Teaching & Learning
- Use of AI for coursework and assignments is at instructor discretion
- Faculty may prohibit AI use in a course or assignment, and students must follow course-specific rules; using AI-generated work without sanction and documentation is treated as academic dishonesty
It will continue to be up to the individual faculty member to allow or prohibit its use in their courses.
Permissions: The use of A.I.-generated material for a course or assignment/activity can be prohibited by the faculty member. Failure to follow this prohibition is a violation of the academic integrity code.
Because many kinds of learning happen in the course of a Villanova education, faculty may set specific rules about what is and is not allowed in a particular course and on a given assignment. Students must follow faculty-issued instructions for courses and assignments and may be penalized or found in violation of the Code of Academic Integrity if they do not.
Academic dishonesty takes place whenever anyone undermines the academic integrity of the institution; represents as their work that they have not done themselves, including work generated through unsanctioned and/or undocumented artificial intelligence (A.I.) assistance; or attempts to gain an unfair advantage over others.
- The university does not set a separate institution-wide AI rule specifically for exams and assessments
- Instead, faculty may set assignment- and course-level rules, and students must follow those instructions
Because many kinds of learning happen in the course of a Villanova education, faculty may set specific rules about what is and is not allowed in a particular course and on a given assignment. Students must follow faculty-issued instructions for courses and assignments and may be penalized or found in violation of the Code of Academic Integrity if they do not.
Permissions: The use of A.I.-generated material for a course or assignment/activity can be prohibited by the faculty member. Failure to follow this prohibition is a violation of the academic integrity code.
- Villanova encourages responsible and ethical student learning with AI and provides literacy resources, but warns that inappropriate use can harm learning
- Students are told to follow faculty guidance, and departments and programs are encouraged to teach students how to use these tools ethically and properly
Students will find information on AI literacy expectations, recommended tools, skill-building resources, and practical tips for using AI responsibly, confidently, and effectively in their academic work.
Appropriate use: The purpose of your Villanova education is to foster the skills necessary for the generation of new knowledge and solving of complex problems. Some of these higher-order thinking skills include critical thinking, analytical thinking, problem solving, evaluation, metacognition, and synthesis of knowledge. In many educational contexts, the inappropriate use of A.I. can be detrimental to your learning and mastering higher-order skills and therefore should be avoided. In other situations it could be beneficial. Follow the guidance of your faculty.
Departments, academic programs, and colleges are encouraged to develop disciplineappropriate ways to teach students about this technology and how to utilize these tools ethically and properly. You can help students refine their core skills of critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and digital literacy by teaching them to appropriately use generative A.I and analyze the output.
- AI use for coding or programming in coursework requires explicit instructor permission and proper attribution
- The student guidance states that using AI to fulfill coding or programming requirements without both permission and attribution violates the Code of Academic Integrity
The Code specifically prohibits using A.I. text generators to fulfill essential requirements of an assignment—such as reading, synthesizing, interpreting, writing, coding, or programming—without both explicit instructor permission and proper attribution and citation of any A.I.-assisted components.
It will continue to be up to the individual faculty member to allow or prohibit its use in their courses.
Research
- Faculty are directed to institutional guidelines and support resources for AI in research
- Villanova indicates that guidance for AI use in research is still being developed rather than setting a complete university-wide rule for research writing and manuscript preparation
A.I. in Research
• A survey was sent to faculty concerning A.I. in research and plans are in development to provide requirements as well as guidance around its proper use.
Review Villanova's institutional guidelines on AI in teaching and research
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- The university also offers AI tools and support for research, but research-specific requirements are described as still under development
- For research-related AI use, Villanova explicitly prohibits uploading private/confidential information or intellectual property into open free AI systems
A.I. in Research
• A survey was sent to faculty concerning A.I. in research and plans are in development to provide requirements as well as guidance around its proper use. No private/confidential information or intellectual property may be uploaded into open (free) A.I. systems.
Discover University-supported AI platforms for teaching and research
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- It also frames the institutional approach around academic integrity and Augustinian values, but does not provide a detailed standalone research-ethics AI policy in the cited materials
- Villanova states that research-related AI requirements and guidance are being developed, and it notes that outside bodies such as funding agencies and publishers are creating their own rules
A.I. in Research
• A survey was sent to faculty concerning A.I. in research and plans are in development to provide requirements as well as guidance around its proper use.
• Each funding agency, publisher, and others are developing their own rules around generative
Recommendations for maintaining the integrity of our academic programs.
Promoting Augustinian values to foster thoughtful consideration of A.I.'s impact on human minds, society, and the natural world.
Academic Integrity
- Villanova requires transparency when AI is used in student work where permitted
- The student guidance says AI-assisted components must have proper attribution and citation, and the academic integrity code treats undocumented AI assistance as dishonest
The Code specifically prohibits using A.I. text generators to fulfill essential requirements of an assignment—such as reading, synthesizing, interpreting, writing, coding, or programming—without both explicit instructor permission and proper attribution and citation of any A.I.-assisted components.
Academic dishonesty takes place whenever anyone undermines the academic integrity of the institution; represents as their work that they have not done themselves, including work generated through unsanctioned and/or undocumented artificial intelligence (A.I.) assistance; or attempts to gain an unfair advantage over others.
- Villanova is exploring use of an AI screening tool, while acknowledging limitations
- Enforcement is tied to the Code of Academic Integrity: students who violate course rules or use unsanctioned or undocumented AI may be penalized, and the student guidance states violations can lead to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion
• The University is exploring a screening tool for A.I.-generated material. While such tools have limitations, they can be an excellent deterrent for academic integrity issues.
Students must follow faculty-issued instructions for courses and assignments and may be penalized or found in violation of the Code of Academic Integrity if they do not.
Students who violate the Code are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.
Institutional & Administrative
- Faculty use in courses is not uniformly prescribed; instructors are told it remains up to the individual faculty member to allow or prohibit AI use in their courses
- Villanova provides faculty and staff with supported AI platforms, sample syllabus language, course-design resources, and consultations for teaching, research, and administrative workflows
Faculty can explore guidance for integrating AI into courses, including teaching resources, ethical guidelines, classroom policies, and professional development opportunities.
It will continue to be up to the individual faculty member to allow or prohibit its use in their courses.
Discover University-supported AI platforms for teaching and research
Find strategies for integrating AI into teaching, assignments, and course design
Download sample syllabus statements and AI policy language for your courses
Request consultations to redesign courses with AI integration
- Villanova identifies supported AI platforms and attaches data-classification rules to certain tools
- The university states that no Villanova data may be uploaded into open free AI systems, requires compliance with data governance standards, prohibits uploading private/confidential information or intellectual property into open free AI systems, and lists approved tool environments such as Microsoft Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot for specified data classifications
Please note: Information uploaded to an open (free) A.I. system does not remain private and can be shared with others. At this time, no Villanova data is permitted to be uploaded into open (free) A.I. systems and all data governance standards and policies related to safeguarding university data are required to be followed (located within the Data Governance webpage under “Standards and Policies”).
No private/confidential information or intellectual property may be uploaded into open (free) A.I. systems.
Data Classification: Public, Private and Restricted Data. Avoid SSNs and payment card data.
Data Classification: Public, Private, and Restricted Data. Avoid SSNs and payment card data.
- Villanova has an institution-wide AI strategy centered on thoughtful, ethical use aligned with its Augustinian Catholic mission and values
- The university has established an AI Task Force, is developing proposed guidelines and a comprehensive report, and states that its governance work covers students, employees, and researchers
Villanova embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a commitment to thoughtful, ethical use rooted in our Augustinian Catholic mission and values. We aim to balance innovation with our humanist tradition and intellectual heritage, preparing students to lead responsibly in a changing world.
Villanova has established an A.I. Task Force, which will release a comprehensive report at the end of next semester.
The report will focus on several key areas:
1. Promoting Augustinian values to foster thoughtful consideration of A.I.'s impact on human minds, society, and the natural world.
2. Recommendations for maintaining the integrity of our academic programs.
Artificial Intelligence offers opportunities to develop Villanovans in both personal and professional ways. As we prepare students for their future role in society, Villanova has an obligation to equip students and graduates, as well as employees and researchers, with the tools they need to navigate in a world with emerging and rapidly changing technologies.
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 Villanova University's AI Policies
Villanova University has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
Villanova requires transparency when AI is used in student work where permitted. The student guidance says AI-assisted components must have proper attribution and citation, and the academic integrity code treats undocumented AI assistance as dishonest.
Villanova is exploring use of an AI screening tool, while acknowledging limitations. Enforcement is tied to the Code of Academic Integrity: students who violate course rules or use unsanctioned or undocumented AI may be penalized, and the student guidance states violations can lead to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
Villanova identifies supported AI platforms and attaches data-classification rules to certain tools. The university states that no Villanova data may be uploaded into open free AI systems, requires compliance with data governance standards, prohibits uploading private/confidential information or intellectual property into open free AI systems, and lists approved tool environments such as Microsoft Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot for specified data classifications.