What a strong course AI policy covers
- Why the policy exists: the skills the course is meant to build
- Which uses of AI are allowed, if any, stated as specific tasks
- How students should disclose any AI use
- What process evidence you may ask for, such as drafts or version history
- How you will (and won’t) use AI detectors
- What happens if there is a concern, including the student’s chance to respond
- Who to ask when something isn’t clear
Choosing an approach
There are three common approaches. “Not allowed” is clearest for courses built around unassisted writing or exams, but it is hard to enforce and needs a fair process for concerns. “Specific tasks only” lets students use AI for things like brainstorming or grammar while keeping the writing their own; it works well when you list examples. “Allowed with disclosure” fits courses where AI is part of the subject or the workplace skills you are teaching.
Tips for making it work
- Put the policy in your syllabus and repeat the key line on each major assignment
- Talk it through in the first week, with examples of allowed and not-allowed uses
- Tell students which tools keep version history, so they can show their process
- Make sure it fits your school’s own policy and academic integrity process
- Revisit it each term: tools and expectations change quickly
A note on AI detectors
Detectors can flag honest work, and research has found higher false positive rates for some groups, including non-native English writers. If you use one, treat a score as a reason for a conversation, never as the only evidence.