AI Syllabus Statements & Policy Examples
We strongly encourage you include a policy in your syllabus and/or for individual assignments that may allow different use of AI. Your students will benefit from clarity about your expectations and deliberate engagement with your policy as courses may have different expectations.
If you'd like to consult about the possibilities of AI in your course and/or your policy, feel free to email ctl@kent.edu. You may also want to come to a workshop on AI policy - check out our AI workshops here.
Developing The Best Policy For You
AI Policies are not one-size fits all. You may have very good reasons for prohibiting use of AI while others may want to require use of AI in their course.
![AI reflection a circle of a head with an eye for a brain and dark shadow of human standing and its reflected](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/fixed_width_100px/public/AI%20reflect.png?VersionId=p4lTOASx5QZo0wBXL0t5A84BL8Xx4Klu&itok=8yg2qj24)
Reflecting on your Course
Consider the prompts below in thinking about your AI policy
1) How do your students currently use AI?
2) How will your students will use AI in their futures?
3) How AI could support your student's learning?
4) What may be lost or gained with students use of AI?
No Need to start from Scratch
- Option A - Start with Examples: There are lots of examples available below and online of syllabus and assignment statement. Review a few and edit as you see necessary to fit your course.
- Option B - Use a creator tool that takes you through steps of deciding elements of your policy with editable examples of each element (introduction of what counts as AI in your class, how you may or may not want students to use it in your course, etc). Seaver College's Generative AI Syllabus Statement Tool can be a good starting place. You can click here to access their tool.
- Option C - Talk with others in your unit or departmental leads.
Elements to consider in Your policy
- Acknowledgement of bis and inaccuracies of AI: helping to raise student awareness
- Rationale for policy: increases motivation as reasoning is clear
- Statement about what happens if there is suspected unexpected use (i.e. verbal review or "regret clause")
Engaging Students in Your Policy
![engaging students in AI policy an ai generated image of students around a head that represents AI](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/fixed_width_200px/public/engage%20in%20AI.jpg?VersionId=997uov.wS_tVg8uZy3rNhgr9ot4pdZwO&itok=R6UJrrfQ)
- Make your policy visible (syllabus statement, dedicated page on Canvas, visual aid - infographic, video, etc)
- Provide continuous reminders (announcements/emails/verbally, assignments descriptions etc)
- Engage students in dialogue (discuss the why of the policy, describe the purpose/value of assignments & pprovide space for students to ask for clarity)
- Add activities related to your policy (integrity quiz, scenario activity, play a "what-not-to-do" game, etc)
*You may even consider engaging students in developing or editing a policy for the course. Students discussion about values that are important to them and/or content create and credit can help students align with your policy.
Policy Examples
Examples below include both example language for a syllabus and within the limited use section, examples for specific assignments and how AI can be used differentially across a project. Many of these examples were modified from a curated resource by Lance Eaton (linked at bottom) to attend to concerns expressed by Kent State University faculty. Feel free to copy or modify these examples for use in your course.
Use AI Freely
AI Use is Permitted but Limited
You may want to consider having an overall statement in your syllabus and further clarification or reminders within specific assignments as to what AI uses are acceptable. Some students have been taught how to use AI whereas others are not sure where to begin. If you are suggesting or allowing AI in your course, you should provide guidance for students on which tools, writing productive prompts, and the limitations of the tools. Some students may be able to provide suggestions and strategies to other students and you may just need to provide a mechanism for facilitating that communication.
Do Not Use/ Use is Prohibited
Most of these examples came from this form created by Lance Eaton. Feel free to view other examples curated by clicking here.