Teaching & Learning
- Student use of AI in coursework is at instructor discretion rather than governed by a single uniform campus rule
- When AI use is allowed, students are instructed to document how they used it and remain responsible for their own learning
- SJSU states that faculty may allow, restrict, or prohibit AI use in coursework, and students are told to check with their professor first
Different classes may have different standards. Always check with your professor or teaching assistant first.
When it is allowed:
* Use the GenAI tools available at SJSU: ChatGPT Edu and/or Gemini chat.
* Clearly document how you used it. Use SJSU’s Student AI Disclosure (SAID) tool for guidance.
* Stay engaged in your own learning process. Don’t let it do all the thinking and doing for you.
That is up to you. Faculty have the authority to allow, restrict, or guide AI use in coursework. To clarify expectations:
- Use the AI Policy Builder to create or customize a syllabus statement that matches your expectations for AI use in your class. You can choose from templates that reflect common stances: open use, restricted use, or prohibited use.
- Ask students to complete the SAID (Student AI Disclosure) tool to transparently document how they used AI in their coursework. This supports academic integrity and helps establish shared expectations.
• Do not use AI tools if the practice goes against your professor’s policies. Whether or not
you can use AI will often depend on individual professors’ policies: some professors ban
it entirely; some will allow it for brainstorming use; and some will give assignments
where students use AI and then analyze the essays it generates. Ask your professors about
their policies before you use AI in your writing.
- Faculty are also required to proctor or monitor exams to prevent students from using non-cited resources
- SJSU’s academic integrity policy prohibits using tools or materials that an instructor has barred during examinations
- The policy does not name AI specifically, but applies when AI tools are prohibited by the instructor in an exam setting
The San José State University Academic Integrity Policy requires that each faculty member:
1. provide a clear and concise course syllabus that apprises students of the Academic
Integrity Policy and the ethical standards and supporting procedures required in a course;
2. make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct. Specifically, examinations
should be appropriately proctored or monitored by university personnel to prevent students
from copying, using non-cited resources, or exchanging information. Examinations and
answers to examination questions should be kept private.
1.1.4 using or consulting sources, tools, or materials prohibited by the instructor
prior to or during an examination;
- The university frames these uses as support for learning and career readiness, while telling students to stay engaged in their own learning process and not let AI do the work for them
- SJSU permits students to use generative AI for learning and study support, such as creating study guides, generating citations, translation, brainstorming, and academic writing support resources
These GenAI tools can support your academic success and career competitiveness.
* Perform academic work more efficiently. Use GenAI to create study guides, generate citations, or translate languages, for example.
* Support creative and experimental efforts. Use GenAI to support brainstorming, document editing, or remixing music, for example.
* Build career-readiness skills. Get comfortable with describing how you use GenAI to learn and perform your work.
* Develop AI critical thinking skills. Understand how AI works so you can identify when potential biases or other adverse impacts may be present in its results.
When it is allowed:
* Use the GenAI tools available at SJSU: ChatGPT Edu and/or Gemini chat.
* Clearly document how you used it. Use SJSU’s Student AI Disclosure (SAID) tool for guidance.
* Stay engaged in your own learning process. Don’t let it do all the thinking and doing for you.
The SJSU Writing Center has created a hub of resources for students wishing to learn how to use generative AI platforms as a tool to supplement the writing process. The examples, strategies, and external resources featured are geared toward helping use AI effectively and ethically.
- At the university level, SJSU does not provide a single campus-wide rule specifically for AI code generation in coursework
- However, the School of Information has a department-level rule requiring citation of ChatGPT and other AI-assisted software, and tells students to consult the instructor if they are uncertain about using AI-assisted software in coursework
### SJSU School of Information AI Assisted Software Academic Integrity Policy
v1 adopted on September 14, 2023
The use of ChatGPT and any other AI-assisted software must be cited as a reference source, to be consistent with the requirement to cite reference and quotations where ideas and sentences are used from other sources. Failure to cite the use of any AI-assisted software constitutes a violation of SJSU policy F15-7 and the School of Information’s academic integrity policy.
This policy is not exhaustive. If students are uncertain as to how to proceed with the use of AI-assisted software in their coursework, it is their responsibility to confer with the instructor of that particular course.
Research
- SJSU does not provide a university-wide research-specific AI manuscript policy in the provided sources
- A department-level School of Information policy requires ChatGPT and other AI-assisted software to be cited when used, and the Writing Center advises students not to use AI to write papers because it treats that practice as plagiarism
The use of ChatGPT and any other AI-assisted software must be cited as a reference source, to be consistent with the requirement to cite reference and quotations where ideas and sentences are used from other sources. Failure to cite the use of any AI-assisted software constitutes a violation of SJSU policy F15-7 and the School of Information’s academic integrity policy.
• Do not use AI to write your papers—this practice is plagiarism.
o Plagiarism is defined as not crediting the original author when using ideas that
aren’t your own. Even if you put the original author’s idea in your own words,
you still must cite it because it’s not your own idea.
- SJSU does not define a research-specific policy on AI for data collection, analysis, or synthetic data in the provided sources
- The university does state a general data-protection rule for generative AI platforms: users must not submit information that should not be public, including confidential, personally identifiable, or FERPA-protected information
1. Information you enter into Generative AI systems could be subject to a Public Records Act (PRA) request, may be viewable and usable by the company, and may be leaked unencrypted in a data breach. Do not submit any information to a Generative AI platform that should not be available to the general public (such as confidential, personally identifiable information, or FERPA-protected).
Academic Integrity
- SJSU requires or recommends disclosure of AI use in several contexts
- The general academic integrity policy also requires appropriate credit for the work of another
- Students are told to clearly document AI use when it is allowed, faculty are encouraged to use the SAID disclosure tool for transparency, and the School of Information requires ChatGPT and other AI-assisted software to be cited as a reference source
When it is allowed:
* Use the GenAI tools available at SJSU: ChatGPT Edu and/or Gemini chat.
* Clearly document how you used it. Use SJSU’s Student AI Disclosure (SAID) tool for guidance.
- Ask students to complete the SAID (Student AI Disclosure) tool to transparently document how they used AI in their coursework. This supports academic integrity and helps establish shared expectations.
The use of ChatGPT and any other AI-assisted software must be cited as a reference source, to be consistent with the requirement to cite reference and quotations where ideas and sentences are used from other sources. Failure to cite the use of any AI-assisted software constitutes a violation of SJSU policy F15-7 and the School of Information’s academic integrity policy.
San José State University defines plagiarism as the act of representing the work of
another as one’s own without giving appropriate credit, regardless of how that work was
obtained, and submitting it to fulfill academic requirements.
- The university also states that undisclosed or prohibited AI use may violate course expectations or university policies
- In a Writing Center handout, SJSU notes that AI detection tools are improving, but that statement is informational rather than a formal university enforcement rule
- SJSU directs faculty to report allegations of cheating and plagiarism to Student Conduct and Ethical Development, and its academic integrity policy requires faculty to act when evidence supports a violation
As you navigate Artificial Intelligence and support student learning, you may encounter Academic Dishonesty. SJSU’s full academic honesty policy is available in University Policy F15-7. All allegations of cheating and plagiarism should be referred to Student Conduct and Ethical Development (SCED) by completing our Academic Integrity Reporting Form.
The San José State University Academic Integrity Policy requires that each faculty member:
3. take action against a student in accordance with this policy when supporting evidence
indicates that the student has violated the Academic Integrity Policy;
Use of AI is not automatically misconduct. However, undisclosed or prohibited use may violate your course expectations or university policies.
• Do not use AI to write your papers—this practice is plagiarism.
o It is getting harder to get away with cheating by using AI. AI detection tools are
getting better—just like AI writing programs—and some programs in late 2023
are achieving detection accuracy rates close to 100%.
Institutional & Administrative
- SJSU provides faculty-facing AI use guidance and resources rather than a single restrictive policy
- Faculty and staff have access to ChatGPT Edu, and SJSU materials describe AI uses for drafting course materials, feedback, and administrative writing
- Faculty are also told they have authority to set course AI rules and are encouraged to communicate those expectations through syllabus language and related resources
We are excited to announce that ChatGPT Edu is now available for all SJSU faculty and staff as part of the CSU-wide OpenAI Initiative. Provided at no cost, ChatGPT Edu supports our ongoing commitment to enhancing teaching, learning, and student success through innovative AI technology.
- Drafting and refining course materials like syllabi, rubrics, assignments
- Translating or simplifying technical content for multilingual or first-year learners
- Providing formative feedback or scaffolding for students (e.g., draft responses, brainstorming support)
- Simulating role-play, dialogue, or case-based interactions
- Acting as a course-specific assistant that responds to student questions with curated knowledge
- Assisting with administrative writing tasks (e.g., reports, announcements, emails)
Faculty have the authority to allow, restrict, or guide AI use in coursework. To clarify expectations:
- Use the AI Policy Builder to create or customize a syllabus statement that matches your expectations for AI use in your class.
- SJSU policy prohibits submitting confidential, personally identifiable, or FERPA-protected information to any generative AI platform
- The university provides access to approved tools, including ChatGPT Edu for all students, faculty, and staff, and recommends students use either ChatGPT Edu or Gemini chat
Do not submit any information to a Generative AI platform that should not be available to the general public (such as confidential, personally identifiable information, or FERPA-protected).
Use the GenAI tools available at SJSU: ChatGPT Edu and/or Gemini chat.
The CSU system is currently rolling out ChatGPT-EDU to all 23 CSU campuses. This includes making ChatGPT-EDU, an AI-powered tool, available at no cost to all students, faculty, and staff.
- SJSU frames its AI adoption as a strategic institutional effort aligned with the broader California State University (CSU) system
- Key components of this strategy include an AI website, faculty training, student literacy modules, and an official set of 'Best Practices for AI usage at SJSU.'
The CSU Open AI Initiative is consistent with San Jose State’s recent and ongoing AI efforts such as our AI website, and upcoming Open-AI Faculty Training Strategy, AI Tools Student Modules; and AI Writer’s Toolbox.
This document defines the Best Practices for AI usage at SJSU.
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 San Jose State University (SJSU)'s AI Policies
San Jose State University (SJSU) has defined AI policies in 11 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 92%.
SJSU requires or recommends disclosure of AI use in several contexts. Students are told to clearly document AI use when it is allowed, faculty are encouraged to use the SAID disclosure tool for transparency, and the School of Information requires ChatGPT and other AI-assisted software to be cited as a reference source. The general academic integrity policy also requires appropriate credit for the work of another.
SJSU directs faculty to report allegations of cheating and plagiarism to Student Conduct and Ethical Development, and its academic integrity policy requires faculty to act when evidence supports a violation. The university also states that undisclosed or prohibited AI use may violate course expectations or university policies. In a Writing Center handout, SJSU notes that AI detection tools are improving, but that statement is informational rather than a formal university enforcement rule.
SJSU policy prohibits submitting confidential, personally identifiable, or FERPA-protected information to any generative AI platform. The university provides access to approved tools, including ChatGPT Edu for all students, faculty, and staff, and recommends students use either ChatGPT Edu or Gemini chat.