Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) assists people with any question or problem, so of course it has become a big hit for students. Whether editing an essay or fixing a coding error, it’s the ideal tool for homework help. However, everyone has their own unique creativity and perspective, and GAI shouldn’t take over student work. For years, many students have used GAI for schoolwork with little regulation, but UW-Green Bay recently published an official policy regarding using it in the classroom and how to safely and responsibly do so.
What Does UW-Green Bay’s GAI Policy Entail?
Like many students, I started using ChatGPT to assist with schoolwork when it came out in 2022. Since then, GAI and the number of people who use it have significantly increased, causing UW-Green Bay to consider how students should properly use it for schoolwork. The official UW-Green Bay GAI Policy is listed on the Provost Office’s website, but to save you some time, here are the most important points I took away as a student:
Only use UW-Green Bay–Supported GAI
You should only use GAI tools supported by UW-Green Bay. If something goes wrong or you need help with the tool, UW-Green Bay states they can solely assist with ones approved by GBIT. This includes asking questions about GAI or getting help from GBIT.
The list of GAI tools approved by GBIT can be found under the “University AI Tools” section on the Provost Office’s AI Policy & Guidelines webpage. So far, Microsoft Copilot is the only tool listed that UW-Green Bay supports.
NEVER give GAI Personal Information or Work
Not all GAI contains data protection, so anything you type in a chat may be used in the future or get leaked to other sites. That’s why UW-Green Bay recommends students don’t share personal or confidential information like their name, birthday or passwords with GAI. If your personal information is leaked, hackers or anyone else on the internet may be able to access it.
Also, GAI can use any original work you type in a chat. For example, if I copy and paste a short paragraph in a chat to check for grammatical errors, my work may be used in the future to assist other users. If any student information or work gets leaked through GAI, UW-Green Bay states they are not responsible if they do not support it.
Speak with Your Professor about GAI use in Their Class
While the UW-Green Bay GAI policy covers the entire student body, whether students can use it for a class is up to the professor. Contact your professor if you are confused about their policy to ensure you are successful in their class.
Cite GAI if you use it for School Work
GAI is an external source and not your own content, so it should be cited in your work. UW-Green Bay has a strict Plagiarism Policy that includes failing classes, academic probation or even expulsion if work is plagiarized or not properly cited. To avoid this, UW-Green Bay’s Library provides easy steps for citing GAI in various formats when you use it on assignments.
Remember GAI can be Biased
GAI is created by humans and utilizes human data, so it contains human biases. To get more factually accurate results, insert strong, clear prompts. Harvard University lists useful tips for generating a strong prompt that utilizes specificity, giving examples and providing feedback to get better results.
Even with a good prompt, GAI still contains biases and should be used as a starting point in your work. It is always important to fact-check the information it provides. One place to find reliable information for fact-checking is through UW-Green Bay’s Library Databases, which are carefully sourced and provide unbiased fact-based information.
How not to use GAI
As GAI evolves, so will UW-Green Bay’s GAI policy. Be aware how you use it today may not be how you use it even two months from now. Currently, the Universities of Wisconsin prohibit GAI use with the inclusion of personal or confidential work, or what your professor doesn’t allow in the classroom.
While it is easy to get wrapped up in the world of GAI, always be mindful of UW-Green Bay’s policy when completing schoolwork to ensure you use it as safely, effectively and accountably as possible.
Reese is a senior studying Writing and Applied Arts from De Pere, Wisconsin. She lives off-campus but has worked multiple on-campus jobs as a GBIT Service Desk Analyst, GBIT Endpoint Content Writing intern, and now a Web Writing intern for MUC. Her favorite thing about campus is the beautiful scenery. When she graduates, she wants to be a technical writer or web content writer.