Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Instructional & Assignment Use

Click here to go to faculty responsibilities for the use of AI in classes. (Link to below).

Click here to go to student responsibilities for the use of AI in classes. (Link to below).

Middle Tennessee State University recognizes that advances in various artificial intelligence (AI) technologies provide a range of creative and academic opportunities, while also posing significant creative and academic challenges. Clearly, artificial intelligence tools will continue to expand in both capabilities and sophistication, and they will directly affect our work in the classroom. Students, faculty, and staff using AI tools should do so in ways that are responsible, ethical, and consistent with university guidelines and other relevant policies. MTSU Policy 323 Instructional and Assignment Use of Artificial Intelligence provides specific recommendations and distinct responsibilities for faculty, staff, and students.

Colleges, departments, schools, and other university units are encouraged to develop their own guidance for the use of artificial intelligence tools, consistent with relevant disciplinary, professional, and/or curricular standards. MTSU Policy 323 outlines the following for faculty and students:

Faculty Guidelines for AI in the Classroom

Individual faculty members must set standards and guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in their classes. These standards and guidelines must specify the limits of permissible use and set clear expectations for attribution, citation, and/or disclosure, as appropriate.

1. Faculty should carefully outline permissible and impermissible use of AI tools in the course syllabus.

• Faculty should discuss permissible and impermissible use with students in class, preferably as early in the semester as possible.

• Faculty should not submit any form of confidential data to any artificial intelligence tool.

• Remember that AI-generated content may be factually incorrect, so be sure to validate any such content before using it in class or assignments, where permissible.

• Faculty may use AI tools to supplement or refine their instruction and/or assignments but must not rely on content produced solely by AI to create entire courses or otherwise supplant their instructional duties.

Faculty may use artificial intelligence tools to support instruction insofar as use complies with relevant ethical and professional policies and standards, including but not limited to MTSU Policy 10, Policy 121 Privacy of Information, Policy 140 Intellectual Property, and the Curriculum and Classroom Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines in the MTSU Faculty Handbook. Faculty use of AI tools must always be consistent with permissible use as described in MTSU Policy 323, as well as relevant information technology policies like Policy 910 Information Technology Resources and Policy 920 Information Security.

Student Guidelines for AI in the Classroom

Students may use artificial intelligence when their faculty instructor explicitly permits such use. Further, students are responsible for knowing the standards and guidelines for permissible use in each course in which they are enrolled. Permissible use in one course does not mean that the use of artificial intelligence is permitted in any other course (i.e., even different courses taught by the same faculty instructor). If your faculty instructor does not provide specific guidance for use, then you should not use AI tools for any graded assignment or written work submitted for credit.

1. Do not use AI tools for submitted and/or graded coursework unless your faculty instructor grants students explicit permission to do so in the course syllabus.

• Permissible use of AI should be documented in your course syllabus. If you are unsure if AI is permitted, then assume that it is not, and then consult with the faculty member teaching the course regarding permissible use.

• The faculty instructor for each of your courses sets standards and procedures for the use of AI in classes and assignments. You are responsible for knowing the standards and procedures for your courses.

• If your faculty instructor explicitly permits it, you can use AI tools for coursework and/or assignments submitted for a grade or for credit. But you should not use AI in a way that circumvents learning outcomes or objectives. If you are unclear on whether your use of AI sidesteps learning objectives, then ask your faculty instructor.

Example: If AI is permitted to generate ideas or topics for a writing assignment, but you use AI to complete the entire assignment to submit for credit, then you are using AI to circumvent learning outcomes/objectives.

• Never submit confidential data to any AI tool.

• Remember that AI-generated content may be factually incorrect, so be sure to validate any such content before using it in class or assignments, where permissible.

Student use of artificial intelligence must adhere to all relevant university policies. Student use of AI in ways not permitted in MTSU Policy 323 or by faculty-specified guidelines are subject to disciplinary action as outlined in MTSU Policy 312 Academic Misconduct.