Teaching & Learning
- Kansas State University provides sample syllabus policy language for instructors to define whether and how students may use AI tools in coursework and assignments
- The sample policies range from prohibiting any AI use (treating any use as a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge) to allowing AI use for course work with required citation/attribution
Please add language to your syllabus regarding your policies toward AI tools.
Example 1: Prohibition
AI tools may not be used on any assignment in this class. Any use of an AI tool on any assignment, including drafting, editing, or brainstorming, is a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge. We will be using a variety of tools to ensure academic integrity in our class.
Example 2: AI with Attribution
You are welcome to use AI tools, like ChatGPT, to help you with any assignment in this course. For example, you may use it to brainstorm on a topic, create an outline, improve your writing based on feedback received (grammar, syntax, or form), etc. If you do use AI for any part of any assignment, you will need to cite it fully and properly, using MLA’s AI citation guidelines.
- Kansas State University does not state a single university-wide AI rule for examinations/assessments in the provided materials, but it provides sample syllabus language allowing instructors to prohibit AI tool use on any class assignment (which can include assessments) and defines such use as a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge when prohibited by the course policy
AI tools may not be used on any assignment in this class. Any use of an AI tool on any assignment, including drafting, editing, or brainstorming, is a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge. We will be using a variety of tools to ensure academic integrity in our class.
- Kansas State University provides sample syllabus language that permits and encourages students to use AI tools for learning support (e.g., brainstorming, outlining, and improving writing), provided the AI use is properly cited/attributed per the course policy
You are welcome to use AI tools, like ChatGPT, to help you with any assignment in this course. For example, you may use it to brainstorm on a topic, create an outline, improve your writing based on feedback received (grammar, syntax, or form), etc. If you do use AI for any part of any assignment, you will need to cite it fully and properly, using MLA’s AI citation guidelines.
Research
- Under Kansas State University guidance/policy for employees' use of generative AI with university-owned records and data, sensitive and confidential discussions, data, and records should not be used with generative AI, which includes restrictions relevant to research data when it is university-owned or otherwise protected
Sensitive and confidential discussions, data, and records should not be used with generative AI.
Use of Generative AI for personal reasons should not occur on University-issued devices and should not use, rely on, or be populated with the University’s records or data.
- Kansas State University’s academic integrity expectations (Honor Pledge) apply to AI-related misconduct: guidance states that using an AI tool to generate content without proper attribution is a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge (a principle applicable to scholarly/research work as well as coursework where relevant)
Using an AI tool to generate assignment content without proper attribution would be a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge.
Academic Integrity
- The examples state that generating assignment content with AI without proper attribution is a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge
- K-State provides optional syllabus language indicating that, when AI is used for any part of an assignment, the student is expected to cite the AI tool and be transparent about AI use
Please add language to your syllabus regarding your policies toward AI tools.
If you do use AI for any part of any assignment, you will need to cite it fully and properly, using MLA’s AI citation guidelines.
If you choose to use AI appropriately, you are expected to provide a citation for it using the following format: “Title of AI Tool. Prompt or brief description of topic of search depending on tool. Date of creation.”
It is your responsibility, however, to be transparent in your AI use.
For every assignment submission, you will include a 150-300 word AI Acknowledgement that includes the following four components:
1. A citation for the tool/s used, as follows: “Title of AI Tool. Prompt or brief description of topic of search depending on tool. Date of creation.”
2. An explanation of why you decided to use the tool(s)
3. A description of how you used the tool(s) to manage assignment requirements.
4. 4. A reflection on your experience using the tool, exploring what worked or didn’t, and acknowledging limitations of the tool for this assignment, potential biases, etc.
Using an AI tool to generate assignment content without proper attribution would be a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge.
- The provided sources do not state an institutional position on AI detection tools, but do describe reporting procedures for Honor Pledge violations
- K-State states (in optional syllabus language examples) that using an AI tool to generate assignment content without proper attribution would violate the K-State Honor Pledge
Using an AI tool to generate assignment content without proper attribution would be a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge.
Faculty, instructors and students report violations of the Honor Pledge to the Honor and Integrity System Director by filling out the Honor and Integrity System Violation Report form available at http://www.k-state.edu/honor/reportform.html.
Institutional & Administrative
- K-State’s university records/data policy for generative AI applies to employees and directs that outputs must be reviewed by knowledgeable humans before being acted upon or disseminated
- The same policy distinguishes between lower-risk use (e.g., proofreading non-protective written content) and higher-risk use (e.g., drafting outward-facing University publications), and requires employees to exercise good judgment consistent with the policy’s guidelines
To comply with the State of Kansas Generative Artificial Intelligence Policy and to mitigate risk to the University, this Policy provides requirements for the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI, etc.) to employees of Kansas State University (“University” “KSU”) and those performing work and/or services for the University (“service providers and contractors”).
Whether users should use Generative AI in the performance of their responsibilities is dependent on the specific use of Generative AI. The issues raised with the use of Generative AI to assist with menial tasks (e.g., proofreading non-protective written content) are much different than skilled tasks (e.g., drafting outward-facing University publications). Users must exercise good and sound judgment, consistent with the guidelines in this Policy, prior to using Generative AI for University purposes.
Responses generated from Generative AI outputs shall be reviewed by knowledgeable human operators for accuracy, appropriateness, legality, privacy, and security before being acted upon or disseminated.
- K-State also provides guidance that employees should not use generative AI for personal reasons on University-issued devices and should not use or populate such tools with University records or data
- K-State publishes an “AI-powered Tools for which Use is Approved” list, and separately notes that tools not on that list are “Not Approved,” stating that no AI tools have been approved other than those shown in the guidance document
- K-State states that sensitive and confidential discussions, data, and records should not be used with generative AI, and that use of AI to create or process university-related content involving university-owned data (especially non-public information) must follow K-State policies including PPM 3433 and the Kansas Open Records Act
Sensitive and confidential discussions, data, and records should not be used with generative AI.
If the content involves university-owned data, especially non-public information, it must follow K-State policies including PPM 3433 and the Kansas Open Records Act.
use of Generative AI for personal reasons should not occur on University-issued devices and should not use, rely on, or be populated with the University’s records or data.
AI-powered Tools for which Use is Approved
Examples of AI tools not approved by K-State
(note: no AI tools have been approved by K-State other than those shown at Guidance on the Use of Artificial Intelligence with University Owned Data and Records)
- K-State established a University Task Force on Responsible Use of Generative AI charged with developing a comprehensive institutional strategic framework (including policies, procedures, training, and educational services) for generative AI
- The task force’s objective includes developing and evolving university policy, guidelines, training, and support services on the use and procurement of generative AI tools by K-State students, faculty, researchers, and staff, and it has five working groups
A University Task Force on Responsible Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been charged to develop a comprehensive institutional strategic framework with policies, procedures, training and educational services that will enable K-State to leverage the benefits of AI while mitigating potential risks.
The Responsible Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force is charged with developing and evolving university policy, guidelines, and training and support services on the use and procurement of generative AI tools by K-State students, faculty, researchers and staff.
The task force has stood up five distinct working groups:
AI for Instruction, Design and Education (AIDE)
Institutional Excellence
Research/Intellectual Property
Curriculum
Medicine
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 Kansas State University's AI Policies
Kansas State University has defined AI policies in 10 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 83%.
K-State provides optional syllabus language indicating that, when AI is used for any part of an assignment, the student is expected to cite the AI tool and be transparent about AI use. The examples state that generating assignment content with AI without proper attribution is a violation of the K-State Honor Pledge.
K-State states (in optional syllabus language examples) that using an AI tool to generate assignment content without proper attribution would violate the K-State Honor Pledge. The provided sources do not state an institutional position on AI detection tools, but do describe reporting procedures for Honor Pledge violations.
K-State states that sensitive and confidential discussions, data, and records should not be used with generative AI, and that use of AI to create or process university-related content involving university-owned data (especially non-public information) must follow K-State policies including PPM 3433 and the Kansas Open Records Act. K-State also provides guidance that employees should not use generative AI for personal reasons on University-issued devices and should not use or populate such tools with University records or data. K-State publishes an “AI-powered Tools for which Use is Approved” list, and separately notes that tools not on that list are “Not Approved,” stating that no AI tools have been approved other than those shown in the guidance document.