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AI: Student Guide to ChatGPT and Other AI Resources

Is using ChatGPT or other AI resources considered cheating?

Using ChatGPT at NEIU

Instructors may have policies on how ChatGPT may or may not be used in classroom assignments. If your instructor doesn't have a written policy or hasn't stated whether generative AI can be used for assignments, ask.

Tips for talking about generative AI with your instructors

The best time to talk with your instructor is before you begin your assignment to avoid needing to start over if generative AI isn't allowed.

Be specific in how you plan to use generative AI. Would you like to use ChatGPT to help brainstorm ideas or come up with a topic for your assignment? Are you using it to summarize or explain complex concepts? Or do you plan to use it for writing and editing? Be prepared that your instructor may approve some use cases but not others.

Have a plan for giving credit. APA Style, MLA Style, and Chicago Style all have guidelines for citing generative AI. Your instructor may also ask for an appendix that includes the prompts that you provided to ChatGPT or the full transcript of your interaction.

What is academic integrity?

Academic integrity refers to maintaining a standard of honest and ethical behavior in all types of academic work. This includes things like not cheating on exams or turning in a term paper that you didn't write yourself. It also includes plagiarism, or not giving proper credit to other people's ideas or work. All students are subject to NEIU's Student Code of Conduct.

Do NOT present AI-generated material as your own original work. While certain assignments might allow you to leverage AI to enhance your creative capabilities, it should not replace genuine creative thinking, especially in an educational setting. Whenever you incorporate content generated by AI, remember to include proper citations. This way, instructors can easily trace the sources of the AI-generated content.

2024-2025 NEIU Student Handbook Policy on the Use of AI

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Several generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as ChatGPT, Sudowrite, and others, have gained in popularity and accessibility. These tools have the potential to have a significant impact on the future of labor, research, and technology. Nonetheless, it is essential to recognize that their misuse could potentially undermine the academic integrity principles at Northeastern Illinois University.

All students must adhere to the Student Code of Conduct, which requires them to carry out their academic and scholarly responsibilities with honesty and fairness. In addition to their academic studies, our students are expected to adhere to the professional and ethical standards specified in their respective academic honor codes. It is imperative that students refrain from submitting assignments that contain direct quotations or paraphrases from external sources, such as written texts, concepts, or other intellectual contributions that are not the student's original work. These requirements apply to students at all educational levels, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

In order to maintain a culture based on the principles of honesty and respect, the use of generative AI tools in the context of completing course assignments must be restricted to instances in which explicit authorization is granted by the course instructor. Certain educators may endorse the use of generative artificial intelligence tools within the domain of academia in order to accomplish specific goals. Nonetheless, it is essential that these technologies be utilized only after receiving explicit and unambiguous permission from each instructor, and then only in accordance with the instructor's prescribed guidelines.