Teaching & Learning
- Tulane also encourages transparency when AI is permitted, including encouraging students to describe how AI tools were used
- Tulane indicates that major questions about student AI use are addressed through its academic integrity policies, and it emphasizes that instructors may set course-specific AI guidelines
- The Writing Center guidance instructs students to follow each professor’s AI policy and to read syllabi/assignment instructions closely, including asking the professor to clarify expectations when needed
It is important to note that the major questions about the use of AI by our students are already covered in our academic integrity policies.
Foster Transparency: Each instructor has the option of putting in place guidelines that make the most sense for their specific course or project, but instructions must be clear and precise. Should the use of AI be permitted, students should be encouraged to describe how AI tools were used.
When completing academic work, students should always follow the AI policy established by each individual professor. Be sure to read syllabi and assignment instructions closely. If necessary, ask a professor to clarify their expectations for AI use or non-use.
- Separately, Tulane IT advises against using generative AI tools for high-risk activities such as student assessments without first consulting with Tulane IT and Information Security
- Tulane’s AI committee recommendations call for guidelines on acceptable AI use in coursework and assessments, but the provided sources do not define a specific rule for student AI use during exams (e.g., permitted vs prohibited) at the university level
Establish guidelines for the acceptable use of AI in coursework and assessments, clarifying when and how AI assistance is permissible. Create a standardized format to cite/acknowledge where and how AI tools were used.
Do not use generative AI tools for high-risk activities (e.g., hiring, student assessments, or legal matters) without first consulting with the Tulane IT and Information Security.
- Tulane’s AI site also notes that if AI is permitted, students should be encouraged to describe how AI tools were used
- Tulane’s Writing Center guidance frames AI as a form of outside assistance and directs students to follow each professor’s AI policy for academic work
- The same guidance prompts students to consider whether outside assistance (including AI tools) is helping them do the work themselves or doing the work for them
When completing academic work, students should always follow the AI policy established by each individual professor. Be sure to read syllabi and assignment instructions closely. If necessary, ask a professor to clarify their expectations for AI use or non-use.
If I am receiving outside assistance composing or revising this work, is that outside assistance helping me do the work myself (e.g., a peer review, Writing-Center tutor, or AI tool that flags errors), or is it doing the work for me (e.g., a friend writing the paper, a paid consultant writing the paper, an AI tool writing the paper, etc.)?
Foster Transparency: Each instructor has the option of putting in place guidelines that make the most sense for their specific course or project, but instructions must be clear and precise. Should the use of AI be permitted, students should be encouraged to describe how AI tools were used.
- Guidance provided is general (e.g., follow instructor policy; disclose AI use when relevant) rather than programming-specific
- The provided Tulane sources do not define a university-wide policy specific to AI use for code generation or programming assignments
not defined
Research
- It also warns against entering non-public research data and unpublished papers into publicly available generative AI tools that are not covered by a university licensing agreement
- Tulane IT guidance requires transparency for AI use in research-related activities and states that if research results or publications include AI-generated content, authors must clearly state how AI was used
Disclose the use of generative AI tools in academic, educational, and research-related activities. If research results or publications include AI-generated content, you must clearly state how AI was used in the creation of that content.
Avoid entering Medium or High Risk Tulane information into publicly available generative AI tools that are not covered by a university licensing agreement. This includes non-public research data, unpublished papers, confidential information from research partners, financial and human resources information, student records, medical data, and any information subject to legal or regulatory safeguarding.
- Tulane’s provided sources do not define rules specifically for using AI to conduct research data collection/analysis (e.g., statistical analysis, synthetic data generation) beyond general data-protection requirements
- Tulane’s AI guidance and IT guidance emphasize protecting confidential/restricted data and avoiding entry of non-public research data into publicly available generative AI tools that are not covered by a university licensing agreement
All members of Tulane University have a responsibility to protect university data from unauthorized access or disclosure. Consistent with Tulane’s data governance, data management, and data classification policies, data classified as Level 2- Internal, Level 3-Confidential Data, or Level 4- Restricted should not be entered into publicly available generative AI tools.
Avoid entering Medium or High Risk Tulane information into publicly available generative AI tools that are not covered by a university licensing agreement. This includes non-public research data, unpublished papers, confidential information from research partners, financial and human resources information, student records, medical data, and any information subject to legal or regulatory safeguarding.
- The AI committee recommendations also emphasize ethical considerations and responsible use/decision-making, and the AI website highlights privacy/security review for procured GenAI tools
- Tulane IT guidance instructs community members to consider academic integrity and compliance requirements when using GenAI tools, and it mandates disclosure of GenAI use in research-related activities (including specifying how AI was used if publications include AI-generated content)
These factors include information security, data privacy, compliance with university policies and regulations, confidentiality agreements concerning third-party information, intellectual property rights (such as copyright and patent law), and academic integrity.
Disclose the use of generative AI tools in academic, educational, and research-related activities. If research results or publications include AI-generated content, you must clearly state how AI was used in the creation of that content.
Develop a strategy regarding the transparent use of GenAI tools for both students and faculty, including its capabilities, limitations, and the logic behind its recommendations or decisions. Emphasize the importance of ethical considerations in AI applications, promoting responsible use and decision-making.
Any procured generative AI tools or systems utilizing generative AI tools require a security and risk review by the Tulane Information Security Office.
Academic Integrity
- Tulane IT requires disclosure of generative AI tool use in academic, educational, and research-related activities and requires clarity about how AI was used when publications include AI-generated content
- Tulane’s AI committee recommendations also call for a standardized format to cite/acknowledge where and how AI tools were used, and Tulane’s AI site encourages students to describe how AI tools were used when AI is permitted within a course
Disclose the use of generative AI tools in academic, educational, and research-related activities. If research results or publications include AI-generated content, you must clearly state how AI was used in the creation of that content.
Establish guidelines for the acceptable use of AI in coursework and assessments, clarifying when and how AI assistance is permissible. Create a standardized format to cite/acknowledge where and how AI tools were used.
Should the use of AI be permitted, students should be encouraged to describe how AI tools were used.
- Tulane’s provided sources do not define a policy position on AI detection tools
- For enforcement generally, the Newcomb-Tulane College Academic Integrity page states that anyone can report academic misconduct or alleged violations of the Code of Academic Conduct and that instructors of record should submit reports in a timely manner; however, the provided text does not mention AI-specific enforcement or penalties for undisclosed AI use
Anyone can report academic misconduct or alleged violations of the Code of Academic Conduct.
Instructors of record should submit reports in a timely manner – at the time of grading or shortly after witnessing an issue.
Institutional & Administrative
- Tulane encourages faculty to explore AI’s potential and states that each instructor may set course/project guidelines, with an emphasis on clear instructions and transparency
- Tulane IT also recommends that faculty/instructors use campus resources (ILC/CELT) and warns against using generative AI tools for high-risk activities such as student assessments without first consulting with Tulane IT and Information Security
Promote Exploration: Rather than restricting AI, faculty are encouraged to explore its potential.
Foster Transparency: Each instructor has the option of putting in place guidelines that make the most sense for their specific course or project, but instructions must be clear and precise.
We recommend utilizing resources and guidance available through The Innovative Learning Center (ILC) and The Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching (CELT) on the use of generative AI in teaching and learning.
Do not use generative AI tools for high-risk activities (e.g., hiring, student assessments, or legal matters) without first consulting with the Tulane IT and Information Security.
- Tulane states that Level 2 (Internal), Level 3 (Confidential), and Level 4 (Restricted) data should not be entered into publicly available generative AI tools, and warns that information shared with generative AI tools using default settings is not private
- Tulane IT further instructs users to avoid entering Medium or High Risk Tulane information into publicly available generative AI tools not covered by a university licensing agreement, and notes that procured GenAI tools/systems require a security and risk review by the Information Security Office
All members of Tulane University have a responsibility to protect university data from unauthorized access or disclosure. Consistent with Tulane’s data governance, data management, and data classification policies, data classified as Level 2- Internal, Level 3-Confidential Data, or Level 4- Restricted should not be entered into publicly available generative AI tools.
Information shared with generative AI tools using default settings is not private and could result in unauthorized access or disclosure of university proprietary, confidential or restricted data.
Any procured generative AI tools or systems utilizing generative AI tools require a security and risk review by the Tulane Information Security Office.
Avoid entering Medium or High Risk Tulane information into publicly available generative AI tools that are not covered by a university licensing agreement. This includes non-public research data, unpublished papers, confidential information from research partners, financial and human resources information, student records, medical data, and any information subject to legal or regulatory safeguarding.
- The AI committee recommendations outline areas including developing strategies for transparent GenAI use and adhering to strict data privacy/security protocols
- Tulane describes institution-level AI initiatives including cross-campus working groups and provost-established AI committees intended to guide AI integration into academic work
- Tulane’s president’s update states the university is taking proactive steps to harness AI and is creating cross-campus working groups to examine how AI should be applied across disciplines and contexts
Cross-campus Working Groups: We are assembling experts in intellectual property, data privacy, and security to determine how AI can be applied across disciplines with the goal of providing clarity and structure for creating guidelines.
AI Committees: To further guide the integration of artificial intelligence into the academic work at Tulane University the provost established two committees to learn more about the current campus environment and the needs and interests of the faculty.
We write today to update you on the proactive steps Tulane is taking to harness the exciting promise AI holds to advance our institutional mission and the lives of the members of the Tulane community.
As a next step, we are creating cross-campus working groups to examine how AI should be applied across disciplines and contexts.
Develop a strategy regarding the transparent use of GenAI tools for both students and faculty, including its capabilities, limitations, and the logic behind its recommendations or decisions.
Adhere to strict data privacy and security protocols, ensuring that student and faculty data are protected and used responsibly.
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 Tulane University's AI Policies
Tulane University has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
Tulane IT requires disclosure of generative AI tool use in academic, educational, and research-related activities and requires clarity about how AI was used when publications include AI-generated content. Tulane’s AI committee recommendations also call for a standardized format to cite/acknowledge where and how AI tools were used, and Tulane’s AI site encourages students to describe how AI tools were used when AI is permitted within a course.
Tulane’s provided sources do not define a policy position on AI detection tools. For enforcement generally, the Newcomb-Tulane College Academic Integrity page states that anyone can report academic misconduct or alleged violations of the Code of Academic Conduct and that instructors of record should submit reports in a timely manner; however, the provided text does not mention AI-specific enforcement or penalties for undisclosed AI use.
Tulane states that Level 2 (Internal), Level 3 (Confidential), and Level 4 (Restricted) data should not be entered into publicly available generative AI tools, and warns that information shared with generative AI tools using default settings is not private. Tulane IT further instructs users to avoid entering Medium or High Risk Tulane information into publicly available generative AI tools not covered by a university licensing agreement, and notes that procured GenAI tools/systems require a security and risk review by the Information Security Office.