Guideline
Uphold academic integrity by setting expectations and clearly defining acceptable AI use in your course syllabus and materials to foster transparency and accountability. Be sure to follow the FSU Academic Honor Policy process when alleged academic misconduct occurs.
Whether you determine AI use is appropriate in your course or not, clearly communicating your AI policies with students in your course syllabus and assignment instructions will help you establish expectations for transparency and accountability. When you suspect academic misconduct involving the use of AI, follow the FSU Academic Honor Policy. The policy not only addresses AI-related misconduct such as cheating, plagiarism, and falsification but also promotes academic integrity and honors students’ rights and due process.
Cheating
Cheating is the improper access to or use of any information or material that is not specifically condoned by the instructor for use in the academic exercise.
Example
Plagiarism
The Academic Honor Policy defines plagiarism as using work from print, web, or other sources without acknowledging the source.
Example
Falsification
Fabrication or falsification is the unauthorized altering or inventing of any information or citation.
Example
Set Clear Expectations
The ability to hold students accountable for their use of AI in coursework depends on how clearly you communicate your expectations. In a 2025 survey conducted by the FSU Artificial Intelligence in Education Advisory Committee, students reported high levels of anxiety when instructions for AI use in an assignment were not clearly communicated in the course syllabus, assignment instructions, or Canvas course site. Open conversations with students about the acceptable use of AI encourages transparency and accountability, preparing them to apply AI responsibly in future careers and professional environments.
Communicating AI Policies in Syllabi and Assignment Instructions: The traffic light framework provides a helpful structure for communicating AI policies to students. See the Teaching & Learning page for more information on the framework, including example AI use statements that can be copied and adapted for FSU courses.
Don’t Use AI Detection Tools
While it is tempting to use AI detectors to substantiate academic misconduct allegations, these tools are not licensed by the university and are highly unreliable. AI detectors often generate false positives and are subject to hallucination (ie, creation of fabricated and fictitious content). Additionally, content shared with them may be retained by the vendor and used to train its large language model (see AI Literacy), resulting in the unauthorized disclosure of protected information and a violation of federal privacy laws (see Data Protection & Privacy).
Plagiarism Detection Tools are Different: Unlike AI detectors, plagiarism detection tools compare students’ work to a large database of published content. When they find similarities between students’ work and uncited sources, plagiarism detectors report the original source. The university provides all instructors tools to help ensure academic integrity, including a licensed plagiarism detection tool that complies with institutional policies for information security and privacy.
Suspect Misconduct? Intervene Early
When it comes to addressing alleged academic misconduct, early intervention is key. Although you may be inclined to wait until you gather enough evidence, the best approach is to email FDA-AcademicIntegrity@fsu.edu, then promptly contact the student once an FDA administrator responds. The university provides a clear process to address suspected misconduct in a way that promotes academic integrity while also honoring student rights and due process.
As Soon As You Suspect Misconduct: Email FDA-AcademicIntegrity@fsu.edu to determine if the student has had a previous violation. Unfamiliar with FSU’s Academic Honor Policy process? Review information on the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement (FDA) website and consult FDA administrators.
Below are a few tips for discussing alleged AI-related misconduct with students. Although they do not encompass the full Academic Honor Policy process, these tips are intended to facilitate conversations within the context of student due process rights.
Tips for Talking With Students
Preparing for the Conversation
Before talking with your student, review the AI use expectations you included in your syllabus, assignment instructions, and Canvas course site. Were any expectations omitted, unclear, or open to interpretation?
Gather any documentation and create a brief timeline of the suspected misconduct. Because generative AI can produce hallucinations and incorrect or broken links, cross-reference links and other information (eg, citations) the student provides.
When scheduling a meeting with your student, schedule an in-person meeting or meet virtually using a university-licensed web conferencing tool (eg, Zoom).
Do not record meetings.
Discussing Allegations
When discussing allegations with your student, begin by acknowledging university closures, student crises/health concerns, or other factors. Then, use open-ended questions to explore and address the allegations. Ask for evidence of effort and learning outside of class, pointing out gaps in the student’s explanations.
Example Questions
Following Up
It is important to write detailed notes summarizing the discussion and send them to your student within 48 hours of the conversation.
When a discussion supports the allegations, be prepared to send your student a separate email that describes unresolved concerns and offers the resolution options your student is eligible to pursue per the Academic Honor Policy.
It is always a best practice to prioritize proposed sanctions that educate and remediate, not merely penalize. Based on what your student decides, be prepared to compile documentation (eg, your syllabus, all evidence, notes, timeline of event, completed Academic Honor Policy resolution form) and forward it to FDA.
When discussions result in additional questions or concerns, never hesitate to contact FDA!