Teaching & Learning
- Use of AI for graded coursework is determined at the course level
- The university requires faculty to choose a syllabus designation for each course, and student use must follow the instructor’s stated rules; AI use without proper acknowledgment or without authorization is treated as academic misconduct
As outlined in the JSU Faculty Handbook , academic freedom affords faculty members the autonomy to determine acceptable uses of artificial intelligence (AI) within their courses, including both their own professional use and expectations for student use.
AI Use in Assignments: To provide clarity for all students, faculty are required to select Red Light, Yellow Light, or Green Light designations for each of their courses and include the appropriate standard language, detailed below, on their syllabus verbatim.
Red Light: The assignments in this class have been designed to challenge you to develop creativity, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
All work submitted for this course must be your own. Any use of generative AI tools, including, but not limited to ChatGPT, when working on assignments is forbidden. Use of generative AI will be considered academic misconduct and subject to investigation.
Yellow Light: In this course, students are permitted to use AI-based tools (such as ChatGPT) on some assignments as identified by the instructor. The instructions for each assignment will include information about whether and how you may use AI-based tools to complete the assignment.
Green Light: Students in this course are encouraged to explore the use of AI-based tools (such as ChatGPT) when completing assignments.
• Using online sources and programs—such as artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and other generative AI—to produce content without proper acknowledgment or authorization.
- AI use in exams and other assessments is not uniformly allowed or banned by a single institution-wide rule beyond authorization requirements
- The Scholars’ Code states that using unauthorized assistance during an examination or other academic work is misconduct, so AI use is prohibited when it is not authorized
• Using or providing unauthorized materials or assistance during an examination or in the completion of any other assignment, exercise, experiment, or project for academic credit. Unauthorized materials may include, but are not limited to: notes, textbooks, previous examinations, exhibits, experiments, papers, or other
• Using online sources and programs—such as artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and other generative AI—to produce content without proper acknowledgment or authorization.
- The university encourages students to use AI thoughtfully as a learning support tool, not as a substitute for their own thinking, and only as permitted by instructors
- Students also need instructor consent before putting course materials into AI or using tools such as note-taking apps or AI-generated study guides based on course materials
At Jacksonville State University, students are encouraged to engage with AI thoughtfully and responsibly as part of their learning experience, as permitted by their instructors. AI should be approached as a learning support tool, not a replacement for original thought, intellectual effort, or authentic engagement with course materials.
Students are expected to use AI in ways that support learning while ensuring that final work reflects their own understanding, analysis, and voice. The use of AI must always align with the expectations outlined by the course instructor and clearly stated in each course syllabus.
Faculty invest significant time and expertise on their scholarship of teaching and preparing course materials; therefore, students must ask permission before using those course materials in any way not expressly allowed by the faculty member.
This means that students may not put course materials into AI, record lectures, use note-taking apps, make study guides or podcasts from course materials, etc. without first having the consent of the instructor.
Research
- Faculty must also follow publisher-specific AI requirements for scholarship
- AI may be used in research and scholarly writing, but faculty are required to acknowledge the AI tool and cite information gathered through it
Faculty must be aware that, when using AI tools for research and scholarly writing, they must both acknowledge the AI tool used and cite the information gathered while using it. Jacksonville State University supports the ethical use of AI in accord with our faculty members' varied disciplines.
Many publishers now require some form of AI acknowledgement. Faculty should ensure their scholarship meets any publisher standards.
Please use your discipline’s style guide when citing information gathered by using an AI tool (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.).
Check with your publisher for any further AI citation guidelines.
- The provided sources do not set separate university rules for grant proposals or IRB applications
- For scholarship, the university supports ethical AI use and requires acknowledgment and citation when AI is used in research and scholarly writing
Faculty must be aware that, when using AI tools for research and scholarly writing, they must both acknowledge the AI tool used and cite the information gathered while using it. Jacksonville State University supports the ethical use of AI in accord with our faculty members' varied disciplines.
Academic Integrity
- Students and faculty must disclose and cite AI use when using AI in assignments, papers, theses, dissertations, research, and scholarly writing
- For students, the university specifies required elements of an AI acknowledgment statement, and syllabus language for permitted assignment use also requires citation and a disclosure statement
Students must be aware that, when using AI tools for assignments, papers, theses, and dissertations, they must both acknowledge the AI tool used and cite the information gathered while using it.
To write an acknowledgement statement, students must
* Name the AI tool(s) used (for example, Copilot, Chat GPT, or Grammarly, etc.).
* Specify the date the AI tool was used.
* Describe how the AI tool was used (brainstorming, grammar check, organization, etc.).
* Include the exact prompts used.
* Share the page, paragraph, section, etc. within the assignment for which the AI tool was used or AI-generated information was included.
Generally, the AI Acknowledgement Statement is written on a separate page that precedes the assignment, thesis, or dissertation.
Please use your discipline’s style guide when citing information gathered by using an AI tool (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.).
Faculty must be aware that, when using AI tools for research and scholarly writing, they must both acknowledge the AI tool used and cite the information gathered while using it.
Yellow Light: In this course, students are permitted to use AI-based tools (such as ChatGPT) on some assignments as identified by the instructor.
All sources, including AI tools, must be properly cited—see example below*.
*Students must incorporate a subsequent statement in their assignments when using a Generative AI Tool, such as “For this assignment’s preparation, the author(s) have utilized [Generative AI Tool Name], a language model created by [Generative AI Tool Provider].
Within this assignment, the [Generative AI Tool Name] was used for purposes such as [e.g., brainstorming, grammatical correction, writing paraphrasing, citation, specific sections of the assignment.]”
Green Light: Students in this course are encouraged to explore the use of AI-based tools (such as ChatGPT) when completing assignments.
All sources, including AI tools, must be properly cited—see example below*.
- Undisclosed or unauthorized AI use is handled as academic misconduct under the Scholars’ Code
- The sources provided do not define a university stance on AI detection software, but they do specify that unauthorized use may be investigated and that students who fail to acknowledge and cite AI will be addressed through conduct and academic integrity processes
Students who do not properly acknowledge and cite the use of AI tools will be addressed through the university’s Scholars Code and Code of Conduct .
Use of AI in ways that are inconsistent with the parameters above will be considered academic misconduct and subject to the JSU’s Scholars' Code.
Use of generative AI will be considered academic misconduct and subject to investigation.
• Using online sources and programs—such as artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and other generative AI—to produce content without proper acknowledgment or authorization.
In cases of repeat offenses, egregious academic misconduct, or requests for review, the dean of the impacted college or their designee (hereafter called the Hearing Officer) may convene a Scholars’ Code Hearing or a Scholars’ Code Panel, depending on the severity of the alleged academic misconduct and the Hearing Officer’s ability to adjudicate the proceedings.
Institutional & Administrative
- Faculty have autonomy to decide acceptable AI use in their courses and are expected to place explicit AI guidance in each semester’s syllabus
- Faculty are not required to use AI in teaching, while staff and employees may use AI tools for workflow support, communications, scheduling, organization, and checking accuracy or accessibility, but they are cautioned to avoid inaccurate outputs and disclosure of protected information
As outlined in the JSU Faculty Handbook , academic freedom affords faculty members the autonomy to determine acceptable uses of artificial intelligence (AI) within their courses, including both their own professional use and expectations for student use. In light of the rapid evolution of generative AI technologies, all instructors are expected to update their course syllabi each semester to include clear and explicit guidance regarding the acceptable use of generative AI in their courses.
Faculty are not required to use AI in their teaching, but those interested in exploring it may find value in understanding its capabilities, limitations, and potential applications.
Jacksonville State University recognizes the increase in AI productivity tools for streamlining workflows. As daily tasks become increasingly complex, AI tools can provide assistance with communications, scheduling, and organizing information. While AI tools can be used for verifying accuracy and accessibility of content, special care should be taken to avoid production of erroneous, inaccurate content or sharing of confidential or protected information.
- The university requires users to follow privacy, security, and acceptable use rules when using AI and warns that most non-enterprise generative AI tools should be treated like public posting
- Personal, confidential, proprietary, sensitive, and FERPA-protected student information must not be uploaded to such tools, and Microsoft 365 Copilot is listed as approved for use without restrictions, with protections tied to the JSU tenant
When using AI, users must adhere to JSU’s privacy and security guidelines as well as the acceptable use policy to protect personal and institutional data.
Entering information into most non-enterprise generative AI tools or services is like posting that data on a public website.
Personal, confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information that should not be published or uploaded into a Generative AI tool, including student records subject to FERPA.
## Tools Approved for use without Restrictions
Microsoft 365 Copilot - Microsoft Copilot - An AI-powered assistant within Microsoft 365 applications that enhances productivity by assisting with writing, summarizing, and generating content. Copilot data, when logged in with a JSU account, is protected in our tenant, just like our emails. Microsoft Copilot Chat supports FERPA compliance for prompts and responses for properly configured implementations.
FERPA compliance does not apply to web search queries as they are not covered by the DPA.
* Copilot Chat is included in your Microsoft 365 Account. It can be upgraded for employees with approval of your department head / supervisor for $216/year/user, which includes ChatGPT and Claude pro versions.
* All data is encrypted and protected, regardless of free or premium version.
- Jacksonville State University frames its AI website as guidance rather than formal policy and presents AI literacy as part of its learning-centered mission
- The university created an AI Task Force in Fall 2024 to provide guidance on AI and higher education, indicating an institutional governance structure for ongoing AI adoption and oversight
Today, a true learning-centered community cannot exist without the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy. This emerging technology challenges everyone within the community to reflect on current teaching and learning practices and how these should evolve alongside AI technology.
As educators, we understand the importance of AI literacy in today’s workforce and that, to prepare our students, it is our responsibility to teach both AI’s capabilities as well as its limitations, its practical applications as well as its responsible use.
As researchers, we also acknowledge the impact of AI on our varied disciplines and our responsibility as scholars to learn, acknowledge, and ethically adapt our scholarship.
The information contained on this AI website is not policy; rather, it is intended to provide a guiding framework for students, faculty, staff, and administrators on AI use at Jacksonville State University. Further, since AI is evolving, the information on this website will continue to evolve along with it.
The Jacksonville State University AI Task Force was created by the Provost and President in Fall 2024 to provide guidance on AI and higher education.
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 Jacksonville State University's AI Policies
Jacksonville State University has defined AI policies in 10 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 83%.
Students and faculty must disclose and cite AI use when using AI in assignments, papers, theses, dissertations, research, and scholarly writing. For students, the university specifies required elements of an AI acknowledgment statement, and syllabus language for permitted assignment use also requires citation and a disclosure statement.
Undisclosed or unauthorized AI use is handled as academic misconduct under the Scholars’ Code. The sources provided do not define a university stance on AI detection software, but they do specify that unauthorized use may be investigated and that students who fail to acknowledge and cite AI will be addressed through conduct and academic integrity processes.
The university requires users to follow privacy, security, and acceptable use rules when using AI and warns that most non-enterprise generative AI tools should be treated like public posting. Personal, confidential, proprietary, sensitive, and FERPA-protected student information must not be uploaded to such tools, and Microsoft 365 Copilot is listed as approved for use without restrictions, with protections tied to the JSU tenant.