AI Essentials for Students

Tips for navigating the new terrain of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and academic work.

Understanding Your Syllabus

• Every class has a syllabus outlining the learning plan and the faculty’s expectations. Make sure to read it thoroughly.
• Many syllabi will include rules for using AI. If AI isn’t mentioned, ask your faculty about it immediately to avoid misunderstandings.

Navigating AI Policies

• Varied Policies: Expect that AI policies will vary between faculty, courses, and even specific projects and assignments.
• Course-Specific Rules: Some faculty members will encourage or even require the use of AI, while others will prohibit it. These decisions are based on the learning goals for the course.
• Stay Organized: Keep track of the AI policies for each course and assignment to avoid confusion and ensure compliance.

Ethical Guidelines for Using AI

• Originality: Ensure all submitted work is your own, reflecting your unique voice and ideas. Use AI tools for assistance, not to do the work for you, unless explicitly permitted by your faculty.

• Acknowledgment and Attribution: Follow your faculty's rules for acknowledging or citing AI use. If unsure, ask for clarification. APA and MLA provide guidelines for citing generative AI work.

• Data Security and Safety: Be cautious with the information you share with AI tools, as it may no longer be private and could be used in ways beyond your control. Never share sensitive, personal, or confidential information with AI systems. Use Evergreen's enterprise license for Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection for greater protection.

By following these guidelines, you'll be better prepared to navigate the varying AI policies at Evergreen and responsibly and ethically incorporate AI into your academic work.