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University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Policy Name: Artificial Intelligence – Acceptable Use
Policy Number: LR 405.7
Original Effective Date: June 29, 2026
Most Recent Revised Date: June 29, 2026

Policy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are transforming teaching, research, healthcare, administration, and public service across the University of Arkansas System. The university recognizes both the potential benefits and the ethical, legal, and operational risks associated with AI. This policy is based on the system-wide framework established by the UA System Board of Trustees.

Scope

This policy applies to all employees, students, and affiliates of any UA Little Rock campus.

Definitions

“Artificial intelligence” refers to a machine-centric framework designed to generate predictions, provide recommendations, or reach conclusions that impact physical or digital contexts, guided by specific human-established goals.

“Automated decision tool” denotes an AI-driven service or platform engineered, promoted, or adapted to serve as a primary or determining element in reaching significant outcomes.

Acceptable Use of AI

  1. Teaching and Learning
    • UA Little Rock encourages the appropriate use of AI in relevant aspects of teaching and learning to prepare students for the modern workforce. Faculty may incorporate AI tools to enhance instruction, assessment, and student engagement where pedagogically appropriate. This policy also recognizes that faculty members are best positioned to determine the appropriate use of AI and other tools in their classroom. In all cases, substantial use of AI should be disclosed.
    • Students may use AI tools only as permitted by course, program, and/or institutional policies. Faculty should clearly communicate expectations regarding AI use in coursework in their course syllabi as required by the UA Little Rock Course Syllabus Policy.
    • Student unauthorized use of AI to generate or assist in graded work constitutes a violation of academic integrity in accordance with the Academic Offenses policy.
  2. Research and Creative Activity
    • Researchers may use AI tools in accordance with ethical research standards, professional organization guidance, and applicable funding and publication requirements.
    • AI-assisted contributions to scholarly or creative work must be transparently acknowledged.
    • Use of AI in research must comply with institutional review board (IRB) protocols, export control regulations, data management requirements, and institutional policies where applicable.
  3. Administrative and Operational Use
    • AI may be used to improve efficiency, decision-making, and service delivery in administrative functions, subject to approval by the appropriate authority.
    • Human review and validation must remain central to critical decisions affecting areas such as employment, student records, financial aid, health care, or disciplinary matters.
    • Individuals using AI to substantially generate institutional communications, instructional materials, reports, or public-facing content should disclose such use.
  4. Clinical and Health Care Settings
    • Use of AI in diagnosis, treatment, and patient care must comply with HIPAA, clinical accreditation standards, and institutional policies.
    • AI may assist clinical decision-making but cannot replace licensed practitioner judgment.

When in the course of acceptable use, artificial intelligence or automated decision tools are used to assist in decision-making, an authorized human employee or designee must make all final decisions regardless of the recommendation of the artificial intelligence or automated decision tool as required by Arkansas law.

Prohibited Use of AI

Campuses, divisions, and units may not use artificial intelligence or automated decision tools to:

  1. Express a personal political opinion to an elected official unless the opinion is within the course and scope of the employee’s regular job duties or requested by an elected official or public entity;
  2. Engage in lobbying an elected official on a personal opinion if the employee is not a registered lobbyist for the campus or unit;
  3. Engage in illegal activities or activities otherwise prohibited by federal or state law; or
  4. Intentionally override or avoid the security and system integrity procedures of the campus or unit.

Employees who violate policies governing the use of artificial intelligence or automated decision tools will be subject to discipline in accordance with campus or unit discipline policies.

Data Privacy, Security, and Intellectual Property

  1. Users must not input confidential, personally identifiable, proprietary, or protected health information into AI systems that are not approved for such data.
  2. AI tools used for University purposes must comply with federal and state privacy laws (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA), as well as Board and UA System cybersecurity and data governance policies.
  3. AI-generated output should be treated as informational and not authoritative unless verified by a qualified individual.
  4. Intellectual property ownership of AI-generated materials shall follow applicable Board and UA System policies, taking into account human authorship and creative contribution.

Approved Tools and Governance

  1. UA Little Rock shall maintain an approved list of AI tools for academic, research, administrative, and clinical use.
  2. Approved tools must meet standards for data privacy, accessibility, reliability, and cybersecurity.
  3. The UA Little Rock’s AI Council will review emerging technologies, update approved tool lists, and ensure ongoing compliance.
  4. The UA System Administration will coordinate information-sharing among campuses to promote consistency and reduce duplication of effort.
  1. All AI use must comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including but not limited to:
    • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
    • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
    • Title VI and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act
    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
    • Export control and data protection laws
    • Intellectual property and copyright laws
    • Act 848 of 2025, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 25-1-128
  2. The institution shall be responsible for maintaining current awareness of evolving AI-related regulatory obligations.

Training and Awareness

UA Little Rock shall provide access to resources and professional development on responsible AI use for faculty, staff, and students. Training should cover ethical considerations, data handling, disclosure, and institutional expectations.

Review and Continuous Improvement

  1. This policy and resulting AI practices shall be reviewed at least annually by the AI Council.
  2. Policies should be updated as technologies, regulations, and best practices evolve.

Revised Dates: 06/2026
Source: UASP 285.2 on Responsible Use of Al; UASP 285.3 on Al and Automated Decision Tools
Status: Active
Originator:  UA Little Rock Artificial Intelligence Council
Custodian: Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School