STC Generative AI Usage Policy
Student Handbook AI Usage Policy
Purpose This policy provides guidance for the ethical, responsible, and transparent use of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic work. The college recognizes that AI tools can support learning, research, and productivity; however, they must be used in ways that uphold academic integrity and student learning.
Definitions
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Computer systems that perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.
• Generative AI: AI tools that create content such as text, images, audio, video, or code.
• AI-Assisted Work: Work that was created with the help of AI but substantially edited, revised, and completed by the student.
Acceptable Use When permitted by the instructor, students may use AI for:
• Brainstorming ideas
• Creating outlines
• Grammar and spelling assistance
• Study help and explanations
• Practice questions
• Coding assistance (when permitted)
• Summarizing notes or readings (when permitted).
Any additional allowable uses of AI will be outlined by the department and/or instructor in that specific Blackboard course and/or assignment sheet.
Please note: AI results can be biased and inaccurate. It is a student’s responsibility to ensure that any information used from AI is accurate.
Unacceptable Use Students may not:
• Submit AI-generated work as their own
• Use AI on exams, quizzes, or assignments where it is prohibited
• Use AI to generate sources, citations, or data without verifying accuracy
• Upload or share confidential, personal, or protected academic information into AI systems
• Use any AI platform other than Microsoft Copilot unless explicitly authorized
Note for English (ENGL) Courses:
AI may not be used to summarize readings, poems, plays, novels, or any assigned literary texts as a substitution for reading the assigned text(s) themselves. Reading these works is a part of the learning process and must be done by the student.
• Students must pull quotes or textual evidence directly from the readings for assignments and discussions.
Disclosure Requirement
Use of Gen AI tools to generate or complete coursework must be clearly marked, cited, and acknowledged, as failure to do so could constitute plagiarism. Gen AI output must be supported, documented and cited with scholarly research from print sources and/or digital databases. The following links contain information on how to cite Generative AI material:
• APA Style Blog on citing ChatGPT
• MLA Style Center on citing Generative AI
• and per faculty guidelines
Any violations of these guidelines will be subject to the academic and disciplinary policies listed in the Academic Catalog and Student Handbook.
Responsibility for Work
Students are responsible for all submitted work, including any content generated with AI assistance. AI-generated content may contain errors, bias, or fabricated information, and students are responsible for reviewing and verifying accuracy.
Instructor Authority Individual instructors may set their own AI policies for their courses. In cases where course policies are more restrictive than this policy, the instructor’s policy takes precedence.
Violations Improper use of AI or use of non-approved AI platforms may be considered a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy and may result in disciplinary action.
Consequences
• Students who are found guilty of any act of dishonesty will receive a score of 0 on the exam or assignment that is involved in the act.