Teaching & Learning
- Swarthmore College advises that AI use in coursework is governed by individual course policies set by instructors
- The college provides guidance through the Library and ITS that encourages students to understand when and how AI tools may be used appropriately
- Students must follow the specific AI guidelines provided by their instructor for each course; unauthorized AI use may constitute an academic integrity violation
Per the Library and ITS guidance page: instructors set the terms for AI use in their courses, and students are expected to adhere to those terms. Use of AI tools without instructor permission may be considered a violation of academic integrity policies. Students are encouraged to consult course syllabi and ask instructors directly about permissible AI use.
- Swarthmore College's academic integrity policies, as outlined in the student handbook, apply to examinations and assessments
- AI use during assessments is subject to instructor-defined rules, and unauthorized AI assistance in exams or assessments may constitute a violation of the Honor Code
The student handbook academic policies section establishes that academic integrity obligations apply to all assessed work. The AI guidance pages note that instructor permissions govern AI use, and that using AI tools in ways not sanctioned by the instructor—including during assessments—may be treated as an academic integrity violation.
- AI use for study assistance must remain consistent with course-specific instructor policies
- Swarthmore College's Library and ITS provide guidance to students on using AI tools for learning and study assistance
- Students are encouraged to think critically about AI-generated content, verify information from authoritative sources, and use AI tools in ways that support rather than replace genuine learning
The Library and ITS guidance for students on AI states that students should approach AI tools critically, understanding their limitations and potential for generating inaccurate information. The guidance encourages using AI as a supplement to learning while ensuring that core skills such as research, analysis, and writing are developed through direct student effort.
- Swarthmore College does not publish a standalone policy specifically for AI-assisted code generation; however, the general AI use framework applies
- Use of AI tools for programming assignments is governed by individual instructor permissions, and students must adhere to course-specific policies regarding AI coding assistance
The ITS guidelines on AI use establish that all AI tool use in academic work—including programming contexts—is subject to instructor-defined rules per course. Students should confirm with their instructor whether tools such as GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT are permitted for coding assignments before use.
Research
- Swarthmore College's Library and ITS guidance addresses AI use in research writing contexts
- Students are advised to exercise critical judgment when using AI tools for research-related writing, to verify AI-generated content against authoritative sources, and to follow any disclosure or attribution requirements set by instructors or publishers
The Library and ITS student guidance on AI notes that AI tools may generate plausible but inaccurate citations and information, and students using AI in research writing must verify all sources independently. Any use of AI in written work must comply with instructor-defined policies and applicable academic integrity standards.
- Swarthmore College's Honor Code and academic integrity policies, as published in the student handbook, apply to research conduct including the ethical use of AI
- Students are expected to represent their work honestly, and using AI in ways that misrepresent the origin or nature of research output is considered an integrity violation
The student handbook academic policies establish that all work submitted must honestly reflect the student's own effort and understanding. The AI guidance pages reinforce that AI use must be transparent and sanctioned by the instructor, as misrepresenting AI-assisted work as entirely one's own is inconsistent with the college's Honor Code.
Academic Integrity
- Failure to disclose AI use when required may constitute an academic integrity violation
- Swarthmore College requires students to disclose AI use in their work in accordance with instructor-specific guidelines
- Students must attribute AI assistance transparently and follow any citation or acknowledgment formats required by the instructor
The Library and ITS guidance for students states that when AI tools are used in completing academic work, students should disclose that use as directed by the instructor. The ITS guidelines page notes that transparency about AI assistance is a component of academic honesty at Swarthmore.
- The college does not appear to rely on automated AI detection tools as a primary enforcement mechanism
- Suspected violations involving AI misuse are subject to the same investigation and adjudication procedures as other academic integrity violations
- Swarthmore College enforces academic integrity policies, including those related to unauthorized AI use, through its Honor Code process as outlined in the student handbook
The student handbook academic policies section describes the Honor Code and the procedures for reporting and adjudicating academic integrity violations. Unauthorized or undisclosed use of AI tools that violates course or college policy falls within the scope of these enforcement mechanisms.
Institutional & Administrative
- Swarthmore College provides guidance to faculty and staff on the use of AI tools through ITS
- Faculty are encouraged to establish clear course policies on AI use and communicate them to students
- ITS guidance supports faculty in understanding AI capabilities, limitations, and considerations for academic and administrative use
The ITS guidelines on AI use address responsible use of AI tools for members of the Swarthmore community, including faculty and staff. The guidance encourages faculty to consider how AI tools may affect teaching and to set explicit expectations for students regarding permissible AI use in their courses.
- Swarthmore College's ITS AI guidelines caution community members about sharing sensitive or confidential institutional data with external AI platforms
- Users are advised to avoid entering personally identifiable information, student records, or proprietary institutional data into public AI tools, in keeping with data privacy obligations
The ITS guidelines on AI use at Swarthmore advise that users should be mindful of data privacy when using AI tools, particularly third-party platforms, and should not input sensitive, confidential, or protected information into such systems. Community members are encouraged to consult ITS when uncertain about the appropriate use of specific AI platforms for institutional purposes.
- Governance appears to be distributed across ITS and academic support units rather than through a single centralized AI policy body
- Swarthmore College has developed an institutional approach to AI governance centered on guidance from ITS and the Teaching and Learning Commons
- The college provides coordinated resources for students, faculty, and staff, emphasizing responsible and transparent AI use aligned with academic integrity values
Swarthmore College has published dedicated AI guidance pages through ITS (guidelines-use-artificial-intelligence-ai) and the Teaching and Learning Commons (library-and-its-guidance-students-artificial-intelligence), as well as admissions-specific AI guidance. These coordinated resources reflect an institutional strategy of providing community-wide guidance on AI use rather than a blanket prohibition or a single overarching AI policy document.
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 Swarthmore College's AI Policies
Swarthmore College has defined AI policies in 11 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 92%.
Swarthmore College requires students to disclose AI use in their work in accordance with instructor-specific guidelines. Students must attribute AI assistance transparently and follow any citation or acknowledgment formats required by the instructor. Failure to disclose AI use when required may constitute an academic integrity violation.
Swarthmore College enforces academic integrity policies, including those related to unauthorized AI use, through its Honor Code process as outlined in the student handbook. Suspected violations involving AI misuse are subject to the same investigation and adjudication procedures as other academic integrity violations. The college does not appear to rely on automated AI detection tools as a primary enforcement mechanism.
Swarthmore College's ITS AI guidelines caution community members about sharing sensitive or confidential institutional data with external AI platforms. Users are advised to avoid entering personally identifiable information, student records, or proprietary institutional data into public AI tools, in keeping with data privacy obligations.