided state that violations of the course AI policy will be considered academic misconduct.
HMS IT guidance instructs users to comply with Harvard data/security policies before using generative AI, including avoiding entry of confidential information into public-facing AI platforms, classifying data, and seeking review/permission before using Level 4 or regulated data. HMS academic/research integrity guidance similarly states confidential (Level 2 and above) data (including non-public research data) should not be entered into publicly-available generative AI tools, and lists tools it states can be used for Level 3 and below (including Harvard AI Sandbox and OpenAI ChatGPT Edu).