Teaching & Learning
- Using AI to generate an entire paper or assignment presented as the student's own work is prohibited
- Students may use AI for preparatory coursework tasks, but only in ways that support their own learning and only within course-specific requirements
- For written assignments, AI-generated material is allowed only if the instructor permits it, and even then it must be used sparingly and in support of the student's own ideas
Students are responsible for using AI tools properly while adhering to course-specific requirements and guidelines, including style, formatting, and referencing. AI tools can be used when studying, prewriting, source gathering, and in other preparatory tasks related to coursework. AI tools should only be used to support student learning, not replace it.
If use of AI-generated material is permitted by the instructor in a course or for a specific assignment, any AI-generated text should be used sparingly, appropriately, and in service of supporting one’s own ideas as with other integrated materials, at your instructor’s discretion. Using AI to generate an entire paper or assignment that is meant to be your own work is not a proper use of this technology.
- AI use during tests and assessments is prohibited
- The university states that students must generate and recall the knowledge being assessed themselves, noting that AI generators may not always provide correct answers
Generative AI and related tools should not be used to compose responses to test or assessment questions. Testing assesses a student's understanding of specific information and knowledge. It is the student's responsibility to generate and recall this knowledge. AI generators may not always provide correct answers.
- The policy limits this use to supporting student learning rather than replacing it
- AI is permitted for non-graded learning support such as studying, prewriting, source gathering, and other preparatory coursework tasks
Students are responsible for using AI tools properly while adhering to course-specific requirements and guidelines, including style, formatting, and referencing. AI tools can be used when studying, prewriting, source gathering, and in other preparatory tasks related to coursework. AI tools should only be used to support student learning, not replace it.
Research
- No AI-specific policy for research data or analysis is defined
- The university's general academic integrity policy prohibits falsifying research results, inventing data, and misrepresenting sources, which applies broadly to all work including any AI-assisted research
Falsifying research results is also academic dishonesty. Examples include: 1. Deliberately misreporting the results of laboratory or field research; 2. Inventing data and sources for written, oral, or other presentations; 3. Inventing case studies and relevant facts in reports, papers, or presentations that purport to be about real people and real cases.
- No AI-specific policy for research ethics, grant proposals, or IRB applications is defined
- The university's general academic integrity policy prohibits falsifying research results and inventing data or sources, which would apply to any work including AI-assisted research
Falsifying research results is also academic dishonesty. Examples include: 1. Deliberately misreporting the results of laboratory or field research; 2. Inventing data and sources for written, oral, or other presentations; 3. Inventing case studies and relevant facts in reports, papers, or presentations that purport to be about real people and real cases.
Academic Integrity
- The policy also requires students to cross-check AI-generated citations for accuracy
- When AI-generated material is used in an assignment and the instructor permits that use, students must cite it appropriately using the citation style required by the course
When using AI-generated material in an assignment (if permitted), it must be cited appropriately and with the required citation style for that course (APA, MLA, etc.). If using AI tools to generate citations, students should always cross-check them with required formatting standards for accuracy. While use of AI-generated material may be permitted on certain assignments, remember that AI-generated material is not considered scholarly.
- Trinity explicitly says it does not use Turnitin.com or other commercial plagiarism-detection products
- Improper AI use is treated as cheating, and the university applies its academic dishonesty procedures and penalties
- Penalties differ by student status: undergraduates before senior status face escalating sanctions, while senior-status and graduate students found guilty of academic dishonesty are expelled
Inappropriate use of AI-generated material is a form of cheating. Processes and penalties for cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are covered in Trinity’s honor policy, found here:
As a matter of institutional policy, Trinity does not use Turnitin.com or other commercial products to discover plagiarism, and faculty should follow this policy.
For undergraduate students in all academic units prior to the achievement of senior status, the penalties for engaging in any form of academic dishonesty are as follows:
1. In the first instance, the student will get an “F” grade in the course and the student will receive counseling concerning her or his conduct. No refunds are available for courses in which a student receives an “F” grade for cheating.
2. In the second instance, the student will get an “F” grade for the course and will be suspended from school for the balance of the semester in which she or he is enrolled and the subsequent semester. No refunds are available under these circumstances. If the decision occurs in the middle of a semester in which the student is also enrolled in other courses, the student will receive “W” grades for all other courses.
3. In the third instance, the student will get an “F” grade for the course and will be expelled from Trinity with no opportunity to return. No refunds are available under these circumstances, and if the student is enrolled in other courses at the time of the decision, the student will receive a “W” grade in all other courses.
Accordingly, senior students and graduate students who are found guilty of academic dishonesty are expelled from Trinity. In this instance, the student will get an “F” grade for the course and will be expelled from Trinity with no opportunity to return. No refunds are available under these circumstances, and if the student is enrolled in other courses at the time of the decision, the student will receive a “W” grade in all other courses.
Institutional & Administrative
- The provided sources do not give a policy on faculty or staff using AI for grading, feedback, lesson planning, recommendation letters, or administrative communications
- The only faculty-facing statement in the provided materials is that faculty should follow the institutional policy not to use Turnitin.com or other commercial plagiarism-detection products
As a matter of institutional policy, Trinity does not use Turnitin.com or other commercial products to discover plagiarism, and faculty should follow this policy.
- This is the only explicit AI governance statement in the provided sources
- The university states that its AI coursework policy will be reviewed regularly by the University Committee on Academic Policy
Note: Due to the changing nature of Artificial Intelligence, this policy will undergo regular review by the University Committee on Academic Policy (UCAP).
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 Trinity College (DC)'s AI Policies
Trinity College (DC) has defined AI policies in 9 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 75%.
When AI-generated material is used in an assignment and the instructor permits that use, students must cite it appropriately using the citation style required by the course. The policy also requires students to cross-check AI-generated citations for accuracy.
Improper AI use is treated as cheating, and the university applies its academic dishonesty procedures and penalties. Trinity explicitly says it does not use Turnitin.com or other commercial plagiarism-detection products. Penalties differ by student status: undergraduates before senior status face escalating sanctions, while senior-status and graduate students found guilty of academic dishonesty are expelled.
No explicit data protection or approved AI platform policy is currently defined in the available policy sources.