Access & Protection

You can access Copilot through Microsoft 365 Apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, or by heading to https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/Dz4WwN9f8kLSUkyce8hLh. 

When using Copilot through your Nazareth account, your work is Enterprise-Data Protected. This means Copilot operates inside Nazareth's Microsoft environment, and any data it processes, such as student information, emails, or course content, stays within that secure system.

Additionally, your data is not used to train the underlying AI model. Unlike consumer AI tools, Copilot’s enterprise version ensures that student records, grades, and confidential documents are never exposed outside our institution. This distinction makes Copilot a safer and more reliable choice for academic and administrative work.

Note: Faculty should still follow best practices for data security, such as avoiding unnecessary sharing of FERPA-protected information or sensitive personal details, but can feel confident that Copilot respects institutional privacy requirements.

Preparing for Students' Use

Students may already be experimenting with AI tools like Copilot to help brainstorm ideas, summarize readings, or draft portions of assignments. Some may use it responsibly, as a support for studying or organizing their work, while others may over-rely on it for writing or problem-solving, raising academic integrity concerns.

Faculty and staff should anticipate this shift and prepare students to use AI responsibly. This may include:

━ Clarifying policies in your syllabus about when and how AI tools can be used (refer to the suggested Artificial Intelligence Policy from the Provost's Office Syllabus Guide).

━ Encouraging transparency, asking students to disclose if they’ve used Copilot in their process.

━ Designing assignments that focus on analysis, reflection, and personal connections: Tasks that AI tools cannot replicate easily.

━ Discussing digital literacy, helping students understand AI’s strengths, limitations, and ethical use.

By acknowledging that students are likely using Copilot and similar tools, faculty can guide them toward responsible, academically honest practices that enhance, rather than undermine, learning.