A VCSU Student Guide to Using AI Wisely
Consistent with VCSU’s mission to promote the skilled use of technology and to prepare students to succeed in an increasingly complex society, we aim to guide students in the ethical, responsible, and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools both in and out of the classroom. The following guidelines are provided to assist you in making informed decisions.
1. Comply with Policy and Student Handbook
Review and adhere to SBHE Policy 1208.1, NDUS Procedure 1208.1, VCSU Policy V1203.03, and the VCSU Student Handbook.
2. Check Each Course Syllabus
Your instructors will outline guidelines for the use of AI tools in the syllabus. Expectations will differ from one assignment to another and from course to course; if you have questions or need clarification, you should contact your instructor before proceeding. Unauthorized use of AI tools is considered academic dishonesty and may have severe consequences for your academic standing.
To use AI effectively as a tool rather than a replacement, focus on clear objectives and provide specific prompts to guide AI interactions. Iteratively refine responses for accuracy and relevance, and always verify information against credible sources to maintain academic integrity. Interacting and working with AI, rather than allowing it to complete tasks for you, reinforces learning.
While AI is a valuable educational tool, it has limitations such as accuracy, contextual understanding, and potential biases. To use AI effectively, students should verify information, provide context, and maintain ethical standards.
5. Protect Private and Confidential Data
In general, do not expose files or data to an AI system that you would not share publicly. Specifically, you must comply with the policies mentioned in Section 1 and NDUS Procedure 1203.7.
If you use AI-generated content in your work, credit the AI tool used. Ask the AI to provide references so you can verify and credit the original sources when possible. Never represent AI-generated content as your original work.
Artificial intelligence tools will impact each of us in myriad ways, and we want to help you explore what this means for you. We encourage all students to engage in ongoing conversations about AI tools with their instructors and peers: How are AI tools being incorporated within your future career field, and what are the impacts? How is AI affecting your day-to-day life and well-being? What skills do you need to use AI tools effectively and be a responsible consumer of information in the AI age? Answers to these questions will emerge from engaging with the issues and thinking critically about what you learn; while AI tools can assist in this learning process, they cannot replace it.
Click here to learn how to install ChatGPT, CoPilot, and Google Gemini.
Click here for student uses of AI.
Click here for a downloadable version of our classroom AI Guide poster.
Created with assistance from ChatGPT. (used to generate ideas and editing)
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT-4o (June 2024 version). [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat