Generative AI in Teaching & Learning

Guidance, Recommendations and Sample Syllabus Statements (Updated in Fall 2026)

Faculty have the discretion to permit, partially permit, or prohibit the use of generative AI in their courses. Faculty are responsible for communicating how AI may foster the achievement of course learning outcomes or inhibit the achievement of those outcomes in their courses.

For the sake of clarity, it is strongly recommended that all course syllabi include an AI policy. Expectations should clarify what uses are permitted or prohibited, what documentation, citation, or disclosure is required, and how these boundaries support student learning. When expectations vary across graded activities, faculty are encouraged to use the TTU AI Use Levels (see below) to communicate those differences clearly.

Definition of Generative AI and General Policies

For purposes of these statements, generative AI refers to tools or embedded features that create or transform text, images, audio, video, code, calculations, data analyses, or other content in response to prompts or user inputs.

Basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation features are permitted unless they generate or substantially rewrite content or replace the skill being assessed. Approved assistive technologies and disability accommodations remain available as authorized.

Grading with AI

At this time, the use of generative AI for grading is not approved at Texas Tech University. In addition to raising ethical concerns, there may be data privacy risks. Source: AI In Grading & Evaluations.

If AI is Required for Course Outcomes

Faculty should require a generative AI tool only when its use is necessary for students to meet course or assignment learning outcomes. Because the university does not currently provide a single institutionally supported generative AI platform for all students, any requirement should account for access, cost, privacy, data security, intellectual property, and account creation.

Any AI tool required for a class must be approved through Students should not be required to purchase a subscription unless it is clearly identified in the syllabus as required course material tied to the course learning outcomes. Students must never be asked to enter sensitive, confidential, proprietary, or protected information into an external AI tool. In courses or assignments focused on learning to use generative AI, faculty should identify the required tool and purpose in the syllabus, provide appropriate guidance, and offer an alternative when a student cannot reasonably access or use the selected tool.

Academic Integrity and Generative AI

Faculty are encouraged to frame course expectations for generative AI in connection with Texas Tech University's required Academic Integrity Statement. In addition to clearly identifying permitted, prohibited, and required uses, instructors should explain how concerns about possible unauthorized use will be addressed. Instructors may review available documentation, discuss the concern with the student, consult applicable departmental or college guidance, and determine whether the matter involves unmet assignment requirements or a suspected academic integrity violation requiring referral through the Office of Student Conduct. See the Academic Graphic Organizer for more information.

Faculty Disclosure Statements

Faculty should consider disclosing or citing their own AI use. In addition to modeling responsible engagement with AI, this provides an opportunity to show students what it looks like to treat AI as a tool rather than a shortcut, question its outputs, and apply disciplinary judgment to what it produces.

Example: Faculty Disclosure Syllabus Statement

I may use generative AI to support the development and refinement of course materials, including brainstorming, drafting, feedback, and revision. These tools supplement, rather than replace, my professional judgment, and I remain responsible for the accuracy, quality, and appropriateness of all course content.

I do not use generative AI to evaluate or grade student work, nor do I enter student work, personally identifiable information, or other sensitive or confidential information into external AI tools. When generative AI has contributed meaningfully to materials created for this course, I will disclose and cite that use when appropriate. My goal is to model thoughtful, transparent, and responsible engagement with emerging technologies while supporting human learning, creativity, and critical thinking.

AI Note-Taking and Transcription

Higher education has long emphasized notetaking as an important part of the learning process. With changes in technology, some students may prefer to use notetaking or transcription technology. Faculty have the option to allow or prohibit this technology in their courses and may wish to explicitly address this in their course syllabi.

Example: AI Notetaking and Transcription Statement

Students may not use AI-powered tools for note-taking, transcription, recording, meeting-assistant, or summarization tools to capture or process any portion of an in-person or online class without the instructor’s prior written permission. This includes tools that join an online class as a third-party bot or AI platforms that record or process audio, video, screen content, or class discussion through a personal device.

This restriction does not apply to recording or assistive technology authorized through an approved disability accommodation as documented by a Letter of Accommodation through Student Disability Services (SDS). Students should follow the procedures established by SDS and communicate with the instructor about implementation.

Any authorized recording, transcript, or AI-generated summary is limited to the approved student’s personal use in this course. It may not be shared, posted, distributed, uploaded to another AI system, or retained beyond the end of the course without written authorization. Instructor-provided recordings and transcripts are subject to the same restrictions.

Permission to use one tool or recording does not authorize other uses. Students remain responsible for protecting the privacy of classmates, guest speakers, and other participants and for following all applicable course and university policies.

Recommended General AI Syllabus Statements

AI Use Not Permitted

To support your development and independent demonstration of the course learning outcomes, generative AI use in this course is not permitted. Do not use generative AI tools or features to create, solve, summarize, translate, revise, or substantially transform work submitted for credit. Basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation features, approved assistive technologies, and approved disability accommodations are permitted unless they generate or substantially rewrite content or replace the skill being assessed. Ask before using an AI tool if you are unsure whether it is permitted. Use of generative AI outside these boundaries may be considered a violation of Texas Tech University’s Academic Integrity Policy.

AI Use Permitted

To support your development and demonstration of the course learning outcomes, generative AI use in this course is permitted only as specified for each assignment. Each graded activity will identify one of four AI Use Levels, from Level 0 through Level 3. Follow the stated level, including its permitted uses, prohibited uses, and documentation requirements. Basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation features, approved assistive technologies, and approved disability accommodations are permitted unless they generate or substantially rewrite content or replace the skill being assessed. Ask before using an AI tool if you are unsure whether it is permitted. Use of generative AI outside these boundaries may be considered a violation of Texas Tech University’s academic integrity policy.

TTU AI Use Levels

LEVEL 0	Independent Work Without Generative AI
You may not use generative AI to generate, solve, summarize, translate, revise, or substantially transform any part of the work submitted for this activity. You must complete the intellectual work independently so that your submission demonstrates the knowledge and skills required by the learning outcomes. You are responsible for ensuring that all submitted content complies with this restriction.
LEVEL 1	Learning Support and Planning
You may use generative AI for learning support and planning, such as explaining concepts, generating practice questions, brainstorming ideas, or creating a preliminary outline. You must not include AI-generated language, solutions, analysis, code, media, translations, or revisions in submitted work unless the assignment directions explicitly permit them. You are responsible for ensuring that the central ideas and final work are your own.
LEVEL 2	AI-Assisted Collaboration
You may use generative AI only for the purposes identified in the assignment directions, such as feedback, revision, translation, coding support, data exploration, or media development. You must originate the central ideas, analysis, evidence selection, decisions, and final expression required by the learning outcomes. You are responsible for verifying, revising, and taking ownership of all AI-assisted content included in the submitted work.
LEVEL 3	AI-Integrated Work
You are expected to use generative AI because responsible AI use is included in the learning outcomes. You will be evaluated on the final product; the quality of your prompts or inputs; accuracy verification, disciplinary judgment, revision, documentation, and reflection; and your ability to distinguish the AI's contributions from your own. You are responsible for the accuracy, quality, and appropriateness of the final work.