ÌÇÐÄVlog

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

 

Purpose

This administrative rule clarifies appropriate use of generative artificial intelligence ("GenAI") at ÌÇÐÄVlog (the College).

 

Statement

Statement
Overview
GenAI is a tool that can either enhance or undermine our efforts in support of our academic mission and service to the community. In all aspects of GenAI use, the educational mission of the College is the foundational guiding principle that directs our work. GenAI should support learning, creativity, and innovation in support of academic excellence and educational access. The use of GenAI should align with the goals and values of the institution. 
This policy does not override instructional discretion about use of GenAI within the curriculum (see AR 7030-02) or any other policies that appropriately limit the use of GenAI at the College.
Scope 
This policy applies to all College employees, students, volunteers, vendors, and affiliates using GenAI tools in learning, education, administration, and service activities. 
Generative AI Use Policy 
Acceptable Use 
Acceptable use of GenAI means that GenAI tools may be used to enhance teaching and learning, assist administrative work, and advance the College’s mission. 
Examples of acceptable use include, but are not limited to: Use of approved tools; use for administrative purposes, including streamlining workflows, assisting with business processes, drafting communications, and/or assembling information to inform decision-making; or use for brainstorming and drafting. Students should refer to their class syllabus for more guidance.
Unacceptable Use 
Unacceptable use of GenAI means any use that violates College policy, or local, state, or federal laws. Specific behaviors that are unacceptable under this policy include: 
Academic Integrity: Use of GenAI must adhere to the College’s academic integrity policies in Academic Integrity and Honesty (AR 7030-02).
Privacy and Security: Individuals under this rule may not violate privacy or risk the security of the College or community members through the use of GenAI. This includes the Student Records and Disclosure of Student Records Information (AR 7040-01), Unauthorized Recording/Electronics Use as outlined in section 5.1.12 of the Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct Code (AR 7030-01), Personnel Records (AR 6095-01), Using Computers and Related Resources (5075-01), or any other policies relating to security of systems at the College or state and federal privacy laws. Student Directory Information (AR 7040-02) under FERPA should also not be used in GenAI engines.   
Accessibility: The use of GenAI may not create a barrier to accessibility in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, or any College policies related to accessibility, including the Accessible Technology policy (AR 1015-03). GenAI tools may not replace any approved disability accommodations or auxiliary aids.
Bias and Inequity: GenAI may not be used to harass or discriminate, or create inequity in violation of the Nondiscrimination and Nonharassment policy, or the Nondiscrimination, Nonharassment Statements and Procedures policy (BP 1015 and AR 1015-01), or any state or federal law prohibiting discrimination. 
Unlawful Use: Any use of GenAI that violates local, state, or federal law is also prohibited under this rule. 
Examples of unacceptable use include, but are not limited to: as a member of a hiring committee, uploading candidate’s resume or other application materials to GenAI; requiring the use of a GenAI tool that is not accessible; spreading a virus on the computer network using GenAI tools; adding personally-identifiable information (PII) such as names or addresses into GenAI. 
Considerations for Ethical Use
Ethical and appropriate use of GenAI requires an understanding of specific risks and resulting guiding principles. The following are specific considerations that should guide the use of GenAI tools and technologies at the College: 
Academic integrity: Supporting the cognitive and intellectual development of learners is a core tenet of the College. Relatedly, academic integrity requires a commitment to honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility in academic and scholarly work, including transparency and attribution when building upon original thought. GenAI tools should be used to augment and support, not shortcut, learning. 
Privacy: No members of the College community should record or share any information or likeness without disclosure and consent from the information’s owner. It is the responsibility of College community members to protect personal data and follow FERPA and other privacy laws and expectations at all times. 
Security: Student, employee, or other sensitive College data should be appropriately kept and managed. Tools should be used that prioritize privacy, transparency, and compliance with laws and other College ARs applying to personal information. 
Accessibility: GenAI should not create barriers or exclude anyone, due to economic access, disability, or other accessibility concerns. 
Bias/Inequity: Caution and active measures should be exercised to prevent GenAI systems from amplifying existing societal and historical biases or inequities.  
Safety and Malicious Use: GenAI should never be used to harm, deceive, harass, or otherwise put people at risk. GenAI should also never be used for illegal and/or unethical purposes. 
Community: GenAI should not replace meaningful human interaction and connection, or take the place of fostering engagement across our community. 
Data Accuracy and Attribution: GenAI may not produce accurate results and should always be vetted. Outcomes from GenAI should not include a misrepresentation or misuse of any information. Individuals’ intellectual property should not be used without consent. Citing sources helps avoid plagiarism and misinformation. 
Environmental Impact: GenAI has an environmental impact; users should use the technology responsibly and be mindful of the carbon footprint and energy consumption associated with GenAI use.  
Strategies for Responsible Use
Specific strategies used in conjunction with GenAI tools can help ensure protective and appropriate GenAI use that can help prevent harm and reduce risk of negative outcomes. Strategies to support responsible GenAI use include but are not limited to: 
Human Oversight, Critical Thinking, and Accountability: GenAI is a tool and not a replacement for human judgment or presence. Faculty, staff, and students should have human oversight throughout the process of AI use and for the ultimate results of using GenAI tools. GenAI should be used to augment, not replace, assigned work and work responsibilities. Careful review is required if GenAI is used to assist in high stakes decisions. Users should maintain a high awareness of misrepresentations, hallucinations (i.e., made-up or nonsensical outputs from GenAI), or other problematic outputs. Users are responsible for maintaining a clear understanding and review of GenAI outputs, vetting results, and taking responsibility for information produced.  
AI Literacy: To understand the scope and impact of GenAI use, and to ensure effective and appropriate use, users of GenAI should take advantage of opportunities for continued learning and understanding of the technology, explore how to best incorporate the use of the tools in their work, and continually seek to improve their own AI literacy skills. 
Transparency: Important qualities of transparency include disclosure of GenAI use, obtaining consent to use GenAI in group contexts such as recording meetings, and proper attribution of GenAI’s outputs connected to the final product. Whenever GenAI is implemented in a way that significantly influences or guides outcomes or decisions, public information, or other actions, such use should be clearly disclosed. 
Judicious Use: At all times, users of GenAI should use good judgment about the extent to which they utilize GenAI tools and outputs to complete their work, as well as the impact that such use may have on outcomes, trustworthiness of the results, the environment, and on teaching and learning. 
Accountability
Use Incongruent with the College Mission: Not all GenAI use concerns may violate policy, but may otherwise be incongruent with the College’s stated mission and values. In those instances, the College will initiate discussion, shared learning, and collaborative problem-solving strategies to reduce negative impacts, maintain rights, and create a positive educational environment. 
Failure to Comply with Policy: Alleged misuse of GenAI according to 3.B.i, sections 1-4 may result in investigation and, if confirmed, formal or informal corrective action in alignment with the College’s procedures. Outcomes would depend on the context, nature, and severity of the violation.

 

 

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