Teaching & Learning
- When AI use is unauthorized, submitting AI-generated work can be treated as academic dishonesty
- Providence College does not set a single university-wide rule allowing or banning AI for graded coursework
- Instead, use of AI in assignments is determined by the instructor and course expectations, and students are told they are responsible for understanding whether AI use is authorized
Academic integrity is best preserved by expecting instructors to be clear with students about how and under what conditions AI-enabled tools may and may not be used in support of coursework.
Students should understand that they are always accountable for any and all work they submit under their own name and should understand, if needed, where the boundaries are in terms of unauthorized use, plagiarism, source/citation attribution, submitting false or fabricated information, copyright infringement, data and personal privacy, and violating conditions of use set by providers of online tools.
Faculty should be explicit about the degree to which students can use AI-enabled tools for class assignments, and students should make every effort to understand and respect the boundaries that have been set.
Instances where students submit work using AI-enabled tools beyond the limits set by their instructor can likely be viewed as violations of academic honesty standards.
Academic dishonesty can take many forms, but some examples include cheating, plagiarism, obtaining unfair advantage and falsification of records and official documents.
Submitting as one’s own, in fulfillment of academic requirements, any work that has been copied in whole or in part from another individual’s work, from any internet source, or from an artificial intelligence platform without attribution and authorization from the course instructor.
- Providence College does not provide a separate institution-wide AI rule specifically for exams or quizzes in the cited materials
- The available guidance indicates that AI use in assessed work depends on the limits set by the instructor, and use beyond those limits may violate academic honesty standards
Faculty should be explicit about the degree to which students can use AI-enabled tools for class assignments, and students should make every effort to understand and respect the boundaries that have been set.
Instances where students submit work using AI-enabled tools beyond the limits set by their instructor can likely be viewed as violations of academic honesty standards.
- The college also warns students to understand course-specific boundaries and remain accountable for submitted work
- Providence College permits AI as a learning aid in some circumstances, but frames it as something faculty should actively govern and teach students to use responsibly
- Faculty guidance encourages instruction on ethical and effective use of AI and suggests helping students use AI as support rather than replacement for their own learning
As AI-enabled tools proliferate, students should learn to use such tools ethically and effectively. That means the College should not only prohibit and police misuse, but should also show students where AI tools may be useful, where they can harm learning, and where they introduce ethical or practical concerns.
You may want to teach students how to use AI-enabled tools without overusing them. For instance, if students have access to a model that can generate practice quizzes or grammar feedback, you might ask them to use those tools for support while emphasizing that they should continue to do original writing and independent studying.
Students should understand that they are always accountable for any and all work they submit under their own name and should understand, if needed, where the boundaries are in terms of unauthorized use, plagiarism, source/citation attribution, submitting false or fabricated information, copyright infringement, data and personal privacy, and violating conditions of use set by providers of online tools.
Research
Academic Integrity
- Faculty guidance also recommends that instructors tell students how AI use should be acknowledged in coursework
- The policy emphasis is on transparency and compliance with course-specific rules rather than a single campus-wide citation format
- Providence College requires attribution and instructor authorization when AI-generated material is submitted as part of academic work
Submitting as one’s own, in fulfillment of academic requirements, any work that has been copied in whole or in part from another individual’s work, from any internet source, or from an artificial intelligence platform without attribution and authorization from the course instructor.
Faculty should think carefully about how students should acknowledge AI-generated or AI-assisted content in submitted work. For example, should students disclose when they use tools like ChatGPT? If so, in what form?
- Providence College warns faculty against relying solely on AI detectors because they can be unreliable and biased
- Enforcement of undisclosed or unauthorized AI use proceeds through existing academic honesty processes, and the student handbook classifies submitting AI-generated work without attribution and instructor authorization as academic dishonesty
Some AI detection tools are known to produce false positives and biases, especially against non-native speakers. AI-generated text can also evade detection, and some human writing can be incorrectly flagged. Faculty should therefore avoid relying solely on AI detectors when making judgments about student misconduct.
Instances where students submit work using AI-enabled tools beyond the limits set by their instructor can likely be viewed as violations of academic honesty standards.
Submitting as one’s own, in fulfillment of academic requirements, any work that has been copied in whole or in part from another individual’s work, from any internet source, or from an artificial intelligence platform without attribution and authorization from the course instructor.
Institutional & Administrative
- Guidance also says any AI-assisted grading or feedback should be checked carefully for fairness and accuracy
- Providence College permits faculty to use AI in teaching-related work, but requires human judgment and cautions against outsourcing core professional responsibilities
- Faculty are told to evaluate AI-generated material carefully, avoid entering sensitive student information into public systems, and not use AI to write recommendation letters
Faculty and staff may choose to use AI-enabled tools to generate lesson ideas, revise instructions, summarize publicly available information, or assist with certain repetitive tasks. However, the responsibility for all final decisions and communications remains with the person using the tool.
Any feedback or grading support generated by AI-enabled tools should be reviewed carefully by the instructor to ensure fairness, accuracy, and alignment with course objectives. Faculty should not delegate evaluative judgment entirely to AI systems.
Do not use AI-enabled tools to write letters of recommendation. Such letters are expected to represent your own informed judgment and voice.
Be cautious with student data and intellectual property. Faculty should not upload private student work or personally identifying information into public AI tools unless the platform is institutionally approved and appropriate privacy safeguards are in place.
- The college's broader AI guidance also states that users should understand data privacy risks and providers' terms of use before using such tools
- Providence College requires caution with sensitive data in AI systems and limits use of public AI tools for private student information unless the tool is institutionally approved and has appropriate privacy protections
Be cautious with student data and intellectual property. Faculty should not upload private student work or personally identifying information into public AI tools unless the platform is institutionally approved and appropriate privacy safeguards are in place.
Students should understand that they are always accountable for any and all work they submit under their own name and should understand, if needed, where the boundaries are in terms of unauthorized use, plagiarism, source/citation attribution, submitting false or fabricated information, copyright infringement, data and personal privacy, and violating conditions of use set by providers of online tools.
- Providence College has a formal institutional AI governance structure and strategy centered on a standing committee and campus guidance
- The college states that the committee monitors AI developments, advises leadership, promotes ethical and effective use, and develops resources and recommendations for the campus community
In Fall 2023, the College established the AI Committee, chaired by Dr. A. Yavuz Oruç, to monitor the impact of artificial intelligence on education, scholarship, and administration; to provide recommendations and support to faculty and students; and to create opportunities for learning and dialogue around responsible and mission-consistent uses of AI at Providence College.
The Artificial Intelligence Committee is charged with studying and making recommendations concerning the evolving role of AI in teaching, learning, research, and administration at Providence College. The committee advises the Provost and collaborates with relevant campus offices on matters related to academic integrity, pedagogy, institutional policy, faculty development, and strategic planning concerning artificial intelligence.
The committee shall:
• monitor developments in AI and assess their implications for Providence College;
• recommend policies, practices, and educational initiatives related to AI use;
• support faculty, staff, and students in the ethical and effective use of AI tools;
• help identify opportunities and risks associated with AI technologies;
• foster campus-wide conversation and collaboration about AI-related issues.
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 Providence College's AI Policies
Providence College has defined AI policies in 8 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 67%.
Providence College requires attribution and instructor authorization when AI-generated material is submitted as part of academic work. Faculty guidance also recommends that instructors tell students how AI use should be acknowledged in coursework. The policy emphasis is on transparency and compliance with course-specific rules rather than a single campus-wide citation format.
Providence College warns faculty against relying solely on AI detectors because they can be unreliable and biased. Enforcement of undisclosed or unauthorized AI use proceeds through existing academic honesty processes, and the student handbook classifies submitting AI-generated work without attribution and instructor authorization as academic dishonesty.
Providence College requires caution with sensitive data in AI systems and limits use of public AI tools for private student information unless the tool is institutionally approved and has appropriate privacy protections. The college's broader AI guidance also states that users should understand data privacy risks and providers' terms of use before using such tools.