Teaching & Learning
- USF states that use of generative AI tools in coursework is determined by individual instructors, and students are expected to follow the course-specific policy
- USF also provides sample syllabus language indicating that AI use may be allowed for some assignments but not others, and that assignment guidelines may mark exceptions where AI use is not appropriate
Following University Guidance, use of genAI tools within university coursework is at the discretion of individual instructors. Students are expected to follow their course-specific policies.
This course policy can be adjusted to meet specific learning goals, including use in certain assignments and not others, and adjusting the student responsibilities section.
This policy can be tailored to specific learning goals, including allowing AI for some assignments but not others, and updating the student responsibilities section.
Exceptions: If there are specific assignments where the use of AI tools is not appropriate, these will be clearly marked in the assignment guidelines. Students must adhere to these specific instructions.
- USF’s provided sources do not define a specific university-wide rule about generative AI use during examinations or assessments
- The only relevant related content in the provided sources concerns remote exam proctoring and plagiarism detection tools, not AI permissions for exams
Honorlock is an online proctoring service used by USF to monitor exams taken remotely. It helps maintain academic integrity by deterring and detecting cheating, ensuring a fair testing environment for all students. Honorlock is limited to fully online courses (AD or PD).
- USF provides general guidance that individuals are responsible for verifying the validity of AI-generated content and should cross-check information due to possible inaccuracies (“hallucinations”)
- USF also notes that responsible use can help students build skills and encourages faculty to integrate genAI thoughtfully where appropriate, but does not set a student-specific policy for personal study assistance outside course rules
Users are responsible for the validity, correctness, and usefulness of the content generated by these AI tools. Verify facts and cross-check information, as generative AI models can create incorrect information and regularly appears authoritative despite being incorrect.
When used responsibly, genAI can help students build essential skills in research, analysis, communication, and digital fluency—skills increasingly valued in the workplace. USF encourages faculty to thoughtfully integrate genAI where appropriate, ensuring students not only learn how to use these tools but also understand when and why to use them ethically.
The use of generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) can pose significant challenges in regard to both academic integrity and the integrity of the work due to “hallucinations” (because LLMs create content by predicting the most likely next word in a sequence, they sometimes generate content that is not accurate or content that is biased).
- For coursework generally, USF states that AI use is at instructor discretion and students must follow course-specific policies
- USF’s general guidance defines genAI tools as including the ability to generate computer code, but it does not define a university-wide permission/prohibition for AI-assisted coding in programming assignments
GenAI refers to technologies that can automatically generate new, original content and assets including text, images, audio, video, and computer code.
Following University Guidance, use of genAI tools within university coursework is at the discretion of individual instructors. Students are expected to follow their course-specific policies.
Research
- The university also highlights academic integrity risks from AI “hallucinations.”
- For graduate electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs), USF requires citation of any generative AI used for written content and images, and states that generative AI may only be used with permission from the entire committee
Citing the use of any generative AI for written content and images is required in your ETD, and generative AI can only be used in your ETD with permission from the entire committee.
The use of generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) can pose significant challenges in regard to both academic integrity and the integrity of the work due to “hallucinations” (because LLMs create content by predicting the most likely next word in a sequence, they sometimes generate content that is not accurate or content that is biased).
- USF’s provided sources do not define a specific policy governing the use of generative AI for research data collection, data analysis, statistical processing, synthetic data generation, or interpretation of research results
not defined
- USF’s graduate ETD guidance also frames AI use as raising academic integrity concerns due to hallucinations and requires committee permission and citation for AI use in ETDs
- USF states that it integrates genAI tools into academic integrity policies and emphasizes that misrepresenting AI-generated work as one’s own conflicts with the university’s central tenets
While the university integrates genAI tools into our academic integrity policies, misrepresenting AI-generated work as one’s own goes against our central tenets.
The Office of Graduate Studies maintains the University's focus on academic integrity and upholds the goal of protecting students who publish their electronic theses and dissertations through USF.
The use of generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) can pose significant challenges in regard to both academic integrity and the integrity of the work due to “hallucinations” (because LLMs create content by predicting the most likely next word in a sequence, they sometimes generate content that is not accurate or content that is biased).
Citing the use of any generative AI for written content and images is required in your ETD, and generative AI can only be used in your ETD with permission from the entire committee.
Academic Integrity
- USF states that disclosure of genAI use should be made when possible and appropriate, and that this is especially important for student submissions where allowed by instructors
- For graduate ETDs specifically, USF requires citing any generative AI used for written content and images, and provides required citation elements (AI program, version, prompt/directives, and date of access)
Transparency of Use: Users should be aware when they are using genAI tools and should when possible and appropriate disclose content is produced by AI versus human-generated. Disclosing the use of generative AI is especially important for published works, official communications, and student submissions where allowed by instructors.
Citing the use of any generative AI for written content and images is required in your ETD, and generative AI can only be used in your ETD with permission from the entire committee.
The citation must include:
AI Program,
Version,
Directives/prompt,
Date of access
- USF’s faculty course guidance states that detecting AI-generated work is not reliably possible with technology
- USF’s student academic integrity resources identify Turnitin as the official plagiarism detection system and describe Honorlock as a remote exam proctoring service
- For enforcement, USF notes that official reporting of academic misconduct includes the possibility of an “FF” grade, and faculty exercise discretion on when to assign it under the relevant regulation
Detecting generative AI work, especially text based, is not reliably possible with technology.
TurnItIn is the official USF plagiarism detection system.
Honorlock is an online proctoring service used by USF to monitor exams taken remotely.
The official reporting to the University of academic misconduct, however, goes beyond A-F grading, in the form of a special "FF" grade submitted to the Registrar's Office. An FF grade remains on the student transcript, even if the class is retaken, as a marker of academic misconduct. Faculty exercise their own discretion on when to assign an FF grade to a student.
Institutional & Administrative
- USF encourages faculty to thoughtfully integrate genAI where appropriate, emphasizing ethical use
- USF also provides specific guidance that chatbots developed by instructors for courses should use USF supported platforms to ensure data privacy and security
USF encourages faculty to thoughtfully integrate genAI where appropriate, ensuring students not only learn how to use these tools but also understand when and why to use them ethically.
Chatbots developed by instructors for courses should use USF supported platforms to ensure data privacy and security.
- USF states users must follow USF technology policies and must not share protected or sensitive information (including student and employment data) when using public AI tools, and must comply with FERPA and HIPAA
- USF notes that faculty and staff have access to Copilot via USF login as a “data-protected text-based genAI tool.” USF also warns that some third-party Chrome extensions impersonating AI tools have been found stealing user data, including full AI conversations
Data Protection and Privacy: Users are expected to maintain current USF Technology Policies, with specific regard when using publicly available tools that may retain and use data entered into these tools. Users should not share student data, employment data, and other protected or sensitive information. Users must continue to comply with data privacy regulations including FERPA and HIPAA when interacting with public AI tools.
USF faculty and staff have access to Copilot (via their USF login) which provides a data-protected text-based genAI tool and more information is available here.
Recent investigations have uncovered some third-party Google Chrome extensions that are impersonating legitimate AI tools and secretly stealing users’ data, including full ChatGPT and DeepSeek AI conversations, search information and browsing activity, and potentially sensitive financial and other information.
- USF states it is committed to actively engaging with generative AI to maximize opportunities aligned with its mission
- USF also describes a GenAI Task Force appointed by the Provost and Vice President of Information Technology to establish university guidance and recommendations, and to build the foundation for AI governance at USF
USF is committed to actively engaging with this rapidly developing technology to maximize these opportunities.
The USF genAI Task Force is a team of interdisciplinary experts appointed by the Provost and the Vice President of Information Technology to establish university guidance and recommendations for the ethical and transparent use of AI tools at USF.
The group is responsible for building the foundation for AI governance at USF, providing recommendations for AI best practices, predicting the future needs of work for higher education, and communicating AI initiatives to USF stakeholders.
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 University of South Florida's AI Policies
University of South Florida has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
USF states that disclosure of genAI use should be made when possible and appropriate, and that this is especially important for student submissions where allowed by instructors. For graduate ETDs specifically, USF requires citing any generative AI used for written content and images, and provides required citation elements (AI program, version, prompt/directives, and date of access).
USF’s faculty course guidance states that detecting AI-generated work is not reliably possible with technology. USF’s student academic integrity resources identify Turnitin as the official plagiarism detection system and describe Honorlock as a remote exam proctoring service. For enforcement, USF notes that official reporting of academic misconduct includes the possibility of an “FF” grade, and faculty exercise discretion on when to assign it under the relevant regulation.
USF states users must follow USF technology policies and must not share protected or sensitive information (including student and employment data) when using public AI tools, and must comply with FERPA and HIPAA. USF notes that faculty and staff have access to Copilot via USF login as a “data-protected text-based genAI tool.” USF also warns that some third-party Chrome extensions impersonating AI tools have been found stealing user data, including full AI conversations.