The Generative AI Guide

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technologies, including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude, and similar tools, are becoming common resources for learning and future employment. Our college encourages students to develop AI literacy while maintaining academic integrity, critical thinking, and personal responsibility.

AI should enhance your learning—not replace it.

About GenAI

What It Is

GenAI is a technology that creates new content, such as text, images, audio, or video, when prompted by a user. It learns patterns from large datasets and predicts what to generate next.

(U.S. GAO, 2025)

How It Works

GenAI analyzes millions of examples (documents, images, code) to learn patterns, then predicts what should come next. Think of autocomplete on your phone, but at a vastly larger scale: It doesn't understand your message, it predicts the most likely next word.

(MicrosoftAI, 2025)

Limitations and Risks

GenAI does not understand facts the way humans do. It can produce confident-sounding but false responses, referred as "hallucinations." It can also reflect biases in its training data. Human oversight remains essential.

(NIST AI 600-1; Apple ML Research, 2025)

Guiding Principles

Students are expected to use GenAI responsibly, ethically, and honestly. Regardless of whether GenAI is used, students are responsible for:

✓ The accuracy of submitted work

✓ Understanding the material

✓ Proper attribution when required

✓ Complying with instructor expectations

✓ Following the Student Code of Conduct

Submitting AI-generated work as your own may constitute academic misconduct.

Academic Integrity

The College's Academic Integrity Policy applies equally to work created with or without AI. Examples of academic misconduct include:

Presenting AI-generated work as your own when prohibited
Failing to disclose AI use when required
Using AI during unauthorized assessments
Submitting fabricated citations or references
Using AI to assist another student in violating course policies

Violations may result in disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.

Follow Your Instructor's Expectations

GenAI expectations will differ between classes and assignments. Each course will include one of the following statements in the course syllabus, which clearly establishes allowable GenAI use for the course.

Open Use

GenAI use is encouraged and integrated throughout the course to enhance productivity and learning. Students are expected to leverage these tools as collaborative partners while maintaining transparency and adhering to defined attribution standards.

Guided Use

GenAI use is permitted only for specific assignments or tasks as explicitly defined by the instructor. Students must consult the syllabus and course resources for clarity on when and how these tools are utilized with appropriate attribution.

No Use

GenAI use is prohibited in the course. All submitted work must be the student’s original creation to support the establishment of foundational course concepts.

Students are responsible for following the instructions provided in each course syllabus and assignment. When expectations are unclear, ask your instructor before using GenAI.

Note: Faculty members will define the consequences for violations of acceptable use, as supported by Policy F.4.2.2 - Academic Integrity - page 3, #8.

Using AI Responsibly

If your instructor permits the use of generative AI, these guidelines can help you use it responsibly and support your learning while maintaining academic integrity.

Acceptable Use

Unless prohibited by your instructor, GenAI may be used to support learning activities such as:

Brainstorming ideas
Generating research questions
Organizing information
Outlining assignments
Improving grammar and readability
Translating or clarifying language
Explaining concepts
Practicing skills
Generating practice quizzes
Debugging computer code while learning
Summarizing your own notes

Students should review and verify all AI-generated information before using it.

Uses That May Not Be Permitted

Subject to instructor expectations, students may not use AI to:

Complete quizzes or exams
Write essays without authorization
Generate discussion board posts
Complete graded assignments intended to measure individual learning
Create laboratory reports or research findings
Fabricate sources, citations, or data
Impersonate another individual
Complete work on behalf of another student

Each instructor determines what level of GenAI assistance is appropriate for their course.

Citing AI-generated Content

If your instructor requires disclosure of GenAI use, cite your source using standard formatting for the course.

AI Citation Guide

Protect Your Privacy

Do not enter confidential or sensitive information into public GenAI tools. This includes:

Student records
Grades
Financial information
Social Security numbers
Passwords
Protected health information
Confidential college information

Students remain responsible for protecting personal and institutional data.

Verify AI Information

GenAI systems can produce inaccurate, outdated, biased, or fabricated information.

Before submitting work:

Verify facts
Confirm citations exist
Review calculations
Check quotations
Evaluate sources independently

Do not assume AI responses are correct.

Developing GenAI Literacy

Responsible GenAI use is an important professional skill. We encourage students to:

Understand both the benefits and limitations of AI
Think critically about AI-generated information
Use AI ethically
Maintain original thinking
Continue developing communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills that cannot be replaced by technology

GenAI should support your education—not replace the learning process.

Faculty and Staff Support

Looking for additional guidance on GenAI? Visit our page on AlamoSHARE.

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