Developing an AI Course Policy

What Can An AI Course Policy Accomplish?

SSU course policy information guidelines note that instructors need "an Artificial Intelligence (AI) syllabus statement." These statements are opportunities to begin course conversations about AI's impact, relevance, and relationship to your course aims and objectives.

CTI knows that every course at SSU has different objectives, and that instructors use their expertise in teaching and in research areas to determine the most effective ways that students can meet those objectives. The marketing and conversations around AI tools can sometimes present our students with options and methodologies that don't neatly align with (or even undermine) the tools and methods we would like our students to practice, model, and refine in our courses.

It is also helpful to remember that students are encountering a number of different AI course policies during their time at SSU. The range of policies can be a source of frustration for some students (and instructors) who might prefer a consistent, "one size fits all" AI policy for all courses at SSU. It can be helpful to anticipate and acknowledge these frustrations in initial conversations with students. But at the same time, CTI understands that we have a wide range of departments, fields, and courses at SSU, and there may be many important justifications and explanations for a range of AI course policies.

What can be helpful to remember is that you are developing the policy for your course at this point in time. CTI has noticed that AI course policies that resonate with students tend to involve the following:

An acknowledgement that AI is creating challenges for students and instructors, and that we are all collectively assessing its impact on the work we hope to accomplish in this course
A clear articulation of why the instructor has decided upon their course policy, in language that invites students to understand this perspective and its motivations/justifications (even if students may disagree with those perspectives)
An opportunity for dialogue about student AI perspectives and questions that relate to the course and its objectives
Guidance that is specific in terms of how students should document permitted AI usage (citation and documentation is also often productively accompanied by opportunities for students to self-reflect on relevant AI experiences)
Clear guidance on where, when, and how students should contact instructors if they have policy questions before submitting coursework
An openness to provide additional clarification or even revision of AI course and assignment policies (clearly documented and shared with students) that accounts for student perspectives, changes in AI technologies, or investments in co-learning and flexibility

AI Course Policy Language

The CTI Guidance on Course Policies for Using AI document includes:

A "Start Here" section for folks relatively new to AI
Sample Syllabus Language to re-use and modify
Examples of AI Course Policies used by SSU colleagues
Additional links and resources to AI course policies

If you'd like some help developing your own AI course policy (or assignment policies), please email Jim! Additionally, if you are interested in sharing your AI course policy language with the wider SSU community, we are happy to add it to the document! Email jmcgrath2@salemstate.edu to talk more.

Developing an AI Course Policy

What Can An AI Course Policy Accomplish?

AI Course Policy Language

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