Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is an AI-powered conversational assistant that helps NIU faculty, staff and students generate ideas, summarize information, ask questions and improve productivity using natural-language prompts. It is part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and can be accessed through a web browser and selected Microsoft applications.
Microsoft Copilot
All NIU students, faculty and staff have access to Microsoft Copilot Chat (browser/app conversational experience) but not the in-app full Copilot features that require paid add-on licenses. To learn more about use of Copilot Chat and to get started, please see the available resources and answers to frequently asked questions.
Featured Guide
Using Microsoft Copilot in Education
Unlock the power of AI for productivity and learning at NIU with Microsoft Copilot — an intelligent assistant that helps you generate content, summarize information, and streamline tasks across Microsoft 365 tools.
Getting Started - Frequently Asked Questions
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is available to NIU users with an active university Microsoft 365 account.
You can access Copilot Chat by signing in with your NIU credentials at copilot.microsoft.com or through supported Microsoft 365 apps when available. When prompted, choose sign in with a work or school account and enter your NIU Account ID and password. No additional software installation is required.
Copilot Chat can help with tasks such as:
- Drafting and revising text (emails, outlines, summaries)
- Brainstorming ideas or plans
- Summarizing documents or information you provide
- Answering general questions
- Improving clarity, tone or organization of written content
Copilot is designed to assist—not replace—your own expertise and judgment.
Not exactly. Copilot Chat is a conversational AI experience, while Copilot features inside Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams are app-specific and may require additional licensing.
You should avoid entering:
- Sensitive or confidential university data
- Student records protected by FERPA
- Personal health or financial information
- Proprietary or restricted research data
Always follow NIU data-privacy, security and acceptable-use policies when using AI tools.
Microsoft applies enterprise data-protection standards to Copilot Chat used with work or school accounts. However, users should remain cautious and avoid sharing sensitive information. NIU recommends using only institutionally approved tools when working with protected data.
Yes, Copilot Chat may be used to support learning, teaching preparation and productivity, subject to course-level expectations and academic integrity guidelines. Faculty determine whether and how AI tools may be used in their courses and students are responsible for following faculty guidance.
No. Copilot Chat is a support tool. Users remain responsible for verifying accuracy, making decisions and ensuring that work meets NIU’s academic, ethical and professional standards.
Microsoft provides step-by-step how-to guides, tutorials and prompt examples through its help center and Microsoft Learn platform. See the training, how-to guides and video tutorials curated by NIU for starters.
For questions about teaching and learning considerations, contact the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL). For technical access issues, contact NIU IT support.