Dartmouth recognizes emergent Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies as powerful tools for learning. Instructors, programs, and schools may have a variety of reasons for allowing or disallowing Artificial Intelligence tools within a course, or course assignment(s), depending on intended learning outcomes. As such, instructors have authority to determine whether AI tools may be used in their course. Per the Academic Honor Policy, student use of GenAI tools in submitted work requires appropriate acknowledgment.
Affected Parties
All AB undergraduates and special non-degree seeking students.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is a powerful branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on creating new content, whether text, image, audio, or more, often with a human-like touch of creativity. Unlike traditional AI, which typically performs predefined tasks, generative AI models have the ability to produce original and meaningful output without specific programming for every potential result. The applications for such technologies are myriad, including innovative ways to engage with course material. These tools have also been integrated by software vendors into many common applications used in academic settings, including word processing, coding, and data analysis software.
Gen AI tools offer exciting new ways to interact with information, to synthesize research data, to streamline processes, and to enhance decision-making; however, unrestricted usage is neither always nor necessarily appropriate to the college learning environment. Academic integrity is a core value of our academic community and while GenAI offers possibilities to enhance our shared academic vision, the use of GenAI can at times also compromise that value. This policy sets forth some basic guidelines for students engaged in coursework at Dartmouth:
Students may not use GenAI tools for submitted coursework unless expressly permitted.
Courses are designed by their instructors to interact with knowledge broadly and in depth as a liberal-arts curriculum expects.
Course instructors are the experts in their subject matter and are responsible for meeting the learning objectives of their courses. Instructors may either allow or disallow GenAI tools based on their assessment of the pedagogical value of these tools within their course. As such, Dartmouth assumes the general rule that GenAI tools are disallowed by default in courses to permit instructors full autonomy over the degree to which they allow students to use GenAI tools, if at all.
Instructors are encouraged to define AI policies specific to their courses.
Dartmouth encourages and supports faculty in exploring innovative learning methods and making use of GenAI tools. However, utilizing these tools may not be the best choice in every course or for every assignment within a given course. Based on course goals, instructors may freely define the parameters for the use of GenAI within all aspects of their courses.
Faculty are strongly encouraged to define their GenAI policies in their syllabus. When it comes to matters of academic integrity and honor in a course, the instructor's GenAI policy defines the expectations for faculty, students, and staff for that course. These course policies derive from the Academic Honor Principle and school Academic Honor Policies and, as such, are governed by the institutional commitment to Academic Honor.
Use of GenAI tools require acknowledgement for academic integrity.
Whenever GenAI tools are permitted within a course, the use of these tools is subject to the Academic Honor Policy. As GenAI applications are not stable, reproducible sources, in most cases use of these tools will not be referenced or cited in the same way as conventional scholarly sources. Students should make sure to confirm appropriate disclosure or acknowledgement methods with their instructors and follow any provided guidelines. Several sample statements can be found below. If the instructor does not provide specific instructions related to the acknowledgement of GenAI as a source of information, then students are expected to use a discipline-appropriate citation method to cite or acknowledge GenAI in their work. Failure to acknowledge or cite GenAI use may result in disciplinary action.
It is the student's responsibility to clarify questions with their instructor regarding GenAI use in a course and/or instructor expectations for acknowledgement of GenAI.
When students have a question regarding the acceptable use of GenAI tools in a course or on an assignment, they are expected to ask their instructors for clarification. Further, students are expected to ask instructors how best acknowledge GenAI tools that they may have used in a course if they are unsure. Failure to clarify course expectations is not an acceptable justification for violating the Academic Honor Policy.