When building your course outlines, you may notice that there are three sections devoted to the use of generative AI: “Use Prohibited,” “Some Use Permitted,” and “Unrestricted Use.” These policies have been approved to appear on new course outlines. Which one you use is up to you as an instructor.
By default, all three sections are set to “Visible,” meaning they will all appear on your finished outline. Please read through each section careful to determine which policy best aligns with what you want for your course. Once you have made a decision, mark the two that do not align with your course as “Invisible” so that they do not appear on the completed outline.
For the sake of clarity, we have included the text of each policy below so that you may read through them here as well. Note that “Some Use Permitted” has three versions for you to choose.
Use Prohibited
Students are not permitted to use generative AI in this course. In alignment with McMaster academic integrity policy, it “shall be an offence knowingly to … submit academic work for assessment that was purchased or acquired from another source”. This includes work created by generative AI tools. Also state in the policy is the following, “Contract Cheating is the act of “outsourcing of student work to third parties” (Lancaster & Clarke, 2016, p. 639) with or without payment.” Using Generative AI tools is a form of contract cheating. Charges of academic dishonesty will be brought forward to the Office of Academic Integrity.
Some Use Permitted
Example One
Students may use generative AI in this course in accordance with the guidelines outlined for each assessment, and so long as the use of generative AI is referenced and cited following citation instructions given in the syllabus. Use of generative AI outside assessment guidelines or without citation will constitute academic dishonesty. It is the student’s responsibility to be clear on the limitations for use for each assessment and to be clear on the expectations for citation and reference and to do so appropriately.
Example Two
Students may use generative AI for [editing/translating/outlining/brainstorming/revising/etc] their work throughout the course so long as the use of generative AI is referenced and cited following citation instructions given in the syllabus. Use of generative AI outside the stated use of [editing/translating/outlining/brainstorming/revising/etc] without citation will constitute academic dishonesty. It is the student’s responsibility to be clear on the limitations for use and to be clear on the expectations for citation and reference and to do so appropriately.
Example Three
Students may freely use generative AI in this course so long as the use of generative AI is referenced and cited following citation instructions given in the syllabus. Use of generative AI outside assessment guidelines or without citation will constitute academic dishonesty. It is the student’s responsibility to be clear on the expectations for citation and reference and to do so appropriately.
Unrestricted Use
Students may use generative AI throughout this course in whatever way enhances their learning; no special documentation or citation is required.