Generative AI and Academic Integrity
The University of Michigan-Dearborn, in conjunction with our other U-M campuses, acknowledges the increasing accessibility of Generative AI tools for the public at large. Furthermore, to foster a more secure environment, U-M has devised robust, private AI tools exclusively for our faculty, staff, and students. We invite our instructors to integrate AI into their coursework wherever it is relevant and beneficial. However, the decision to adopt AI into their courses, utilize it specifically for certain assignments, or not incorporate it at all, rests solely on each individual instructor. We recommend students to either refer to the course syllabus or consult their respective instructors for clarifications on the permissible uses of AI within each course. If AI tools are used unethically or against instructor directions, it would be a direct violation of the UM-Dearborn Academic Code of Conduct (ACC).
Information for Students
As a student, you might wonder if using AI for your course is appropriate. The answer to this is to check with your professor, check your syllabus, and check per assignment. Using these three techniques ensures you approach each assignment and course with the utmost integrity. It is important to note that you will need to do this per individual course as professors have varying expectations.
After verifying that AI is permitted in your course, you may wonder how you should use it. Remember, AI should be used as a collaborative tool, not as a sole source of academic creation. AI can increase learning by constructing study aids, brainstorming material, and improving grammar. You should NOT use AI as a sole author for original works/assignments (i.e., writings, art, presentations, etc.) without the explicit approval of your instructor
The misuse of AI in a course can have significant consequences. If you use AI in a course in which it is prohibited, you may be found responsible for violating the ACC. Violating the ACC can result in an informal or formal violation. Each student is allotted two informal violations in their academic career at the university. Informal violations are not stored in the university’s database and are not visible on a student’s academic record. Formal violations are stored in the university database and are visible on a student’s academic record eight (8) weeks after the student’s graduation or after eight (8) years from the initial violation, whichever comes first. Students with formal violations or ineligible for the following for one year:
- Chancellor’s Medallion
- Difference Maker
- Dean’s List
- any college Honor Scholar
- any university-compensated peer tutoring, mentoring, grading, or supplemental instruction position
- any college scholarship (not including financial aid scholarships)
Possible academic sanctions for informal and formal violations:
- Reduced or failing grade on an assignment
- Reduced or failing grade for the course
AI Detectors & Academic Integrity
Due to integrity and ethics concerns around use of GenAI, there have been many efforts to create AI Detection software to identify whether GenAI likely wrote specific text. Most of these detection systems provided a percentage of confidence indicating that the sample (whether an individual sentence, paragraph, or the entire sample) was written by GenAI. While this is similar to plagiarism detection systems like Turnitin, there is no original source/origin or tangible evidence available with AI Detection. In addition, AI Detection systems have been found to falsely indicate that human-written text was created by GenAI. As a result, UM-Dearborn will not be adopting an official AI Detection system, and any results from third-party AI Detection systems available on the internet or through other sources cannot be used in disciplinary actions (informal or formal) with students.