Purdue Global Student Communications & Guidelines

The AI Task Force’s goal is to keep students apprised of any relevant and recent AI topics and issues. You may also receive direct email communications from the school, such as the communication below regarding responsible generative-AI use in academic work. At the bottom of the page, you will find the student academic integrity training, which includes a new section on generative-AI use.

These training modules cover key areas of academic integrity and follow the Purdue Global Student Code of Conduct. Learn more by selecting one of the topics provided on the page below. 

In January, the university launched an AI task force to support students, faculty, and staff as we all navigate new AI technology. We recognize that ChatGPT, an OpenAI tool, and similar AI-generative tools are now widely accessible, and so there is uncertainty around what are acceptable and unacceptable uses of these new tools in completing your academic work.

Feedback: We want your feedback - here is a quick survey to help your university understand how you are using AI tools, and what questions you have - so that we can develop more guidance for using AI in academic work in the near future. 

Guidance: As guidance, below is a current example of acceptable and unacceptable use of ChatGPT in a discussion board from an American Government course. More guidance is available at this link.

Example - Prompt
American Government Course
Discussion Board Activity:

• Briefly describe the powers the Constitution gives to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

  • What Article within the Constitution explains how the Constitution can be changed?

Example of Unacceptable use of ChatGPT
Step 1: Copy and paste the prompt on ChatGPT

“Briefly explain the US executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and explain: What Article within the Constitution explains how the Constitution can be changed?”

Step 2: Copy and paste ChatGPT’s response directly into the discussion board as if the student wrote it.

Why is this not an acceptable use of AI?

In this case, the student plagiarized by attempting to take credit for the AI-generated text as their own work (students should follow PG Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity guidance).

Example of Acceptable use of ChatGPT
Step 1: Ask ChatGPT to provide references related to the discussion prompt topic.

For example:
“Briefly explain the US executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and explain: What Article within the Constitution explains how the Constitution can be changed? - Please provide sources”

Step 2: Check if the sources are real and if they correspond to your research.

Step 3: Compare ChatGPT sources to the unit readings provided. Note: ChatGPT is not always accurate.

Step 4: Write and submit your own response, and cite your sources following APA guidelines.

• If you use the sources provided by ChatGPT, you should cite those sources.

• If you use a direct quote or paraphrase from ChatGPT, you should cite ChatGPT.

Additional Information
You could check your grammar and spelling using Grammarly and ChatGPT, but you need to consider:

• These tools may collect and store the information that you provide.

• Suggestions may not be accurate or inclusive.

• Your intellectual property might be compromised.

© 2023 PG AI Task Force | Webmaster: William Ashley Johnson | Contact: wjohnson3@purdueglobal.edu