Santa Clara University AI Policy

Generative AI: Include a statement of your policy on the use of generative AI in the course. State whether the use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Co-pilot) is prohibited or permitted in your course and under what circumstances.

If an instructor allows use of generative AI tools in coursework, the syllabus should indicate clear guidelines on the acceptable and unacceptable use of such technologies, note whether citation or acknowledgment is required when AI-generated content is used, and indicate whether and how students may use AI-generated content. The syllabus should also explain how use of these tools intersects with academic integrity standards and whether there are any consequences for unauthorized or inappropriate use.

students are responsible for understanding their instructors' course-specific expectations and for seeking clarification from their instructors if they are uncertain about the acceptable use of AI technologies in their coursework.

If an instructor or professor uses AI generated reports, papers, presentations, exams, etc. and does not have the stated permission of the instructor or professor to do so, it is academically dishonest and a violation of the Student Conduct Code.

State whether the use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Co-pilot) is prohibited or permitted in your course and under what circumstances.

If an instructor or professor uses AI generated reports, papers, presentations, exams, etc. and does not have the stated permission of the instructor or professor to do so, it is academically dishonest and a violation of the Student Conduct Code.

As with any technology, students should become AI literate and know what AI can do and how it works. Students should understand the strengths and limitations of the technology and be able to use it responsibly and critically evaluate the outputs.

Understand that AI has limitations and use it mindfully. AI can make up information and make mistakes. Information generated by AI can be incomplete, inaccurate, biased, or completely made up. AI can cite fake sources. AI often does not provide the source for the information it gives. It can provide outdated information and can reinforce stereotypes.

students are responsible for understanding their instructors' course-specific expectations and for seeking clarification from their instructors if they are uncertain about the acceptable use of AI technologies in their coursework.

Generative AI: Include a statement of your policy on the use of generative AI in the course. State whether the use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Co-pilot) is prohibited or permitted in your course and under what circumstances.

If an instructor allows use of generative AI tools in coursework, the syllabus should indicate clear guidelines on the acceptable and unacceptable use of such technologies, note whether citation or acknowledgment is required when AI-generated content is used, and indicate whether and how students may use AI-generated content.

Ensure AI use complies with all publication and grant guidelines. Different journals and granting agencies have varying rules about AI use in manuscript and proposal preparation. Review and follow specific guidelines from publishers, funders, and your discipline regarding acceptable AI-assisted writing and content generation.

When using AI, disclose use according to publisher and discipline-specific requirements, such as AI use for editing and proofreading or for generation of language, text, visual image, or videos. These guidelines vary by publisher and discipline. Researchers must review and follow specific guidelines from publishers and granting agencies regarding acceptable AI-assisted writing and content generation.

Do not input confidential, unpublished, proprietary, or export-controlled information into public AI tools without authorization.

Understand that any prompts entered may be retained, stored, used to further train the AI models, and may be discoverable in legal proceedings.

Review sponsor guidelines and human subjects protocols before using AI with research data or materials. Human subjects researchers need to ensure approved consent forms address any AI use; use of AI with data covered by a data use or other data access agreement requires assessment and management of risks to that information.

Confirm any AI-generated citations or references, as AI systems can "hallucinate" and provide inaccurate or fabricated sources.

The use of AI in your work does not absolve you of responsibility for the quality and integrity of the final product. Carefully review and verify all AI outputs for accuracy, completeness, and potential bias before incorporating them into your research, teaching, or administrative work.

Ensure AI use complies with all publication and grant guidelines. Different journals and granting agencies have varying rules about AI use in manuscript and proposal preparation. Review and follow specific guidelines from publishers, funders, and your discipline regarding acceptable AI-assisted writing and content generation.

AI tools do not qualify as authors or co-authors because they cannot take accountability for the research and manuscript. Follow publisher and granting agency policies on AI authorship and acknowledgment, which generally require human authors to take full responsibility for all content.

Review sponsor guidelines and human subjects protocols before using AI with research data or materials. Human subjects researchers need to ensure approved consent forms address any AI use; use of AI with data covered by a data use or other data access agreement requires assessment and management of risks to that information.

If an instructor allows use of generative AI tools in coursework, the syllabus should indicate clear guidelines on the acceptable and unacceptable use of such technologies, note whether citation or acknowledgment is required when AI-generated content is used, and indicate whether and how students may use AI-generated content.

When using AI, disclose use according to publisher and discipline-specific requirements, such as AI use for editing and proofreading or for generation of language, text, visual image, or videos. These guidelines vary by publisher and discipline. Researchers must review and follow specific guidelines from publishers and granting agencies regarding acceptable AI-assisted writing and content generation.

The use of AI generated materials in the completion of assignments, projects, or assessments without instructor permission, to fulfill curricular, co-curricular, or extra-curricular requirements as part of a course or degree requirement, may be considered an act of academic dishonesty and reviewed through the Student Conduct process.

If an instructor or professor uses AI generated reports, papers, presentations, exams, etc. and does not have the stated permission of the instructor or professor to do so, it is academically dishonest and a violation of the Student Conduct Code.

Academic dishonesty is prohibited. It includes but is not limited to the following: ... Using unauthorized materials, information, tools, or study aids in any academic exercise.

Faculty may use AI in educational contexts in a range of ways to support teaching and student learning.

A good rule of thumb is to be transparent with your students regarding why and how AI is being used in your class. Students should know if AI was used to create course materials or assessments, help prepare lectures and assignments, and to what extent and for what purpose.

It is the instructor's responsibility to always review and validate all AI outputs and check them for misinformation before disseminating them to students.

Any use of AI tools should also take into account concerns around data privacy, intellectual property, ethics, and bias. Faculty should protect students' data privacy, ensure the confidentiality of educational records, and preserve students' ownership rights over their own work product and ideas.

Do not share Santa Clara University confidential data, regulated data, or personal information with third-party generative AI tools without authorization and appropriate safeguards.

Do not enter confidential or restricted university information into publicly available or externally hosted AI systems (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot) unless the vendor has been specifically approved by the Information Security Office and Information Technology Services (ITS) for such data.

Public Data can be entered into public generative AI tools.

Internal Data can be entered into public generative AI tools.

Confidential Data can only be entered into enterprise generative AI tools with Information Security Office review and approval.

Restricted Data can only be entered into approved enterprise AI tools after an information security review, an approved contract with the vendor, and implementation of appropriate safeguards.

The University has made available enterprise AI tools, such as Google Gemini and Google NotebookLM through Santa Clara University Google accounts and Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Chat through Santa Clara University Microsoft accounts. Additional enterprise AI tools may be added. Use must comply with data classification and applicable contractual requirements.

We are in a pivotal moment to shape the role of AI, but we must act now. The combination of rapid breakthroughs in AI and the heart of our mission to create a more humane, just, and sustainable world presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

At Santa Clara University, our vision for AI2 (AI Squared) is centered on two key ideas:

AI as a technology that people and organizations use to have impact on the world.

AI as technology that creates educational opportunities for our students and new opportunities for faculty and staff.

As a trusted adviser, Information Services is committed to helping the University community safely and effectively navigate the opportunities and risks of generative AI. This page provides guidance for the responsible use of generative AI tools in support of teaching, research, learning, and administrative work.