Information for Students
The rise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools has brought new considerations to higher education. As a student, it's essential to understand your responsibilities when using these technologies for academic work. While AI can be a valuable learning resource, it’s crucial to follow instructor guidelines and maintain academic integrity. By engaging with AI responsibly, you ensure the development of the skills and knowledge that are essential to your academic journey.
Expectations for the Use of AI Technology
Institutional Policy on Academic Conduct
According the Academic Conduct Policy and Procedure (effective September 1, 2024):
- Using AI tools (e.g., text-, image-, code-, or video-generating AI) without proper citation or documentation may be considered a breach of cheating.
- However, if your instructor does not permit the use of these tools on any part of an assessment, this could be considered to be a breach of cheating as well (see Section 5.2a, i and ii).
Additionally, the policy outlines the following responsibilities for students:
- When using AI tools, it's important for students to follow their instructors' guidelines and actively seek clarification if they are unsure about the proper use of these tools (section 6.2c)
Specific Course Guidelines for the Use of AI Tools
You may find that different courses involve different guidelines for using AI tools, which can depend on the subject matter or the instructor’s preferences. Some courses may allow or encourage the use of AI for specific tasks, while others may restrict or prohibit the use of these tools entirely.
If you're unsure whether you're permitted to use an AI tool for an assignment or unsure about how to use these tools in ways that align with your instructor's expectations, here are some steps you can take:
- Read through the course syllabus for each course. Course syllabi usually contain specific information about assessments, and here you will often find guidelines regarding the use of AI tools for assessments.
- Review assignment guidelines and rubrics for every assignment. These documents contain expectations for each assignment and information on how you will be evaluated. Here you will often find guidelines regarding the use of AI tools for each individual assignment.
- Check eClass regularly for any messages from your instructor pertaining to assessments and the use of AI tools.
- Ask Your Instructor: Reach out to your instructor or teaching assistant (TA) for clarification. They can provide guidance on whether AI tools are permitted and how they should be used throughout the course.
Responsible Use for Assessments
When AI tools are not restricted in a course, ensure that you are familiar with how AI tools can support your work in ways that enhance your learning, not replace your efforts. Some ways to demonstrate responsible use for your assessments:
- Citing properly. Your instructor will usually provide guidelines on how to reference these tools, so ensure that you are following their instructions and using the correct citation style.
- For more information about applying a particular citation style, review the Libraries' Citing Your Work guide or the SPARK Creating Bibliographies module.
- Fact-Checking and Critically Evaluating Output. Fact-checking and critical evaluation are distinct but complementary processes.
- Fact-checking focuses on verifying the accuracy of specific details provided by AI tools against credible sources.
- Critical evaluation, on the other hand, involves assessing the overall quality, relevance, and fairness of the AI-generated output, considering any biases or assumptions.
- While fact-checking confirms the accuracy of information, critical evaluation ensures the content is not only accurate but also unbiased and contextually appropriate.
- Documenting. Besides citing the use of these tools, check with your instructor to learn if there are additional expectations for being transparent about your use of AI tools. Your instructor may require you to provide additional information about how you interacted with the tool and what you learned from these interactions.
Responsible Use for all Interactions
Besides following your instructor's guidelines responsible use also involves some other considerations, which include:
- Acknowledging AI’s Limitations: AI tools can provide useful insights, but they can generate output that includes errors, false information, missing information, false citations and its output can also include generalities, biases or overly simplistic interpretations. This happens because AI models are trained on vast amounts of data that may contain these issues. Additionally, the use of AI-generated content raises concerns about the ownership of ideas and the potential for plagiarism. As such, it's important to fact-check and critically evaluate AI-generated information.
- Protecting Personal Information: Using AI tools may involve sharing sensitive data, which raises concerns about security and privacy, particularly regarding how data is stored, processed, and potentially shared. Be cautious when sharing personal information, and ensure you fully understand the privacy policies of the tools you use.
- Using it to Support Learning: Focus on how using AI tools can help you understand course material and enhance your learning, instead of having the tools do the work for you. For example, ways that AI tools support learning include: explaining course concepts, brainstorming ideas, getting feedback on your ideas, generating study questions, among others. Ensure that submitted work is your own original work and not copied from an AI tool.
- Avoiding Over-Reliance: Keep in mind that relying too heavily on these tools can inhibit your own development. Some ways to avoid over-reliance include:
- Setting clear boundaries for when and how you use AI tools. For example, use them only for generating ideas after you've already done your own brainstorming
- Practicing the skills required in your course without help from an AI tool. These skills can include writing, problem-solving, and critical thinking, among others
- Prioritize engaging in other types of learning that do not include AI tools. For instance, make an effort to learn from your peers by engaging in discussions with classmates or joining study groups
- Reflecting on your use to assess the role these tools play in your learning. Review whether they are enhancing your learning, and if not, adjust how you use them
- Setting clear boundaries for when and how you use AI tools. For example, use them only for generating ideas after you've already done your own brainstorming
- Remaining Aware of Changes. GenAI technology is continually evolving, and so are instructor guidelines on student use. Keep yourself updated on your institution’s policies and best practices for responsible AI use.
Keeping Records
Additionally, you are encouraged to keep all of your research notes, draft versions of your work and a record of your interactions with AI tools. You may be asked to present these if it is suspected that an AI tool was used to help complete your work. These drafts can be used to show how this work developed, and to provide evidence that the work is your own.
More Information on Academic Integrity
If you would like more information about meeting York’s expectations for academic integrity expectations, here are some things you can do:
- Attend York University Libraries' workshop Academic Integrity: Learn to Stop Worrying about It (Online) Sessions take place several times during each semester. Register Here.
- Visit The Writing Centre to gain more confidence with academic writing. Visit the Writing Centre to learn more.
- Learn from your peers by taking advantage of academic peer support such as: Peer Tutoring; Peer Mentoring; Peer Advising, and Peer-Assisted Study Sessions (PASS). Your college or faculty may have peer tutoring. Ask your prof, TA, or student association to find out how to get connected with peer tutors, or visit Learning Skills Services.
- If you’re a graduate student, complete the Academic Honesty Module and Other Graduate Student Resources.
- If you are a non-native English speaker and would like more support with language, visit the ESL Open Learning Centre and/or ESL Student Advising.
- If you’re feeling stressed or overburdened by the demands of academic life or other personal challenges, counselling services are available at York: Student Counselling, Health & Wellbeing.
Need more information?
As generative AI technology is continuously evolving, updates will be provided to students when required. In the meantime, if you require more information on academic honesty, Faculty-specific information can be found on the Contact page.
For general questions, please contact academicintegrity@yorku.ca.
