Teaching & Learning
- Rutgers states that use of generative AI in coursework is governed primarily by instructor discretion and course expectations
- The university advises students to review each syllabus and ask instructors for clarification, and warns that using AI in ways not permitted by the instructor can violate academic integrity rules
AI policies vary by instructor and by course. Students should read their syllabi closely and ask instructors if they have questions.
If your instructor hasn’t clarified whether AI use is acceptable, ask. Don’t assume it’s allowed just because AI tools are available.
You should not use unauthorized assistance, including AI tools, in a way that violates your instructor’s expectations or the academic integrity policy.
- Instead, AI use is subject to instructor rules and unauthorized use during assessed work may constitute academic misconduct
- Rutgers does not provide a single university-wide permission rule for AI use in exams and assessments in the reviewed sources
AI policies vary by instructor and by course. Students should read their syllabi closely and ask instructors if they have questions.
Students are responsible for understanding what constitutes academic integrity in each specific course.
You should not use unauthorized assistance, including AI tools, in a way that violates your instructor’s expectations or the academic integrity policy.
- The guidance emphasizes using AI as a support tool rather than a substitute for learning
- Rutgers permits and encourages students to use AI for learning support activities such as brainstorming, concept explanation, practice, feedback, and study assistance, provided students verify outputs and follow course-specific rules
Students can use AI tools to support their learning, such as brainstorming ideas, explaining difficult concepts, generating practice questions, getting feedback on drafts, or exploring different perspectives.
Use AI as a study partner, not a substitute for your own thinking.
Always verify information generated by AI. These tools can produce inaccurate, biased, or fabricated content.
- Use in coursework remains dependent on instructor or course expectations
- Rutgers provides institutionally supported access to Microsoft Copilot and presents GitHub Copilot as available through the software portal, but the reviewed sources do not set a single university-wide rule for use of AI code generation in programming assignments
Rutgers has licensed Microsoft Copilot Chat for all students, faculty, and staff.
GitHub Copilot
AI policies vary by instructor and by course. Students should read their syllabi closely and ask instructors if they have questions.
Research
- The university also states that students remain responsible for originality, accuracy, attribution, and compliance with academic integrity and copyright rules
- Rutgers requires graduate students to disclose any use of generative AI in theses and dissertations, including naming the tool, describing how it was used, and placing the disclosure in the acknowledgements or methods section as appropriate
If generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL-E, Claude, Midjourney) are used in the creation of the thesis/dissertation, the student must provide disclosure in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the acknowledgements, methods, or as a footnote.
The disclosure should include:
• The name of the tool used;
• A brief description of how it was used (e.g., editing prose, generating images, organizing ideas);
• A statement affirming that the student has reviewed and takes responsibility for the final content.
Use of AI tools does not replace the student’s responsibility for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of the work.
Students are responsible for ensuring that AI-generated content does not violate academic integrity, copyright, or attribution standards.
- For human subjects research, the university requires researchers to explain AI use in protocols and assess risks such as privacy, bias, and data handling
- Rutgers warns researchers not to enter restricted, regulated, or identifiable data into public AI tools and directs them to use institutionally approved services for sensitive work
Do not input sensitive, confidential, or regulated Rutgers data into public AI tools.
Use only Rutgers-approved AI tools for university business involving institutional data.
Researchers using AI tools in studies involving human participants should describe the use of AI in their IRB submissions, including what the AI will do, what data it will access, and what safeguards are in place.
Researchers should consider risks related to privacy, confidentiality, bias, and the accuracy of AI-generated outputs.
- The university’s IRB-related guidance emphasizes documenting AI use, protecting confidentiality, and addressing bias, accuracy, and consent issues when AI is involved
- Rutgers requires explicit disclosure and review of AI use in human subjects research and ties AI use to existing research compliance and participant protection responsibilities
Researchers using AI tools in studies involving human participants should describe the use of AI in their IRB submissions, including what the AI will do, what data it will access, and what safeguards are in place.
Researchers should consider risks related to privacy, confidentiality, bias, and the accuracy of AI-generated outputs.
The new AI consent guide helps researchers strengthen IRB submissions and protect participants.
Academic Integrity
- The reviewed sources show that disclosure expectations can vary by course, while formal graduate manuscript guidance imposes a specific disclosure requirement
- Rutgers requires disclosure of generative AI use in theses and dissertations and advises transparency about AI use in academic work where required by the instructor or assignment
If generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL-E, Claude, Midjourney) are used in the creation of the thesis/dissertation, the student must provide disclosure in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the acknowledgements, methods, or as a footnote.
The disclosure should include:
• The name of the tool used;
• A brief description of how it was used (e.g., editing prose, generating images, organizing ideas);
• A statement affirming that the student has reviewed and takes responsibility for the final content.
AI policies vary by instructor and by course. Students should read their syllabi closely and ask instructors if they have questions.
- Rutgers enforces improper AI use through its existing academic integrity framework rather than a separate AI penalty system
- The reviewed sources do not establish a university-wide endorsement of AI detection tools, but they do state that unauthorized AI assistance can be treated as an academic integrity violation under course and university rules
You should not use unauthorized assistance, including AI tools, in a way that violates your instructor’s expectations or the academic integrity policy.
Students are responsible for understanding what constitutes academic integrity in each specific course.
The Office of Student Conduct adjudicates alleged violations of academic integrity.
Institutional & Administrative
- Rutgers permits faculty and staff to use AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot, while requiring careful human oversight and adherence to privacy and data rules
- Guidance for teaching staff stresses that AI can support course design and administrative work, but instructors remain responsible for judgments, communications, and compliance with course and institutional standards
Rutgers has licensed Microsoft Copilot Chat for all students, faculty, and staff.
AI output should always be reviewed by a human before it is used for university purposes.
Faculty may use generative AI to support teaching and course design, but they should communicate clearly with students about expectations for AI use in their courses.
Do not input sensitive, confidential, or regulated Rutgers data into public AI tools.
- The university specifically provides licensed access to Microsoft Copilot Chat and identifies it as a Rutgers-supported AI tool
- Rutgers directs users not to enter sensitive, confidential, regulated, or otherwise protected university data into public AI tools and to use approved platforms for institutional work
Do not input sensitive, confidential, or regulated Rutgers data into public AI tools.
Use only Rutgers-approved AI tools for university business involving institutional data.
Rutgers has licensed Microsoft Copilot Chat for all students, faculty, and staff.
- Rutgers has a formal institutional AI initiative and uses working groups to guide AI adoption across research and administration
- The reviewed sources show an organized governance structure focused on responsible use, support, and long-term institutional strategy rather than a single standalone policy document
The Rutgers Artificial Intelligence Initiative brings together faculty, staff, and students to explore, guide, and support the responsible use of artificial intelligence across the university.
The Research Working Group focuses on advancing Rutgers’ leadership in AI-related research, scholarship, and innovation.
The Administrative Working Group focuses on opportunities and challenges related to the use of AI in university operations and services.
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 Rutgers University's AI Policies
Rutgers University has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
Rutgers requires disclosure of generative AI use in theses and dissertations and advises transparency about AI use in academic work where required by the instructor or assignment. The reviewed sources show that disclosure expectations can vary by course, while formal graduate manuscript guidance imposes a specific disclosure requirement.
Rutgers enforces improper AI use through its existing academic integrity framework rather than a separate AI penalty system. The reviewed sources do not establish a university-wide endorsement of AI detection tools, but they do state that unauthorized AI assistance can be treated as an academic integrity violation under course and university rules.
Rutgers directs users not to enter sensitive, confidential, regulated, or otherwise protected university data into public AI tools and to use approved platforms for institutional work. The university specifically provides licensed access to Microsoft Copilot Chat and identifies it as a Rutgers-supported AI tool.