AI Do's and Don'ts for Students

Review Do’s and Don’ts for students at Marquette University. (Faculty/Staff: See your specific Do's and Don'ts)

AI Do’s

• Do check the course syllabus to see if you can use AI for classwork.
  Your instructor often determines if you can use AI in the course. Follow your instructor’s rules for assignments, quizzes and exams. If not covered in the syllabus or assignment, ask your instructor.
  
  
• Do use AI ethically.
  If allowed by your instructor, AI can support brainstorming, summarizing or drafting. But your final work should reflect your own understanding and comply with academic integrity. See the Honor Code to understand your obligations as a student.
  
  
• Do approach AI through a human and mission-centered lens.
  Engage with AI in ways that advance Marquette’s Guiding Values and Ethos Statement.
  
  
• Do use academic services before trying AI.
  Remember that AI isn't the only help for writing, researching and tutoring. Marquette offers services such as the Ott Writing Center, Raynor Library subject specialists and ARC Tutoring Program.
  
  
• Do disclose AI use and cite sources properly.
  To acknowledge and attribute AI use, see generative AI citation guides.
  
  
• Do offer clear specifics in your AI requests.
  Provide context, purpose and expectations when using AI tools. Clear prompts lead to more accurate and helpful responses.
  
  
• Do follow up with AI replies, asking how your prompt could be better.
  Vague prompts may generate unhelpful answers. Use AI as a collaborator. Ask the AI tool how to improve your prompt with context, tone, content length and format.
  
  
• Do break down complex tasks for AI into manageable steps.
  Structure your prompts in a logical, step-by-step format. This helps AI provide more accurate and verifiable results.
  
  
• Do verify and critically assess AI outputs.
  Review AI-generated content for accuracy, bias or potential misinformation before using, sharing or citing it. Follow up on AI results, seeking its sources and rationale to validate.
  
  

AI Don’ts

• Don’t submit AI output as your own.
  • Generative AI use must not misrepresent authorship, originality or effort in your work.
  • Don’t turn in AI-generated content, code or solutions as your own classwork.
  • If your instructor allows AI use, don't lightly edit AI-generated content and claim it as your own work.
    
    
• Don’t give or receive unauthorized help. 
  
  • The Honor Code requires students not to accept or give unauthorized help.
  • Don't "outsource" assignments to AI.
  • Don't share AI-generated answers with classmates.
    
    
• Don't use AI outputs without attribution.
  Also, don't paraphrase sources with generative AI to avoid attribution.
  
  
• Don't assume some AI use is OK in a course.
  If an instructor excludes AI use, find out if it's more than assignments and assessments. AI use could be off limits for brainstorming, summarizing or drafting. Also, approval to use AI in one course does not grant AI use in other courses.
  
  
• Don't presume AI use for current work if the instructor approved it for previous work.
  Instructor permission for AI on past assignments or assessments does not extend to other classwork.
  
  
• Don’t use AI during quizzes or exams, unless permitted by your instructor. 
  Using AI during assessments can count as an unauthorized electronic aid or material.  
  
  
• Don’t enter sensitive, personal or confidential information.
  
  • Don't share your private information, health details and financial data in AI prompts.
  • If you are a student employee, consult with your supervisor before using university data with AI. If approved, see data sensitivity levels and use approved AI tools.
    
    
• Don’t assume AI outputs are accurate or original.
  AI may generate incorrect, misleading or copyrighted content. Double-check AI outputs with trusted sources.