This page includes information about:
- Adding an AI Statement to Your Syllabus
- Defining What “AI Use” Means in Your Course
- Including Expectations on Assignments
- Explaining the “Why” to Your Students
1. Add an AI statement to your syllabus.
Your syllabus should explain:
- whether generative AI use is prohibited, permitted, or expected;
- which kinds of AI assistance are acceptable;
- which uses are not acceptable; and
- how students should disclose or acknowledge permitted AI assistance.
▶️ Learn more at the Office for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (ATL)’s Syllabus Statements & Design webpage, specifically the Recommended Syllabus Statements for Artificial Intelligence Use in Classes section.
2. Define what “AI use” means in your course.
Consider being explicit about common uses.
In your course, can students use AI to…
- brainstorm ideas?
- develop an outline?
- explain concepts?
- revise grammar?
- locate possible sources?
- generate or debug code?
- summarize material?
- generate prose?
- generate images or other media?
- critique a draft?
A simple “AI is allowed” statement may not provide enough guidance.
3. Include expectations on the assignment, too.
Course-wide guidance is important, but expectations may vary from one assignment to another.
Consider This: For each assignment, ask:
- What AI use is permitted here?
- What AI use is not permitted here?
- What must students disclose?
- What work must represent the student’s independent thinking?
Also, post your expectations in multiple places where students are likely to notice it.
Examples include:
- Your course’s syllabus
- Brightspace
- Assignment Instructions
- Rubric (when appropriate)
4. Explain the “why”.
Whenever possible, connect your AI expectations to the learning objectives in your course.
Example Instructions:
“The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your ability to develop and defend an original argument. You may use AI to brainstorm possible topics, but you may not use AI to draft or rewrite your argument.”
Faculty Quick Check:
✅My syllabus includes written AI guidance.
✅I have defined permitted and prohibited uses for each assignment throughout the course.
✅Students can easily find my guidance for AI use in my course in Brightspace.
✅Individual assignments include expectations.
✅I explain how the expectations for AI-use connect to my course’s learning outcomes.
Bottom line: If students are expected to follow an AI-use rule, give them that rule in writing and have evidence of repeated written communication of that expectation.