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AI Guidelines

AI is a powerful partner. These principles guide its responsible use, acting as a compass for ethical and practical application. We champion academic integrity, discovery, and human-centered responsibility as AI evolves.

This document is intended not as a list of restrictions, but as a compass for navigating the ethical and practical landscape of AI. It is built on the pillars of academic integrity, intellectual curiosity, and human-centered responsibility. These guidelines will help you make informed decisions when using AI in your work, ensuring that we foster an environment of both cutting-edge discovery and unwavering ethical conduct. As this field evolves, so will our approach, and we invite you to be a part of this ongoing conversation.

General guidelines

General guidelines to support the ethical, secure, and responsible use of AI technology at UC.

Sign into UC-licensed tools with your UC credentials

The university’s software licensing agreements offer privacy-protected access to select AI and Generative AI tools for university-related academic and administrative use.

It is strongly recommended that you log into UC tools with your UC credentials (e.g. UC username and password or UC email address) to help safeguard both individual and institutional privacy and security.

Use publicly available data

Verify that the information or data you intend to interact with is classified as “Public” under the university's Data Classification Policy before using AI or Generative AI tools. The use of AI technology should not involve confidential, sensitive, or restricted information.

Examples of public data include:

  • Published research articles and findings.

  • Publicly available statistics and datasets.

  • University press releases and news articles.

  • Open educational resources (OERs).

When in doubt, seek guidance from the Office of Information Security.

Exercise caution with personal information

Even when dealing with public data, exercise caution to avoid inadvertently sharing personal information that, while may be publicly accessible, could compromise privacy when aggregated or analyzed.

Adhere to legal and ethical standards

Ensure that your use of AI technology and public data complies with legal requirements, copyright laws, and ethical standards, particularly when it involves research or the dissemination of information.

student at the computer

Students

Actions to take before using AI technology for academic purposes.

Check with faculty members

Openly communicate with your instructors about the acceptability and appropriate use of AI and Generative AI tools in your coursework.

Faculty members can provide clear guidance on how these tools may or may not fit into their learning objectives and evaluation criteria.

Review course syllabi

Carefully read the syllabi for each of your courses at the beginning of the term.

Syllabi often contain vital information about course policies regarding the use of technology, including AI tools. Look for sections on assignments, academic integrity, and technology use, or reach out to your instructor if you're unsure.

Understand academic integrity

Remain cognizant of UC’s policies on academic integrity. The responsible use of technology, including AI technology, should align with principles of honesty, fairness, and respect for the intellectual work of others.

researchers in the lab

Research

Proposers are encouraged to indicate in the project description the extent to which, if any, generative AI technology was used and how it was used to develop their proposal.

Resources on the ethical use of AI in research.

AI Policies

The content below outlines policy areas and references relevant University of Cincinnati policies that apply to the use of AI and Generative AI within the university's ecosystem.

UC AI Policies

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For all general questions, support requests, or feedback, please contact us via email or phone. We aim to respond to all inquiries within one business day.

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