Occidental College AI Policy

If relevant, we may ask about the AI policies and guidelines for courses,

but it is not our role to enforce or report violations of course policies.

If we are aware that a course or a program (i.e., FYS) prohibits AI use,

we will remind students of the policy and work with them to align their

writing responses accordingly (including citation of all sources used or

consulted).

Academic misconduct occurs when community members cheat, plagiarize, fabricate, or falsify information, or assist others in these actions. when a student misrepresents others' work as their own or otherwise behaves so as to unfairly advantage themselves or another student academically.

Cheating occurs when a student attempts to complete or take credit for work by any dishonest means or assists another in doing so.

Plagiarism occurs when the ideas, organization, or language of another are incorporated into one’s work without properly crediting the original source with a citation or other disclosure.

Cheating occurs when a student attempts to complete or take credit for work by any dishonest means or assists another in doing so.

Some examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, lying to obtain an academic advantage; copying from another’s exam or assignment or collaborating on an exam or assignment, unless specifically allowed by the instructor; submitting the same work in more than one course without instructor permission; falsifying data collected in research or laboratory courses; taking or receiving copies of an exam without the permission of the instructor; and using notes or other information devices inappropriate to the test conditions.

In our role as librarians and library staff members who promote the use of trustworthy sources of information, we are committed to supporting the principled use of new technologies in learning, research, and teaching.

Considering the ubiquity and dynamic nature of generative artificial intelligence (AI), we are focused on critically evaluating these technologies to discern their utility in an academic context.

We are proactive in assessing how and when these technologies are used and how to apply them appropriately to ensure alignment with the learning goals and principles of Occidental College and the advancement of learning, teaching, research, and creativity.

We will direct students to college policies or resources pertaining to AI

use (such as the Library’s AI Literacy Module in Canvas).

The Teaching, Learning, and Research Support (TLRS) librarians provide support for a wide portfolio of academic technology tools. We can lead an in-class workshop or help you use any of the following tools to support your teaching and research goals—please contact TLRS (tlrs@oxy.edu) and we will help!

AI-based research tools - see our AI in the Academic Setting Guide for more information.

All institutional members, faculty, staff, and students, are expected to conduct research with honesty, rigor, and transparency.

Plagiarism. Plagiarism means the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words, or through the use or assistance of other persons, entities, or tools, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools, without giving appropriate credit.

Research misconduct. Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, whether committed by an individual directly or through the use or assistance of other persons, entities, or tools, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools, in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.

Examples of items, materials, or information that may be considered part of the research record include, but are not limited to, research proposals, raw data, processed data, clinical research records, laboratory records, study records, laboratory notebooks, progress reports, manuscripts, abstracts, theses, records of oral presentations, online content, lab meeting reports, and journal articles.

Research misconduct. Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, whether committed by an individual directly or through the use or assistance of other persons, entities, or tools, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools, in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.

Research record means the record of data or results that embody the facts resulting from research. Data or results may be in physical or electronic form.

Examples of items, materials, or information that may be considered part of the research record include, but are not limited to, research proposals, raw data, processed data, clinical research records, laboratory records, study records, laboratory notebooks, progress reports, manuscripts, abstracts, theses, records of oral presentations, online content, lab meeting reports, and journal articles.

Some examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, lying to obtain an academic advantage; copying from another’s exam or assignment or collaborating on an exam or assignment, unless specifically allowed by the instructor; submitting the same work in more than one course without instructor permission; falsifying data collected in research or laboratory courses; taking or receiving copies of an exam without the permission of the instructor; and using notes or other information devices inappropriate to the test conditions.

Occidental College (“College”) is committed to upholding the highest standards of rigor in research and scholarship. The College is committed to fostering an environment that promotes research integrity and the responsible conduct of research, discourages research misconduct, and deals promptly with allegations or evidence of possible research misconduct.

All institutional members, faculty, staff, and students, are expected to conduct research with honesty, rigor, and transparency.

This policy applies to all faculty, staff, and students involved in funded or unfunded research activities associated with the College.

Plagiarism. Plagiarism means the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words, or through the use or assistance of other persons, entities, or tools, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools, without giving appropriate credit.

Research misconduct. Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, whether committed by an individual directly or through the use or assistance of other persons, entities, or tools, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools, in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.

The College utilizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policies and procedures as its standard for research integrity and when responding to allegations of research misconduct.

If we are aware that a course or a program (i.e., FYS) prohibits AI use,

we will remind students of the policy and work with them to align their

writing responses accordingly (including citation of all sources used or

consulted).

Plagiarism occurs when the ideas, organization, or language of another are incorporated into one’s work without properly crediting the original source with a citation or other disclosure. It includes re-writing or re-formatting material without acknowledging the original source of the ideas. Even if the language and organization are in the student’s own words, any ideas or information that are not common knowledge must be acknowledged in a reference.

Plagiarism. Plagiarism means the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words, or through the use or assistance of other persons, entities, or tools, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools, without giving appropriate credit.

If relevant, we may ask about the AI policies and guidelines for courses,

but it is not our role to enforce or report violations of course policies.

Academic misconduct is subject to disciplinary action. Charges of academic misconduct against students are investigated and adjudicated according to the following procedures.

A. Any student, faculty member, staff member, or administrative member of the College may initiate the complaint and resolution process by filing a formal charge with the College’s Judicial Examiner.

The Judicial Examiner is responsible for the following:

* Gathering evidence related to the charges. Dismissing charges where there is a lack of evidence.

* When a charged student accepts that their conduct constitutes misconduct, or when a hearing board finds a student responsible for misconduct, assigning an appropriate penalty according to College policy and reporting the admission and penalty to the Office of Student Conduct.

In addition, alleged violations of this procedure, the College’s policies regarding use of the Digital Information Systems, or other policies of the College in the course of using the Digital Information Systems may result in an immediate loss of computing privileges and may also result in the referral of the matter to the College’s judicial system or other appropriate authority.

We are transparent in communicating our critical evaluations and informed perspectives with the Occidental community through such channels as campus-wide discussions, information literacy instruction, and collaborations with faculty.

The Teaching, Learning, and Research Support (TLRS) librarians provide support for a wide portfolio of academic technology tools. We can lead an in-class workshop or help you use any of the following tools to support your teaching and research goals—please contact TLRS (tlrs@oxy.edu) and we will help!

We maintain our position as a trusted go-between for students and faculty, and

especially as a central means of academic support for students.

By using the Occidental College network, computing facilities, resources, and accounts, students, faculty, staff and other members of the Occidental College community agree to the provisions contained herein.

Individuals using Digital Information Systems and Information Resources at Occidental College are responsible for complying with relevant laws and the College’s policies and procedures regarding their use and for using computing and networking facilities and resources in a manner that is consistent with the mission and educational purpose of the College.

The College reserves the right to deny, limit, revoke or extend computing privileges and access to its Digital Information Systems and Information Resources at its discretion.

Students, faculty, staff and other members of the Occidental College community will:

* not view, copy, alter, or destroy data, software, documentation, or data communications belonging to the College or another individual without permission;

In addition, alleged violations of this procedure, the College’s policies regarding use of the Digital Information Systems, or other policies of the College in the course of using the Digital Information Systems may result in an immediate loss of computing privileges and may also result in the referral of the matter to the College’s judicial system or other appropriate authority.

AI-based research tools - see our AI in the Academic Setting Guide for more information.

In our role as librarians and library staff members who promote the use of trustworthy sources of information, we are committed to supporting the principled use of new technologies in learning, research, and teaching. Considering the ubiquity and dynamic nature of generative artificial intelligence (AI), we are focused on critically evaluating these technologies to discern their utility in an academic context.

Critical evaluation means:

* We are proactive in assessing how and when these technologies are used and how to apply them appropriately to ensure alignment with the learning goals and principles of Occidental College and the advancement of learning, teaching, research, and creativity.

* We assess both the immediate and long-term value, cost, and impacts of AI tools to the Occidental community.

* We are transparent in communicating our critical evaluations and informed perspectives with the Occidental community through such channels as campus-wide discussions, information literacy instruction, and collaborations with faculty.