Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence Statement
The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Post Secondary
As generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools have become widely available, post-secondary educators are increasingly aware of how their use may affect different facets of teaching and learning. While the tool ChatGPT is currently one of the most common and familiar options, a wide variety of tools with a range of different functions are available for everything from writing a paper or answering multiple choice questions to creating a video or generating an image. With generative AI readily available, students, faculty, and staff may have a variety of concerns about how these tools will impact teaching, learning, grading, and employment. At the same time, they may also see the potential of such tools to generate ideas, simplify research, and offload some of the cognitive load associated with different tasks. The possibilities are numerous, and we at Niagara College want to ensure that students and staff alike understand their responsibilities when engaging with these tools.
Concerns When Considering AI
One of the primary concerns raised in post-secondary education is whether the use of generative AI is an academic integrity violation for students, faculty, and staff. Niagara College takes academic integrity seriously and is taking steps to address unsanctioned or inappropriate use of this technology. However, it is also supportive of the intentional use of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools to facilitate innovative and meaningful learning experiences for students. Therefore, the answer to this question of academic integrity is highly dependent on the teaching and learning context and the decisions made by faculty and programs about how such programs may be used and by whom. Some programs and faculty members may use generative AI programs as an integral part of teaching and learning, while others may determine that these tools should not be in use by students. It is recommended that faculty include wording on their TLPs that sets out what is and is not acceptable and that they clearly communicate these expectations with students. If you feel that there has been an incident of misuse of AI tools which defies the communicated expectations, we encourage you to review the Academic Honesty Policy and to follow the Academic Misconduct Procedure. Niagara College remains committed to knowledge building and will take all incidents of academic misconduct seriously. Members of the Niagara College community are responsible for familiarizing themselves with these policies and with the parameters for how AI can be used in their programs and courses. If AI is used outside of the set parameters, academic penalties may be applied.
AI in the Classroom
Another central concern is how to make use of these tools in a way that is useful and that also helps to prepare students for shifts in the employment landscape brought about by ChatGPT. Recognizing the ways that ChatGPT and other generative AI tools will impact numerous industries, Niagara College is supportive of the use of these tools in order that students may have meaningful experiences with them and are able to critically assess their benefits, limitations, and potential uses. Nonetheless, when integrating ChatGPT or other AI tools into courses, there is a need to consider accessibility, privacy, and cost to ensure that students are being provided with an equitable experience and to offer alternative options to students who may not want to access and make use of generative AI tools.