Student AI Use Policy at University of Northwestern – St. Paul

University of Northwestern – St. Paul is committed to the ethical and responsible use of advanced automated tools and technology (such as generative artificial intelligence and large language models) to foster an environment that upholds our mission and values as a comprehensive university committed to promoting Christ-centered higher learning and scholarship. As such, we Northwestern has established the following overarching administrative policy for advanced automated tool use at UNW. [i]

Principles

Professionalism and Clear Attribution: The UNW community is expected to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and honesty when using advanced automated tools, ensuring proper attribution and acknowledging the contributions of AI-generated content as one would acknowledge use of content from another source. We are responsible for the words we communicate and deliver.

Responsible Use: Students are responsible to use discernment and critically engage with the output of these tools recognizing the limitations, risks, and ethical issues involved in their use. When using AI tools like GPT-based chatbots, faculty and students should not enter or request private, protected, or confidential information. These tools cannot guarantee privacy or security of such data. Data entered into these tools may be collected and used as training data or shared without your knowledge. Anyone using AI tools should thoroughly understand and comply with stated user agreements.

Student Proficiency with AI Tools: UNW encourages students to explore and practice using AI tools and technology in a responsible and ethical manner, both for their personal development and to prepare for professional opportunities after graduation.

Growth through Independent Work: Educational activities (assignments, exams, etc.) are meant to develop students and stimulate growth in skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, recall and application of knowledge, synthesis of ideas, and creativity. Educational activities may at times restrict or prohibit the use of supporting tools to promote students' resilience and well-rounded proficiency.

Course Work Policies and Accountability

Faculty members are granted the latitude to select the most appropriate approach for each learning activity or assessment in each of their courses, such as the following [ii]:

Prohibit All Use
Allow use with prior permission
Allow use with explicit acknowledgement/attribution
Freely allow use

If expectations for appropriate use are unclear, students should ask their instructor before proceeding. Unauthorized uses of these tools may be considered a violation of course or university academic integrity policies.

As with other forms of academic integrity violations, cases of suspected misuse of advanced automated tools will be subject to university academic honesty policies.

Conclusion

As the field of advanced automated tools develops, related University policy is subject to change. By adopting these principles and guidelines, UNW seeks to nurture a thriving, God-honoring academic community that responsibly leverages technology for the benefit of its students, faculty, and the broader society.

Last updated: 5.25.23

[i] This policy language was revised, expanded, and contextualized from an initial draft produced by ChatGPT Plus (GPT-4). April 19, 2023. https://chat.openai.com/

[ii] Four approaches from University of Delaware’s “Considerations for using and addressing advanced automated tools in coursework and assignments” https://ctal.udel.edu/advanced-automated-tools/