Guidance for AI Use in Teaching and Learning

I. Guidance for Instructors about GenAI in Teaching and Learning

At Oregon State University, integrating generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into teaching and learning offers tremendous possibilities. At the same time, that integration must reflect our shared commitments to human cognition and creativity, academic integrity, and inclusive excellence. This guidance supports faculty autonomy and intellectual freedom in designing engaged learning experiences for students that may include the use of GenAI, while also maintaining transparency, upholding our ethical responsibilities as educators, and protecting the privacy and security of individual and institutional data.

The elements in this guidance that are required will be fully vetted with Faculty Senate this Fall. Nevertheless, we urge your attention and adherence to these guidelines.

Definitions

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to a broad set of advanced digital technologies - rooted in statistics, computer science, and cognitive psychology - that enable machines to perform complex tasks beyond the reach of traditional programming.

Generative AI (GenAI) represents a subset of software tools that use questions, prompts, and other inputs (e.g., text, images, videos) to generate a human-like output (e.g., a response to a question, a written document, software code, or a product design). GenAI includes both standalone offerings, such as ChatGPT, and offerings that are embedded in other software such as Microsoft 365's Copilot.

GenAI Platform Usage

You are welcome to use GenAI tools. However, instructors and staff are encouraged to utilize OSU's Recommended and Approved GenAI tools whenever possible. In some cases, as described below, OSU's Recommended and Approved GenAI tools are required. OSU employees may explore other GenAI tools, provided no confidential, sensitive, or student information (e.g., personally identifiable information, student or employee records, research data) is included. (See University Data Policy.)

OSU's University Information and Technology (UIT) is the authority on and maintains the list of OSU's Recommended and Approved GenAI tools.

Using OSU's Recommended and Approved GenAI tools ensures:

  • Integrated security measures,
  • Standardized protocols,
  • Enhanced data privacy,
  • Access to technical support systems, and
  • Institutional protections.

To protect student privacy, meet legal obligations, and uphold our enterprise security: 

Instructors may not input student work into any GenAI tools or applications that are not approved by OSU.

Required

  • Instructors are required to have a statement on their syllabus about whether and how students should be engaged with GenAI in their OSU course learning and assignments.
  • Instructors are required to identify in a syllabus statement if AI or GenAI tools will be used to do either or both of the following in the course:
    • Create, augment, or refine instructional materials in a substantial way;
    • Provide initial review of student work, draft feedback, or score materials with a rubric.

Allowed

  • Instructors may use GenAI to create, augment, or refine instructional materials, assignments, or assessments.

Required

  • If an instructor chooses to use AI in a substantial way to create, augment, or refine instructional materials, instructors are required to disclose in a syllabus statement their AI usage.
  • Instructors are required to review instructional materials created by GenAI to ensure the highest quality, accuracy, and appropriateness.

Allowed

  • Instructors may direct students to use AI applications and tools as part of their learning in the course. GenAI tools that are not on the OSU Recommended and Approved list may be required, as long as the assigned activities do not require a student to enter their own creative works, sensitive data, or personally identifiable information into the GenAI tool.

Required

  • Instructors must use OSU Recommended and Approved GenAI tools if the student is required to enter their own creative works, sensitive data, or personally identifiable information into the GenAI tool.

Encouraged

  • When possible, instructors are encouraged to use OSU Recommended and Approved GenAI tools as part of the requirements for course activities and assignments.

Allowed

  • Instructors may use OSU Recommended and Approved GenAI tools to provide an initial review of student work, draft feedback, or score materials against a rubric. However, instructors are ultimately responsible for assigning grades based on their human evaluation of student work.

Required

  • Due to privacy and data security concerns, instructors may not input student work to any AI tools or applications that are not recommended and approved by OSU.
  • Instructors are required to disclose to students in their syllabus statement if they will use OSU Recommended and Approved GenAI tools to provide initial review of student work, draft feedback, or score materials with a rubric. Per the above, only OSU Recommended and Approved GenAI tools may be used to provide such review, feedback or scoring.
  • Instructors are required to review feedback for students created by GenAI to ensure the highest quality, accuracy, and appropriateness for the course and the student.

II. GenAI Syllabus Statement

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools may be relevant to student learning but should only be used for coursework in ways that adhere to individual instructor guidelines. When GenAI use is permitted, care must be taken to use these tools responsibly. Instructors differ in their adoption of and approach to AI tools, and students are responsible for reviewing individual course policies and understanding appropriate use in each course. Please contact the instructor if you have questions about specific GenAI tools and the allowable usage of GenAI tools in this course so that, together, we can ensure that we are using these tools in productive and ethical ways. 

In this course, you are expected to adhere to the following GenAI policy:

[Instructors: Choose one of the options below to copy/paste here and see the Guidance on Course-Specific Statement section to tailor this part of your statement]. 

Icon Description
[Insert Icon]

[Insert Description]

 

Syllabus Icons and Descriptions

A red x in a circle denotning "do not use GenAI tools."

The use of any GenAI tools (including but not limited to ChatGPT, Copilot, or Claude) to generate or edit any portion of the substance of your work is not permitted unless explicitly noted in the assignment instructions. While this course recognizes that AI is increasingly embedded in everyday tools like Microsoft Word (e.g., grammar check), Microsoft PowerPoint (e.g., design suggestions), and search engines such as Google, you are not allowed to use AI for your coursework beyond these limited non-substantive supports. 

Quarter-filled circle icon denoting "minor uses permitted for GenAI tools."

For this course, you must be the sole author of all work. You may use GenAI in some minor ways. For example, unless otherwise specified in the assignment, you may use GenAI to [insert examples of what is acceptable].

You may NOT use GenAI to [insert examples of what is not allowed].

Always review individual assignments for specific instructions.

[Optional: If you are using language generated by an AI tool, you must attribute that use by putting that language in quotation marks and adding a citation.]

 

A half-filled circle denoting "GenAI tools are integrated by assignment."

In this course, students are permitted to integrate AI into some of the substantive work of the course. Review individual assignments to determine permissible uses. Unless otherwise noted, you should be able to demonstrate how you contributed to the work you submit for an assignment.

[Add specific requirements for AI use. For example: you are required to keep drafts of assignments and generative AI logs that demonstrate how you used AI and what portion of an assignment's content was generated by AI.]

 

A fully filled circle denoting "GenAI use encouraged and fully permitted."

In this course, you are encouraged to experiment with AI and GenAI tools. You should not enter creative works, sensitive data, or personally identifiable information into GenAI tools.

[Add specific expectations and detailed instructions for students on the use of GenAi.]

An exclamation mark in a circle, denoting "there are specific expectations and notes for Gen AI use."

There are Specific Expectations and Notes for Gen AI Use:

[Add specific expectations and detailed instructions for students on the use of generative AI here if one of the above icons does not suit your policy.]

III. Guidance on Developing Course-Specific GenAI Syllabus Statement

  • Be sure to use both the visual indicator and a detailed description of the specific application of this policy, both in the syllabus and in any assignment-specific language. Using the visual indicator alone is not fully accessible.
  • The icons in the template above include alt text for digital accessibility.

  • Students encounter different policies across their courses and need specific detail to help them understand your approach to GenAI in the course.
  • Clear, detailed, transparent statements also help to hold students accountable in student conduct proceedings.

Be sure to include:

Examples of specific tasks for which students may be allowed to use GenAI: generate ideas, polish or edit drafted text, create an outline of an essay, modify or design presentation slides, review content, self-quizzing, or other studying purposes.

Examples of specific tasks for which students may not be allowed to use GenAI: for any purpose while taking a quiz or test, generate content that is directly used in an assignment (such as code, text, images, or other media), solve problems from assignments, write a first draft of a paper or essay, write all or part of a discussion post or analyze data. 

AI tools that you do or do not want students to use, if specific examples should be called out.

Briefly, why you have selected policy (e.g., to support skill development, because the discipline takes a specific stance on AI use, etc.).

You may need to add more or different information in the future. Make a habit of reviewing your AI statement before each quarter begins.

The Center for Teaching and Learning and Ecampus offer additional guidance on syllabus statements as well as examples that are meant to provide ideas for language to use.