Why Have an AI Use Policy?
Students continue expressing confusion, fear, and
uncertainty over allowable uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher
Education. Syllabi represent a reliable, go-to location where faculty can
outline their positions and policies regarding the successful integration and
leveraging of AI products to support learning. Further, AI syllabi policies are
essential for establishing clear ground rules, promoting operational
transparency, and fostering open communication.
The T.R.E.A.T Framework
Thanks to the unique demands of Artificial Intelligence,
policy statements need to be comprehensive, but there is so much to cover that
drafting a functional disclaimer can be daunting! What’s the solution? How
about the T.R.E.A.T. framework?
The following components highlight key questions a
well-rounded AI policy addresses:
TOOLS
- Are students allowed to use AI? (This frameworks assumes
they can : )
- What is the instructor’s professional/personal motivation
for supporting AI? (This is a great way to promote transparency, AI literacy,
and dialogue!)
- Is AI use required? (AI’s questionable ethics provide a
legitimate reason for refusing to use the technology; in an inclusive learning
environment, this decision should be a respected)
- Are certain AI products more appropriate/useful than others
for the particular subject matter, course work, or assessments?
- Are the suggested AI products free, require an account, or
subscription-based? (Emphasis should be placed on promoting free AI products)
RULES
- When, or under what conditions, is AI use allowed? (If if
this is too involved for the syllabus, direct students to where they can locate
the details)
- Where can students find explanations about how AI can be
used?
- If policies regarding AI use are violated, what specific
disciplinary steps will follow?
EVALUATION
- How will student AI use be evaluated? Is it based on the
degree of AI-student collaboration, student reflections, or AI use
transparency?
- Is there a specialized rubric or particular AI-related
rubric criteria that will be used? (A best practice is to share any grading
measurement with students ASAP)
- Will the instructor be using AI to provide written feedback
or assign letter grades?
- Will the instructor be relying on AI detectors?
- Will uploaded student work be anonymized?
AGENCY
- Are students reminded to use AI as a supplemental learning
tool and not as a substitute?
- Are students warned against the detrimental impact of AI
overreliance?
TRANSPARENCY
- What aspects of AI engagement do students need to document?
- How will students be expected to share their AI engagement?
- How will the instructor be using AI to support course
development - drafting learning outcomes, creating slide presentations, or
generating quizzes?
- How will the instructor inform students AI-generated
material is being used in class?
A Sweet T.R.E.A.T.
The following example of an AI syllabus use policy follows
the T.R.E.A.T. framework = feel free to copy, amend, and edit as needed!
Students are allowed to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in
this class because AI knowledge reflects the reality of future employment,
engaging with the technology encourages its critical evaluation, and direct
engagement with AI products develops skills for their appropriate and effective
application. However, AI use is not required, and coursework can be
successfully completed without it. Recommended AI products include: ChatGPT,
Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. These products can be used for free but may require
creating a user account. (T)
Detailed explanations about acceptable AI use can be
found in assignment directions. Since approved AI use varies by assignment or
task, please read all directions carefully. If anything is unclear, contact
your instructor. Assignments that don’t abide by stated AI use expectations
will earn half credit; after three AI policy violations the instructor will
file an “academic integrity violation” report. (R)
AI use will be graded according to its adherence to stated
AI use limits, the thoroughness of AI engagement documentation, and the
thoughtfulness of a student’s AI use reflections. Please review the rubric
criteria associated with evaluating AI in the “Grading and Evaluation” module
available online. (E)
In addition, the instructor will be prompting AI to evaluate
written work against scoring rubrics, as well as provide more tailored,
in-depth, and timely feedback. Any materials submitted to an AI product for
evaluation will be anonymized. Students should use AI platforms as
supplementary resources for learning and idea generation, not as substitutes
for their own critical thinking, analysis, and original work. An over-reliance
on AI can undermine skills development, ultimately cheating learners out of creating
an ability to succeed in advanced coursework and professional settings where
these competencies are crucial. (A)
Students must share their prompts and AI responses. This can
be done via screen shots included as an addendum/last page within a submitted
file or directly via an AI product’s sharing features (Gemini and Perplexity
have clickable “share” links).
In addition to grading, your instructor will be using AI to
write learning objectives, draft quiz questions, and create slide presentations.
Any instructor-provided AI-generated content will be prominently labeled. (T)