AI & Academic Integrity Guidance
Co-written by the EIU Dean of Students and Faculty Development and Innovation Center
For Students
Use Generative AI Responsibly
Writing and research are central ways to learning and understanding material in college. The central tenet of academic integrity is doing your own work.
The most important rule to follow is: if you consider using AI for any of your classes, you must always talk to your professor in advance to obtain permission to use AI tools for any of your coursework. In addition, when granted permission you should always appropriately cite the use of AI in your coursework. Once again, talk to your professor about their expectations on use and how to cite the work.
Be aware that it is your responsibility to stay informed on whether a product or tool uses generative AI. For example, many students may not consider Grammarly as an AI tool, however, Grammarly is a writing assistant that uses advanced AI to provide real-time writing and solutions and should not be used without prior approval from the course instructor.
Remember to:
- Follow only the specific permitted use set by the instructor. If you are unsure of a faculty member’s policy, ask before using AI technology for courses and assignments.
- Document and attribute all generative AI contributions to your coursework.
- Take full responsibility for generative AI contributions, ensuring the accuracy of facts and sources.
Think Critically About Generative AI
The output of generative AI models is not always accurate. It may be misleading, inaccurate, biased, and may even be made up. Use critical thinking skills and question the source and quality of training data used in the generative AI model. Carefully evaluate the results (and citations), fact check, determine accuracy/usefulness of output, and engage in class discussions to identify and address biases or inaccuracies.
Ways Not to Use Generative AI
There are some things to keep in mind when using generative AI for your coursework. Here are a few:
- Don’t rely solely on information provided by generative AI as it may be inaccurate, misleading, biased, and even made-up. This includes citations. Always verify the reliability and validity of all sources sited by any AI application.
- Don’t use generative AI to replace your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Generative AI can be a tremendous tool to supplement your learning process, not to replace it. You will still need to think critically and engage with your course work, using AI as one of many tools at your disposal.
For Faculty
EIU does not have a campus-wide AI policy. It is up to faculty members to determine, communicate, and enforce the use or non-use of AI in their courses.
The most important rule to follow is to communicate your AI policy clearly. You, your department chair, and the Dean of Students cannot enforce a policy that is underdeveloped or non-existent.
Remember to:
- Provide a clear statement about AI use on your syllabus. For ideas, visit the FDIC AI Toolkit.
- If you allow the use of AI in your courses, be clear and explicit about what is and is not allowed.
- Repeat your AI policy for each learning assessment and project; include it clearly in assignment guidelines and directions and consider including a statement on your D2L course site. The more you share this statement, and are consistent with it, the more likely you and your learners will be successful.
- Discuss information literacy and critical thinking about AI with your learners. Include how AI is used and not used in your field of study.
- Consider the positive and challenging uses of AI to your course and curriculum, including the professional landscape learners will enter after graduation. Academic integrity includes responsibilities of faculty to prepare learners for a future, which will undoubtedly include artificial intelligence to some degree.
About AI Detection Tools
Do not depend on AI detection tools to address the use of generative AI in your assignments. They are unreliable and easy to circumvent and generate many false positives. If you do use an AI detection tool on learner writing, we suggest using at least two AI detection tools and comparing the results. Then use these results as a conversation starter with learners. Falsely accusing learners of cheating with generative AI can quickly damage a learner's reputation, as well as your own, and negatively impact the classroom culture and community.
- AI detection tools are not definitive, they are a conversation starter for you to engage with your learners.
- If you suspect inappropriate use of AI in your course:
- First, talk with the individual and ask open-ended questions about their writing and development process.
- Second, revisit your AI policy with the learner to uncover if there was willful and purposeful use of AI incongruent with your course AI policies.
- Third, if you still suspect academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism, work with your Department Chair as usual and together consider contacting the Dean of Students office. You can consult the Dean of Students Academic Dishonesty procedures at: https://www.eiu.edu/deanofstudents/dishonesty.php
Keep in mind, without a campus-wide policy, learners may be balancing multiple, contradictory AI policies from different faculty. Continued conversation and clarity about your policy is essential.
Site updated: 12-July-2024
