McNeese State University recognizes the potential for generative artificial intelligence (GAI) to transform higher education practices in teaching, learning, and assessment. The rapid growth and acceptability for use of GAI in the professions necessitates purposeful and diligent integration of GAI tools into the McNeese learning community as a tool to facilitate interactive learning. It is critical for McNeese to prepare GAI-literate students so they are informed about the potential positive and negative implications related to GAI in their field. This policy serves as a general guide for the integration and use of GAI tools.
This policy assumes a common definition of artificial intelligence as the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior and follows the state of Louisiana definition of artificial intelligence as a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments, abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner, and use model inference to formulate options for information or action. GAI applications can generate content by utilizing Large Language Model (LLM) technology which responds to prompts by a user. The range of available GAI tools is expanding rapidly and can generate not only content, but also create code, images, music, and other media.
The higher education learning community stands to benefit and must assume leadership for integrating appropriate use of technology, such as GAI, into the curriculum. Students should have a sound understanding of the potential of GAI tools, how to use the tools with integrity, and the limitations presented by the inappropriate use of them.
When using GAI, faculty and students must consider its limitations, such as its generation of incomplete, inaccurate, or false information; its use of inaccurate or fabricated citations; its tendency to include plagiarized text without proper attribution or citation; its reiteration of LLM biases and propensity to use discriminatory language; its inability to replace human expression (but its output does replicate it); its disclosure that it may harvest and share user data; and more.
Policies related to the use of GAI tools may undergo frequent revisions as needed. The general policy pertaining to the use of GAI tools at McNeese begins with the following:
GAI tools, including, but not limited to ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Gemini, may not be used with personal, confidential, proprietary, restricted, and sensitive information unless provisions allowing such use are included in a University contract specifically designed to protect such data.
For the purpose of this policy, confidential data is defined as information whose unauthorized disclosure would cause serious and adverse effects on the University, third party, supplier, individual, or the state of Louisiana.
Examples of confidential data that may not be used with GAI tools includes, but is not limited to, social security numbers; access device numbers; biometric identifiers; dates of birth; driver’s license numbers; passport and visa numbers; personal vehicle information; financial information such as credit card or account numbers, etc.; information pertaining to legal affairs or institutional relations; contracts; user account passwords; health information including HIPPA information; FERPA information; and details about McNeese infrastructure or operational information.
Restricted data means data that requires strict adherence to legal obligations such as federal, state, or local law, specific contractual agreements, or data specifically designated as restricted data in applicable state or agency policy.
GAI tools may not be used to generate non-public content, proprietary or unpublished research, legal analysis, recruitment decisions, completion of academic works not allowed by the instructor, non-public instructional materials, and direct grading.
Proprietary information as defined by the state of Louisiana means any code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process which is proprietary or trade secret information which has been submitted to a public body by the developer, owner, or manufacturer of a code, pattern, formula, design, device, method or process in order to obtain or retain approval of such code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process for sale or use in the state.
Additional examples of prohibited data for use with GAI include employee names, annual performance review details, personnel file information, unpublished research data, and internal memos and emails.
This policy is distributed via the University Policies webpage.