Whether you are a student, a teacher, a researcher, or all of the above, USU has help and resources to support your use of AI in your role.
Learning
AI help and resources for students
Understand the capabilities, limitations, and best practices of generative AI as a learning tool
Teaching
AI help and resources for teachers
Faculty members are encouraged to clearly define AI usage expectations in their syllabi. Find general categories for AI use in coursework, sample syllabus statements, and detailed guidance on communicating AI policies.
Research
AI help and resources for researchers
Researchers at USU should exercise caution when integrating AI tools into their work.
Administrative & Operational Use
AI help and resources for administrative and operational use
USU encourages the responsible use of AI to enhance administrative efficiency while ensuring compliance with data security and privacy standards.
Guidance and Procedures
USU recognizes the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academia, research, and administration. As AI continues to evolve, it is critical to establish clear guidelines for its responsible and ethical use across the university. This page provides faculty, staff, and students with AI guidance, best practices, and access to AI resources at USU.
What You Should Know About AI
Information Security Guidance on AI Use Compliance
Safeguarding Privacy and Data Security
AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are publicly accessible and do not have built-in security and data regulation compliance features. Therefore, when using public AI tools, never enter or upload sensitive or restricted data per USU’s data classification policies, including protected health information (PHI), FERPA-protected data, personally identifiable information (PII), donor information, intellectual property (IP) information, and payment card industry (PCI) information. Public AI tools should not be used to process, store, or analyze sensitive university data.
Mitigating Misinformation
AI-generated responses can be unreliable or false. When an AI tool is trained with data containing inaccuracies, its output is prone to be misleading. This is particularly evident in AI models that pull from publicly available datasets, which often contain misinformation. If AI-generated content is used in research, coursework, or university documents, it must be verified for accuracy, and the AI tool must be properly cited. Failure to do so may compromise the credibility of academic and institutional work.
Confronting Bias in AI Output
AI tools are trained on vast amounts of data, which may include biases. Consequently, AI-generated responses may reflect historical stereotypes or prejudiced viewpoints. Faculty, staff, and students should critically evaluate AI-generated content and take steps to identify and correct biased outputs before incorporating them into coursework, research, or official communications.
Upholding Copyright and Academic Integrity
Many AI tools do not disclose the specific data sources used in their training, which raises concerns about plagiarism and copyright infringement. AI-generated content may include copyrighted material without proper attribution, making it crucial to review and verify all AI-generated outputs before use. AI should never be used as a substitute for peer-reviewed research or professional recommendations. Faculty and students must adhere to USU’s academic integrity policies when utilizing AI in coursework and research.
AI as a Continuous Learning Tool
Through strategic integration, AI can enrich formal education and support continuous learning. However, it is not a replacement for critical thinking, academic instruction, or hands-on research. USU encourages faculty and students to use AI tools to enhance learning experiences while maintaining responsible and ethical engagement.
Reporting
Promptly report concerns regarding entry of sensitive or restricted data into an AI tool, or a suspected IT security breach, via the available reporting tools found on the USU Compliance website.
Summary
AI offers significant opportunities to enhance learning, research, and operations at USU. However, responsible usage requires adherence to ethical standards, data security measures, and institutional policies. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to stay informed and utilize officially supported AI tools to maximize the benefits of AI while safeguarding integrity and privacy.
Need Help?
If you need help, please reach out to your MyTech support team.