Guidance on the Use of AI in Teaching and Learning

Purpose

NIU recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI tools, is rapidly shaping teaching, learning and assessment practices in higher education. This guidance is intended to:

• Support responsible, transparent and ethical uses of AI in teaching and learning.
• Provide flexibility for faculty to determine appropriate use within their courses.
• Help students understand expectations, boundaries and accountability when using AI tools.
• Align AI use with existing NIU policies on academic integrity, data privacy and intellectual property.

This guidance does not replace existing university policies; rather, it offers instructional support and shared language that faculty may adapt for their courses.

Guiding Principles

NIU's approach to AI in teaching and learning is grounded in the following principles:

1. Pedagogical Purpose First: Decisions about AI use should be driven by learning outcomes, not the availability of tools.
2. Transparency and Communication: Expectations for AI use should be clearly communicated to students in syllabi, assignments and course materials.
3. Equity and Access: Faculty should consider student access, cost, accessibility and potential bias when integrating AI tools.
4. Academic Integrity: AI use must align with NIU's academic integrity expectations, including proper attribution and disclosure when required.
5. Human Learning Remains Central AI tools should support—rather than replace—critical thinking, creativity and disciplinary learning.

Defining Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI

For instructional purposes, artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems (including software programs, websites and apps) that can perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as analyzing data, recognizing patterns or generating content.

Generative AI tools can create new text, images, audio, video or code in response to user prompts. Examples include large language models, image generators and AI-assisted writing or design tools.

Institutional Policies Guiding AI Use

Expectations related to student conduct and the appropriate use of tools—including emerging technologies such as AI—are guided by NIU's existing academic policies, as outlined in the undergraduate catalog and graduate catalog:

• Undergraduate academic integrity policy
• Graduate academic integrity policy

These policies establish foundational principles regarding honesty, responsibility and ethical academic behavior. NIU is actively reviewing and updating guidance to make expectations related to AI use more explicit while maintaining flexibility for faculty to align course-level decisions with disciplinary norms and learning goals.

Faculty Flexibility and Course-Level Decision Making

NIU affirms that faculty have primary responsibility for determining whether and how AI tools may be used in their courses. Acceptable use may vary by:

• Discipline
• Course level (undergraduate vs. graduate)
• Learning objectives
• Type of assignment or assessment

Faculty are encouraged to make expectations explicit rather than assuming a single, institution-wide rule.

Sample Course Policy Frameworks (Faculty May Adapt)

Faculty should include one of the following policy approaches in their syllabus or assignment instructions.

Option 1: AI Use Not Permitted

Students may not use generative AI tools to complete course assignments unless explicitly authorized. Use of AI-generated content without permission may be considered a violation of academic integrity.

Option 2: Limited or Guided AI Use

Students may use AI tools for specific purposes (e.g., brainstorming, outlining, editing for clarity) as outlined in the assignment instructions. Use beyond these purposes is not permitted and must be disclosed when required.

Option 3: AI Use Encouraged with Transparency

Students are encouraged to use AI tools as part of the learning process. When AI tools are used, students must document how they were used and reflect on their impact on learning.

Faculty are encouraged to specify:

• What tools are allowed or discouraged
• What disclosure is required
• How student work will be evaluated

Disclosure and Attribution Expectations for Students

When AI use is permitted, faculty may require students to:

• Acknowledge the use of AI tools
• Describe how the tool was used (e.g., brainstorming, drafting, revising)
• Retain responsibility for the accuracy, originality and integrity of submitted work

Students remain accountable for meeting course learning outcomes, regardless of AI assistance.

Assessment and AI

Faculty are encouraged to reflect on how AI tools may affect assessment design, including:

• Emphasizing process, reflection and iteration
• Incorporating in-class, oral or applied assessments
• Designing assignments that require discipline-specific judgment or personal context
• Creating learning activities where students critically examine and evaluate AI outputs, limitations and impacts, rather than simply prohibiting AI use

Data Privacy and Ethical Considerations

Faculty and students should be mindful that many AI tools:

• Collect and store user data
• May use submitted content for training purposes
• Are subject to vendor terms of service outside NIU control

Do not upload student work, grades or non-public instructional materials into public AI tools unless the tool has been institutionally approved for that purpose.

When AI tools are used in research or scholarly activity, their use must align with NIU's Research Misconduct Policy, which addresses issues such as data falsification, improper authorship and misrepresentation of others' work. AI tools should not be used in ways that undermine research integrity or ethical standards.

Support and Resources

NIU provides ongoing support for faculty and students through:

• The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL)
• Faculty development workshops and consultations
• Academic integrity tutorials for students and faculty
• Student-facing AI literacy resources
• Library-supported guidance on research, citation and academic integrity

Additional training and resources will continue to be developed as AI technologies evolve.

This NIU guidance is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. You are free to share and adapt this material for non-commercial purposes with appropriate attribution and under the same license.