AI Policy for CSE 394: AI for Support and Growth

Overview

You may use AI for general course questions and ungraded work. You may also use AI on graded work when that work is specifically listed in Authorized Graded Work. AI is not allowed on any graded assignment that is not included in the authorized list. Read the full policy carefully before using AI.

Definition of AI

For this policy, "AI" refers to generative AI systems that can produce or modify text, code, images, audio, video, or other content — whether in a single response to a prompt or by operating autonomously across multiple steps (e.g., chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini; code assistants and agents such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Claude Code; and AI-powered writing, translation, and image-generation tools). This includes AI features built into IDEs, operating systems, or browsers when they generate or substantially rewrite content, but excludes non-generative tools such as basic spell-check, grammar/syntax highlighting, and linters.

Rationale

AI can be valuable for exploring concepts, practicing skills, and developing one’s capabilities. AI use is allowed on some assignments to give you experience working with these tools to supplement and grow your own knowledge. However, you are still ultimately responsible for your own learning, and some assignments will require you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills without the use of AI.

Authorized Graded Work

AI use is permitted only for the following graded work:

• Assignment 1: Find a paper

• Assignment 6: Find connections

• Assignment 9: Teach yourself something

AI use is not allowed on any graded assignment that is not listed above. The instructor may provide additional instructions or limits for any authorized activity.

Permitted Actions

• You may use AI for general questions and support–including concept explanations, ungraded exercises, and exploratory coding–on all work.

• You may use AI to help develop your submissions only for the specific assignments listed in Authorized Graded Work, subject to any instructions or limits stated for that activity.

Prohibited Actions

• Do not use AI to produce work you submit on any graded assignment that is not listed under Authorized Graded Work.

• Do not use AI in ways that exceed the stated limits for an authorized graded activity.

• Do not submit AI-generated work, or lightly edited AI-generated work, as your own when the activity's instructions require work to be independently produced.

• If an assignment has stricter rules, those rules override this policy for that assignment.

Examples

• Allowed: using AI to explain a concept covered in lecture.

• Allowed: using AI on an ungraded practice exercise or exploratory code that will not be submitted for credit.

• Allowed: using AI to help produce your submission on a graded assignment if that activity is listed under Authorized Graded Work.

• Not allowed: using AI to summarize a paper, present a paper, or revise a research statement for you on an assignment that is not listed under Authorized Graded Work.

• Not allowed: copying work produced by an AI into your submission that is not listed under Authorized Graded Work.

Required Attribution

• If you utilized AI on an authorized assignment, specify the tool you used and how you utilized it in your work.

• Example: “First, I generated my own reading list of relevant papers on AI for data science. Then, I used ChatGPT to identify any missing papers to expand my reading list, and rank the final list of papers from most to least relevant.”

Guidelines for Effective AI Use

• Before using AI on graded work, confirm that the activity is listed under Authorized Graded Work and review any activity-specific instructions.

• Use AI to expand your thinking, not to replace it. For example, make sure you try doing the assigned activities yourself first, then ask AI to check your work and give you feedback.

• Verify AI output carefully; AI can be inaccurate, incomplete, biased, or inconsistent with course expectations.

• Maintain control of your work: you should be able to explain and defend every part of what you submit.

• When in doubt, err on the side of not using AI and ask the course staff for clarification.

Data Privacy Expectations

• Do not upload course-specific materials—including assignment prompts, course code, datasets, class notes, hidden tests, solution keys, or other restricted content—to AI tools without the instructor’s explicit approval.

  • Some AI tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code, and similar coding agents) can automatically access files beyond what you explicitly share — including your entire local repository, file system, or connected accounts. Before using such a tool, confirm what it can access and restrict or scope that access so it does not read private repositories, hidden test files, other students' code, solution keys, or other restricted materials without your intent.

• Do not submit personal, sensitive, or university-protected information into AI tools.

• Be aware that prompts and outputs may be stored or reused by third-party AI providers.

• UW’s Purple tool and certain GenAI tools provided by the Allen School for use in courses are designed specifically for UW students and staff and have stronger privacy protections than public commercial tools. When AI usage is permitted, using Purple or Allen School-provided tools is advised if possible.

Academic Integrity

Using AI in ways prohibited by this policy or by assignment-specific instructions will be considered academic misconduct and referred to CSSC. Students found responsible for violating this policy will, at minimum, receive no credit for the affected assignment. Stronger penalties, up to and including failing the course, may apply for repeated or egregious violations. In cases of group work, all students will be held equally responsible for violation unless there is clear evidence that a subset of team members were not involved or aware.

Accommodations and Approved Exceptions

Students with accessibility needs or other extenuating circumstances should contact the instructor to discuss exceptions. Accommodations or exceptions require instructor approval before they are used.