All faculty in the School of Art, Design, and Art History should include an AI Policy in their syllabus. Each instructor can determine their policy but at a minimum, your policy statement should include several elements.

Rationale for the AI Policy

Art, design, and art history depend on human creativity, critical thinking, discernment, and craft. While AI can be a useful tool for exploration and support, it cannot replace the development of an authentic artistic voice, thoughtful design practice, or rigorous scholarly work. This policy guides both faculty and students in using AI ethically, transparently, and in ways that enhance—rather than substitute for—the learning outcomes of our courses and programs. By setting shared expectations, we promote responsible engagement with AI while preserving the integrity of creative and academic work.

Definition of AI

In this school, Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to corporate-driven digital technologies that can generate, manipulate, or analyze creative and scholarly work. This includes but is not limited to:

• Text-based tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Microsoft Copilot.
• Visual and design tools such as DALL·E, MidJourney, Adobe Firefly, Runway, Stable Diffusion, or other generative image/video platforms.
• Productivity and editing tools that apply AI to revise, suggest, or automate design or writing (e.g., GrammarlyGO, Photoshop’s Generative Fill, Canva Magic Studio).

Appropriate Use Statement

AI tools may be helpful for ideation and experimentation, but this course requires that students demonstrate authorship, creativity, and originality in their work. Therefore:

• Permitted Uses: Students may use AI for early-stage brainstorming, mood boards, or technical assistance (e.g., resizing, cleaning up a photo, grammar checking) as long as they acknowledge the tool in their process documentation.
• Restricted Uses: AI-generated imagery, text, or code must not be submitted as final work unless explicitly allowed by the instructor for a specific assignment. Students must clearly label and credit all AI-generated contributions.
• Prohibited Uses: Passing off AI-generated work as one’s own creative product is considered academic misconduct. This includes submitting uncredited AI-generated images, essays, or designs as final assignments.

Violations may result in grade penalties, loss of credit for the assignment, or referral for academic misconduct procedures.

Resources:

JMU Libraries suggested range of AI policies: JMU Libraries suggested range of policies.pdf

University of Kentucky (Includes policies for No Use, Conditional Use, and Unrestricted Use)

AI Syllabus Statement Generator (Seaver College Teaching Excellence)

Ethically Integrating AI Into Your Courses — UVA Teaching Hub (A collection of resources on AI and teaching from UVA)

Syllabi Polices for Generative AI - Google Sheets (A collection of syllabi statements)

Suggested Readings

AI Technology and Jobs/Workforce

MIT Study on AI use and Brain Activity

AI and Thinking

Co-Intelligence

Student Resources

Student Guide to AI 2025 Published by AAC&U and Elon University by AAC&U and Elon University Citing AI (Purdue Library Resources)