We strongly believe that there is no single college-wide policy for AI that can serve the needs of all of our distinct majors and departments.
We propose that the leadership and faculty within each major or program should work together to craft an AI policy that works for best achieving their student learning outcomes.
We recommend that every course syllabus have specific rules for the use of AI in that class and for its assignments. AI expectations need to be clear to students at the start of the semester.
We recommend that all syllabi include a definition of AI Tools and state the specific policy for that class.
AI Tools Definition: AI Tools are software applications powered by machine learning and neural networks, specifically using generative models to create new content or aid in tasks. This includes text generators like ChatGPT, image generators such as Midjourney, and a variety of other AI technologies across different fields and media.
Citation and Documentation: If your syllabus requires documentation, you should provide the proper citation and documentation format for your class.
Here are some examples for suggested citation from the Modern Language Association and the Chicago Manual of Style:
Below is suggested syllabus language for four different approaches to using AI to complete assignments:
Use of AI Tools is prohibited: Students may not use AI Tools of any kind for assignments in this course. Using such tools will be considered plagiarism and is thus prohibited by the Ringling Academic Integrity Policy.
May use AI Tools only with specific permission: Students may use AI Tools on specific assignments in this course only when specified by the instructor. Using such tools without permission will be considered plagiarism and is thus prohibited by the Ringling Academic Integrity Policy. If permission is granted to use AI Tools, the student must document and credit the AI Tools they used for the assignment.
May use AI Tools with acknowledgement: Students may use AI Tools for assignments in this course as long as that use is properly documented and credited.
Use of AI Tools is freely permitted with no acknowledgement: Students are allowed to use AI Tools for assignments in this course; no special documentation or citation is required.
We recommend that a final and approved version of the above language gets added to the Syllabus Template provided by Academic Affairs.