The rapid rise of generative artificial Intelligence (GAI) platforms in the past year has prompted many conversations about how these platforms are being integrated into academia. In order to prepare our graduate students for the opportunities and challenges of an AI-driven future, it’s essential that instructors communicate clearly their expectations about the use of AI in their programs.

While the Graduate School is not making specific recommendations about what programs should consider to be appropriate or inappropriate uses of AI in academia, we would like to offer some guidance on the steps that graduate programs should take when evaluating how to thoughtfully and effectively integrate AI into their curriculum:

  • Ensure that any local/program guidelines are aligned with University of Minnesota central (OIT/UIS/OGC) guidelines regarding the use of the technologies (these are still being developed).
  • Check with the professional societies associated with a graduate program to see if guidelines have been generated for scholars in the discipline.
  • Encourage faculty to stay abreast of AI tools and how they might be used in education broadly defined.  OIT and the Library offer workshops and short courses on the topic. (e.g., https://training.umn.edu/courses/29006)
  • Consider appropriate uses of GAI not only in a degree program, but in the careers of students in the program. In general, prohibiting the use of GAI does not prepare students for their professional life after obtaining their degree. GAI represents a new class of tools and our students need to understand how to use them responsibly.
  • Decide on any uses of GAI that they wish to prohibit as a program (with consideration for what professional societies have concluded) AND specify the consequences for students if they use a prohibited GAI. This applies to all phases of the admissions process as well as enrolled student use of AI. They should instruct faculty to update course syllabi to include any prohibitions on the use of GAI and consequences for violating those prohibitions.
  • They should then update their handbook and communicate with their students the following:
    • A list of prohibited GAI uses and consequences if students use them.
    • Students are expected to verify the accuracy of anything produced by GAI that they include in their scholarly work.
    • If students want to use a GAI but are unclear whether or not its use would be considered acceptable by the program, it is the student’s responsibility to ask for clarification from their advisor prior to employing the GAI.
    • Students using GAI need to indicate clearly when and how GAI was used and provide citations appropriate for their field of study.

The Center for Educational Innovation also offers Sample Guiding Statements for syllabuses, calls for papers/presentations, and publishing that may be helpful when developing your program’s statement. 

The Graduate School will continue to stay abreast of broader developments in generative AI and its use in graduate education.