With increasing access to AI tools, it is helpful to clarify your AI usage policy to students through your syllabus. Here are some tips on creating that policy:

Provide specific guidelines. Outline concrete examples of what is allowed and what is not okay. Avoid lumping all AI tools in the same category, as different tools may serve different purposes. Your goal should be to reduce students' need to interpret your expectations of AI use.
Include a "check before you act" clause. Explicitly let students know they can and should ask you if something is permitted, before completing the assignment. Emphasize that "I didn't know" is not an excuse after the fact, so it is better to check first.
Provide the "why". Beyond simply saying "yes" and "no", let students know why certain usages are considered appropriate and others are not. You may want to highlight issues related to ethical issues, skill development, or assessment validity. This explanation can also provide an opportunity to reference the academic integrity policy.
Make it easy to find. Rather than embedding within another policy, make it a policy section of its own. Highlight the policy during the first day of class, taking time to discuss it. Remind students of the policy and where to find it when assignments and exams are coming up. You may even wish to post it on the landing page of your class Canvas page.
Plan for enforcement. Think through how you'll detect violations. Relying solely on AI checkers is inadequate, as they are prone to false positives. You can compare student writing across assignments, using work done in and outside of class; have students write in a Google Doc that has been shared with you as the editor, allowing you to check document history; or use follow-up questions based on their work to check understanding.
Be adaptable. AI tools evolve quickly. Consider adding language like, “This policy may be updated during the semester to reflect changes in available AI tools or institutional guidelines.”

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