Teaching & Learning
- UTEP does not set one uniform rule for student AI use in coursework; course-level AI rules are generally left to faculty discretion and should be communicated in the syllabus and by assignment
- When an instructor permits AI, students may be required to acknowledge or cite its use; when an instructor prohibits it, using AI for that purpose is treated as academic misconduct and may be referred for discipline
It is important to note that the choice to make use of GenAI technologies in the classroom and the specific
policies around AI usage in such contexts is generally at faculty discretions. Communicate in your syllabus
the expectations for students’ course-related uses of AI.
The use of generative AI tools such as Chat GPT is permitted in this course for the
following activities, which must be noted or cited:
[insert list of activities for which using AI is allowed in your course]
However, you may not use AI tools to complete the following activities:
[insert list of activities for which using AI is not allowed in your course]
Using artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, or a similar service to create content and pass on that content as if it was one’s own where use of such artificial intelligence for that purpose is prohibited;
Using artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, or a similar service to complete or assist in the completion of an assignment or test where use of such artificial intelligence for that purpose is prohibited;
- UTEP leaves AI rules for exams and assessments to the instructor, who determines whether AI is authorized for a test or assignment
- If AI is used during a test or assignment when not authorized, the conduct falls under academic misconduct and is subject to discipline
Using artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, or a similar service to complete or assist in the completion of an assignment or test where use of such artificial intelligence for that purpose is prohibited;
Possession or use during a test or assignment of materials which are not authorized by the person giving the test or assignment, such as class notes, calculators, electronic devices, books, or specifically designed “crib notes”;
- UTEP encourages faculty to discuss and model responsible AI use as a support for learning rather than a substitute for student thinking
- University guidance recommends using AI for brainstorming, outlining, clarifying, and improving understanding, while requiring students to apply their own judgment, follow instructor rules, and remain responsible for submitted work
We can guide students in using AI as a support for learning by
helping them build skills in reflection, originality, and accountability.
Use AI to learn, not to shortcut learning
AI tools can support brainstorming, outlining, or clarifying—but your ideas, voice, and
reasoning must drive your work.
Critically evaluate AI outputs
Don't accept AI responses at face value. Always fact-check, cross-reference, and apply
your own judgment.
Prioritize growth over perfection
Use AI to improve drafts and deepen understanding, not to override the learning
process. Struggle and reflection are part of developing mastery.
More than ever, it is important to impress upon students the fact that if they are putting their name on
an assignment, they must take complete responsibility for its content.
Research
- UTEP materials provided do not set an AI-specific research data policy, but the syllabus template identifies falsifying research data on laboratory reports as academic dishonesty
- The faculty handbook also notes that AI may be used for analyzing data and identifying patterns in coursework, but this is presented as a pedagogical rationale rather than a research policy
student, possessing unauthorized materials during a test, or falsifying research data on
laboratory reports.
Enhanced problem-solving skills: AI can be a powerful tool for analyzing data, identifying
patterns, and solving complex problems. Allowing students to use AI in their coursework can
help them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by leveraging the capabilities
of these technologies.
- The provided sources do not contain an AI-specific policy for grant proposals, IRB materials, or research ethics declarations
- UTEP states that students are expected to uphold honesty and transparency in scholarship and research, and academic misconduct that compromises scholarship or research is prohibited
In engaging in the educational process, students are expected to uphold the values of intellectual honesty and transparency in their scholarship and research. Academic Misconduct is prohibited and subject to discipline.
Academic Misconduct refers to any action or omission by a student that misrepresents (or attempts to misrepresent) a student’s or group’s work, knowledge, or achievement; provides a potential or actual unfair advantage; or otherwise compromises the integrity essential to scholarship or research.
Academic Integrity
- When AI use is allowed, UTEP guidance requires transparency about how the tool was used, following instructor directions for citation or disclosure
- Sample syllabus language requires noting or citing permitted AI uses and citing borrowed content sources; uncredited AI-generated content is treated as plagiarism in the university guidance
You are welcome to use AI tools to support your work in this class, but you must describe and
acknowledge how you used them with each submission. Any uncredited AI-generated content will be
treated as plagiarism and referred to the Office of Community Standards.
You may use AI tools to brainstorm ideas or plan your approach. However, your final work must reflect
your own reasoning and analysis. AI-generated ideas are not your own and must be cited if directly
included.
You may use AI tools only with prior instructor approval. If approved, include a brief note in your
submission describing how you used the tool and cite the tool properly.
If you use AI to help you with an assignment, be upfront. Follow your instructor’s
guidelines on how and when to cite or disclose it.
The use of generative AI tools such as Chat GPT is permitted in this course for the
following activities, which must be noted or cited:
[insert list of activities for which using AI is allowed in your course]
Students must cite any borrowed content sources to comply with all applicable citation
guidelines, copyright law, and avoid plagiarism.
- UTEP emphasizes enforcement through its academic misconduct process rather than surveillance
- Unauthorized AI use is classified under academic misconduct, and suspected violations must be reported to the student conduct office; the teaching guidance also states that AI misuse or uncredited AI-generated content will be referred to the Office of Community Standards
This isn’t about surveillance! The goal is not to “catch” AI misuse but rather to cultivate responsible and
effective use.
Clarify that violations fall under UTEP’s existing academic integrity policies.
Inform students that academic misuse of AI will be directed to the Office of Community
Standards.
Any identified AI-generated content will be treated as plagiarism
and referred to the Office of Community Standards.
All
suspected violations of academic integrity at The University of Texas at El Paso must be
reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR) for possible
disciplinary action.
Using artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, or a similar service to create content and pass on that content as if it was one’s own where use of such artificial intelligence for that purpose is prohibited;
Using artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, or a similar service to complete or assist in the completion of an assignment or test where use of such artificial intelligence for that purpose is prohibited;
Institutional & Administrative
- UTEP encourages faculty and staff to integrate AI into syllabi, course design, and assessment through professional development resources
- Faculty are expected to set and communicate course AI expectations, discuss ethical use, and decide what uses of AI to allow or prohibit in their classes
- The Copilot service page also makes approved AI tools available to faculty and staff for document drafting, summaries, data analysis, and presentation creation
The Artificial Intelligence Design Academy (AIDA) is tailored to equip faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into syllabi, course design, and assessment.
As part of UTEP’s commitment to innovation and academic excellence, we encourage faculty to
integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies thoughtfully and transparently into teaching and
learning.
Communicate your rationale governing your AI stance clearly. Share the “why” with students.
Make your policy on generative AI use in your course and specific assignments clear to students by integrating the expectations into your syllabus and each assignment.
UTEP has designated Microsoft Copilot as its sole authorized AI tool due to its integration of GPT-4 technology and adherence to Microsoft’s rigorous data protection standards.
Paid subscription available to faculty and staff.
It offers features like Teams meeting summaries and transcription, email management, Excel data analysis, and presentation creation utilizing your work files.
- UTEP designates Microsoft Copilot as its only authorized AI tool and states that it is approved because of Microsoft data protection safeguards
- The university guidance tells users not to enter personal, sensitive, or proprietary information into AI tools, and Copilot training materials state that enterprise data protection keeps prompts and outputs from being used to train the model
UTEP has designated Microsoft Copilot as its sole authorized AI tool due to its integration of GPT-4 technology and adherence to Microsoft’s rigorous data protection standards. This ensures that UTEP’s information remains confidential and is not used for AI training purposes.
Both tools adhere to Microsoft’s data protection standards to ensure UTEP’s information remains confidential.
Microsoft Copilot Chat is UTEP’s officially approved and secure AI-driven chat solution.
Protect your data and privacy
Avoid entering personal, sensitive, or proprietary information into AI tools. Know what
happens to your input.
The problem with using generative AI without
enterprise data protection is that prompts or content you generate can be exposed to the public as part of another answer. That’s
where Copilot Chat comes in: it’s protected with enterprise data protection, so what you put in and get out is not used to train the
underlying AI model. Our company data stays safe.
- The university also provides formal enablement through the Artificial Intelligence Design Academy for faculty and staff and has adopted Microsoft Copilot as the institution’s authorized AI platform
- UTEP presents an institutional approach that encourages thoughtful, transparent AI integration in teaching and learning and emphasizes alignment with learning outcomes, transparency, fairness, and ethical use
As part of UTEP’s commitment to innovation and academic excellence, we encourage faculty to
integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies thoughtfully and transparently into teaching and
learning.
This framework, borrowed from Jeffrey Washburn, Ph.D. (UT Permian Basin), promotes transparency,
fairness, and student judgment.
In higher
education, it’s our responsibility to help students engage with these technologies ethically,
transparently, and with critical judgment.
The Artificial Intelligence Design Academy (AIDA) is tailored to equip faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into syllabi, course design, and assessment.
UTEP has designated Microsoft Copilot as its sole authorized AI tool due to its integration of GPT-4 technology and adherence to Microsoft’s rigorous data protection standards.
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 Texas at El Paso's AI Policies
University of Texas at El Paso has defined AI policies in 10 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 83%.
When AI use is allowed, UTEP guidance requires transparency about how the tool was used, following instructor directions for citation or disclosure. Sample syllabus language requires noting or citing permitted AI uses and citing borrowed content sources; uncredited AI-generated content is treated as plagiarism in the university guidance.
UTEP emphasizes enforcement through its academic misconduct process rather than surveillance. Unauthorized AI use is classified under academic misconduct, and suspected violations must be reported to the student conduct office; the teaching guidance also states that AI misuse or uncredited AI-generated content will be referred to the Office of Community Standards.
UTEP designates Microsoft Copilot as its only authorized AI tool and states that it is approved because of Microsoft data protection safeguards. The university guidance tells users not to enter personal, sensitive, or proprietary information into AI tools, and Copilot training materials state that enterprise data protection keeps prompts and outputs from being used to train the model.