Teaching & Learning
- Use of AI in graded coursework is at instructor discretion unless an instructor has prohibited it
- Students are told to review course-specific policies carefully, and unauthorized use can be treated as academic dishonesty under the student conduct code
Faculty have the authority to regulate the use of AI in their courses based on their educational goals, and students should carefully review course-specific policies and seek clarification from their instructors.
When using generative AI, use it in ethical ways. Follow all guidance from your faculty member for use in your courses and assignments. Review the Student Code of Conduct and AI guidance from your instructor.
Misrepresenting another's work as one's own due to inadequate citation, not referencing an AI source as instructed, or using AI technology when not authorized by an instructor may be considered forms of academic dishonesty.
Unauthorized use or assistance from another person, artificial intelligence, or source on examinations, projects, reports, papers, and/or other assignments used as a basis for determining a grade.
- AI use during examinations and other graded assessments is not allowed when unauthorized
- The student conduct code expressly includes unauthorized assistance from artificial intelligence on examinations among forms of academic dishonesty
Unauthorized use or assistance from another person, artificial intelligence, or source on examinations, projects, reports, papers, and/or other assignments used as a basis for determining a grade.
Misrepresenting another's work as one's own due to inadequate citation, not referencing an AI source as instructed, or using AI technology when not authorized by an instructor may be considered forms of academic dishonesty.
- Students are also cautioned to use AI ethically, verify results, and avoid entering private or sensitive information into public tools
- The university permits students to use AI for learning support such as preparing for courses, tutoring, brainstorming, and checking understanding
Generative AI can be a helpful tool for preparing for classes and completing assignments. Students can use AI as a tutor to explain concepts, practice languages, brainstorm ideas, or check their understanding.
Use AI in ways that enhance learning, not as a substitute for your own thinking or effort. AI should support your educational growth, not replace your active participation in the learning process.
Use reputable AI tools and check the quality and reliability of the output. These tools can help explain and illustrate, but should not be used as an authoritative source for your learning. Like all technologies, generative AI can be biased.
Do not share private or personally identifying information with AI tools. What you share with AI may be stored or used to train future models.
The primary concern with text and media generating AI software in education is the possibility of students using this software in a way that bypasses active learning.
Students can also use text generating software to support their learning, such as asking clarifying questions, revising concepts, discussing ideas, or using AI as a type of tutoring software.
- The university does not set a single institution-wide rule specific to programming assignments
- AI use for coding work falls under the same course-level instructor discretion and student conduct expectations that apply to assignments generally
Faculty have the authority to regulate the use of AI in their courses based on their educational goals, and students should carefully review course-specific policies and seek clarification from their instructors.
Unauthorized use or assistance from another person, artificial intelligence, or source on examinations, projects, reports, papers, and/or other assignments used as a basis for determining a grade.
Research
- Any permitted use must be documented in an acknowledgment statement, and students remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final work
- For theses and dissertations, graduate students may use AI to improve readability and language, but not to generate substantive scholarly content, claims, interpretations, or references
Large language models (such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot) may be used to improve readability and language of your own original work. This includes editing for spelling, grammar, and clarity.
These tools may not be used to generate substantive content for theses or dissertations. This includes any use to generate or alter disciplinary content, interpretations, arguments, claims, scholarly analysis, references, source citations, or any original intellectual contribution expected of graduate-level academic work.
If you use AI tools in approved ways while preparing your thesis or dissertation, you must include an acknowledgment statement in your preliminary pages.
The statement should describe:
The name of the AI tool used
The purpose for which it was used (e.g., grammar checking, editing for clarity)
A declaration that the intellectual content, argumentation, data interpretation, and conclusions are your own
You are fully responsible for the content of your thesis or dissertation, including the accuracy, originality, proper citation of sources, and compliance with University and disciplinary standards for academic integrity.
- Researchers may use AI tools in research if they exercise caution with data handling and verify outputs, but AI-generated analysis or output must not be accepted without human review
- The university warns that confidential or high-risk data should not be entered into public AI systems without approved protections, and graduate thesis/dissertation policy requires that students themselves retain responsibility for interpretation and conclusions
Researchers should exercise caution when using AI tools in projects involving sensitive or confidential data. Public AI tools often process data externally and may retain prompts or outputs, making them unsuitable for entering private, protected, or export-controlled information without approved safeguards.
Any research data involving human participants must be handled in accordance with IRB protocols, informed consent, and data security standards. Researchers should not assume that de-identified data are automatically safe to enter into AI systems.
If using AI for data analysis, coding, summarization, or drafting, the researcher is responsible for reviewing and validating all outputs. AI-generated errors, fabricated references, or inaccurate interpretations remain the responsibility of the researcher.
Artificial intelligence can aid in data analysis, literature review, coding, writing support, and idea generation. However, all use must align with established standards for responsible conduct of research.
These tools may not be used to generate substantive content for theses or dissertations. This includes any use to generate or alter disciplinary content, interpretations, arguments, claims, scholarly analysis, references, source citations, or any original intellectual contribution expected of graduate-level academic work.
The statement should describe:
The name of the AI tool used
The purpose for which it was used (e.g., grammar checking, editing for clarity)
A declaration that the intellectual content, argumentation, data interpretation, and conclusions are your own
- The university requires AI use in research to follow research integrity, authorship, and human-subjects protections
- Researchers remain accountable for all AI-assisted work, must accurately describe AI use when journals, funders, or collaborators require it, and must not list AI as an author; graduate thesis/dissertation policy also requires acknowledgment of approved AI use
Artificial intelligence can aid in data analysis, literature review, coding, writing support, and idea generation. However, all use must align with established standards for responsible conduct of research.
Researchers are accountable for all work products created with the assistance of AI, including writing, analysis, coding, and visual outputs. AI tools do not meet authorship criteria and should not be listed as authors on manuscripts, presentations, or proposals.
Researchers should accurately describe the role of AI in their work when required by journals, funders, collaborators, or professional standards. This may include disclosing the use of AI in data analysis, writing assistance, figure generation, or protocol development.
Any research data involving human participants must be handled in accordance with IRB protocols, informed consent, and data security standards. Researchers should not assume that de-identified data are automatically safe to enter into AI systems.
If you use AI tools in approved ways while preparing your thesis or dissertation, you must include an acknowledgment statement in your preliminary pages.
Academic Integrity
- Disclosure of AI use is required when an instructor or research context requires it
- In coursework, students must follow instructor directions for referencing AI; in graduate theses and dissertations, approved AI use must be acknowledged with a statement naming the tool, its purpose, and affirming the student's authorship of the intellectual content
Misrepresenting another's work as one's own due to inadequate citation, not referencing an AI source as instructed, or using AI technology when not authorized by an instructor may be considered forms of academic dishonesty.
If you use AI tools in approved ways while preparing your thesis or dissertation, you must include an acknowledgment statement in your preliminary pages.
The statement should describe:
The name of the AI tool used
The purpose for which it was used (e.g., grammar checking, editing for clarity)
A declaration that the intellectual content, argumentation, data interpretation, and conclusions are your own
Researchers should accurately describe the role of AI in their work when required by journals, funders, collaborators, or professional standards. This may include disclosing the use of AI in data analysis, writing assistance, figure generation, or protocol development.
- The university frames unauthorized AI use as academic dishonesty and routes enforcement through existing misconduct procedures
- It also cautions faculty against relying on AI-detection tools as proof because such tools are unreliable and should not be used as the sole basis for accusations
Unauthorized use or assistance from another person, artificial intelligence, or source on examinations, projects, reports, papers, and/or other assignments used as a basis for determining a grade.
Misrepresenting another's work as one's own due to inadequate citation, not referencing an AI source as instructed, or using AI technology when not authorized by an instructor may be considered forms of academic dishonesty.
At Illinois State, issues around academic integrity are handled by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Responsibilities.
A major concern in higher education has been whether or not software can be developed to identify whether a text has been written by generative AI software. So-called “AI detectors” have limited effectiveness at best and should not be relied upon to be a valid and consistent means for identifying AI generated text.
Of course, there can be other signs that a text is AI generated, and all of these clues taken together can support a conversation between instructors and students, but as many experts have argued, AI detection software should not be used as the sole evidence of a violation of academic integrity.
Institutional & Administrative
- Faculty may use AI in teaching and course design, but they are expected to set clear course policies and maintain responsibility for educational decisions
- For employee records and official recommendations, faculty and staff must personally author and sign evaluations or recommendations rather than delegating that responsibility to others
Faculty have the authority to regulate the use of AI in their courses based on their educational goals, and students should carefully review course-specific policies and seek clarification from their instructors.
Faculty should encourage the use of AI in ways that support active learning and align with course outcomes, while also engaging students in discussions about AI and how to assess the quality and accuracy of AI generated content.
Inform your students how AI should and should not be used in your class.
The recommendation submitted shall represent the evaluator's own personal observations as to the performance and characteristics of the person evaluated and shall be based upon direct knowledge and truthful information.
Signatures on all performance evaluations and recommendations must be those of the evaluator and not another person.
- The university prohibits entering high-risk, regulated, or confidential institutional data into public AI tools and directs users to use only institutionally approved systems for internal, private, or restricted data
- Illinois State specifically recommends Microsoft Copilot Chat with university login for university-related work because it provides commercial data protection and warns that public AI tools may retain prompts and outputs
Approved use of all University technology resources includes all use by University students, employees, and guests that are legal, ethical and consistent with all University policies and laws.
Examples of prohibited use include, but are not limited to the following:
...
disclosure of confidential information unless specifically authorized by University policy or by a person who has the legal right to make such a disclosure;
Public AI tools often process data externally and may retain prompts or outputs, making them unsuitable for entering private, protected, or export-controlled information without approved safeguards.
Do not enter private, personal, health-related, financial, legally protected, or university-owned data into public AI systems unless the platform has been approved for such use.
Generally, these categories of data are low-risk and are usually acceptable to use with public AI tools, as long as no private or confidential details are included:
Publicly available information
Teaching materials intended for wide distribution
General brainstorming prompts or non-sensitive content
Administrative tasks that do not include personal or restricted data
These categories should not be used with public AI tools unless explicitly approved and protected:
Student education records
Personnel records
Research data involving human participants
Health-related or counseling information
Confidential contracts or legal documents
Export-controlled or proprietary data
Passwords, credentials, or cybersecurity-sensitive details
When in doubt, use institutionally approved systems or consult with the Office of Technology Solutions before using AI tools with internal or sensitive content.
Copilot with commercial data protection, which means your chat data remains within the Microsoft 365 service boundary and is not available for model training. This includes user and prompt data, as well as response content.
Use Copilot Chat with commercial data protection when you are using university data.
Copilot may be used for university-owned content based on the data classification policy and level.
Tier 1 Data can be entered into any AI platform.
Tier 2 and Tier 3 Data may only be entered into AI platforms that have a contract approved by the University and specifies the data is not used to train the model. AI platforms that do not have a University-approved contract should not be used for any private or restricted data.
There is no issue sharing public data and information with Copilot if you are signed into your web browser with your ISU account.
Do not use Copilot to create, process, or store sensitive or restricted information unless you are signed in with your ISU account or are using another University-approved version with equivalent data protections.
- Illinois State has a formal institutional AI initiative that provides campus guidance and frames AI adoption around responsible, ethical, and inclusive use
- Its academic plan also commits the university to leveraging AI and other emerging technologies in teaching, learning, research, and operational work, while campus governance materials emphasize human-centered and transparent use
Illinois State University developed this website to support our campus community in using AI effectively and responsibly in teaching, learning, research, and other work.
Illinois State is committed to fostering the ethical and responsible use of AI to improve teaching, learning, research, and productivity.
Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, can support innovation and efficiency in education, research, and administration. At the same time, they raise important questions related to academic integrity, information quality, authorship, bias, accessibility, privacy, and environmental impact. As AI tools become more widely available, the University encourages thoughtful engagement and critical use.
Develop a next generation infrastructure and leverage artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to innovate how we teach, work, support and do research.
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems can assist in the creation of content, but such content should be reviewed carefully by human experts before publication. Transparency in the use of AI tools is important, and appropriate disclosure should be made when AI significantly contributes to the development of content.
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 Illinois State University's AI Policies
Illinois State University has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
Disclosure of AI use is required when an instructor or research context requires it. In coursework, students must follow instructor directions for referencing AI; in graduate theses and dissertations, approved AI use must be acknowledged with a statement naming the tool, its purpose, and affirming the student's authorship of the intellectual content.
The university frames unauthorized AI use as academic dishonesty and routes enforcement through existing misconduct procedures. It also cautions faculty against relying on AI-detection tools as proof because such tools are unreliable and should not be used as the sole basis for accusations.
The university prohibits entering high-risk, regulated, or confidential institutional data into public AI tools and directs users to use only institutionally approved systems for internal, private, or restricted data. Illinois State specifically recommends Microsoft Copilot Chat with university login for university-related work because it provides commercial data protection and warns that public AI tools may retain prompts and outputs.