Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Plagiarism Detection Tools:
Turnitin – Integrated with the university’s learning management system, Turnitin now offers AI-writing detection features, helping faculty identify potential misuse of LLMs in student submissions.
Grammarly – A tool that not only checks grammar but also provides AI-generated content detection.
Academic Integrity Policy Resources:
Faculty Senate Academic Offenses Policy
These resources are intended to support faculty in navigating the complex landscape of AI and LLMs in academia, ensuring that both students and instructors can leverage these technologies responsibly and effectively.
Guidance for Faculty on Detection and Reporting of Student Use of AI in the Classroom:
Clarifying Expectations
Setting clear expectations about the use of AI in your classroom is crucial for maintaining academic integrity and ensuring that students understand the boundaries of appropriate AI use. At the beginning of each course, explicitly state your policies on AI tools such as chatbots, language models, and writing assistants. Include these guidelines in your syllabus, and discuss them in class to emphasize their importance. By providing specific examples of acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI, you can help students navigate these tools responsibly and avoid unintentional violations of academic integrity.
Recognizing Signs of AI Use
Detecting the use of AI in student work can be challenging, but there are indicators that may suggest AI involvement. Look for unusual consistency in tone or style, especially if it deviates from a student’s previous work. AI-generated text may also include overly generic or repetitive phrases, lack of deep analysis, or produce content that appears superficially polished but lacks the nuanced understanding expected from human authors. Pay attention to assignments that seem too advanced for the student’s level or that contain unexplained errors or anomalies.
Using Detection Tools
There are several tools available to help identify AI-generated content. Platforms like Turnitin now offer AI-detection features that can flag sections of text likely to have been generated by AI. Grammarly and other writing assistants with plagiarism detection capabilities may also indicate potential AI use. However, it’s important to use these tools as part of a broader assessment rather than relying on them exclusively. Combine them with your own judgment and knowledge of your students’ work to make a well-informed decision.
Reporting and Addressing AI Misuse
If you suspect a student has improperly used AI in their work, follow your institution’s procedures for addressing academic integrity violations. Begin by discussing your concerns with the student, giving them an opportunity to explain their process and intentions. If necessary, report the incident to the appropriate academic integrity office or committee, providing documentation of your findings and any relevant evidence from detection tools. In your report, clearly explain how the student’s use of AI violated your course policies. Maintaining transparency and fairness throughout this process is essential to uphold academic standards while ensuring that students understand the consequences of misusing AI in their academic work.
