Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly moving across academic platforms leaving students unprotected from false allegations. Even utilizing popular grammar and spell-check programs can cause a student’s work to be flagged as plagiarized/AI-generated. In an effort to protect our students and avoid confusion, we have formulated the following policy for all writing/written assignments going forward:

1. Initial draft must be written in Microsoft Word and saved as a draft. 

2. This initial draft must not utilize any forms of AI or grammar correction other than those embedded in Microsoft Word.

3. You may then submit the draft to Grammarly or similar writing tool to improve your writing before posting the final version to Canvas.

The benefit of this policy is that it will allow you to create a draft which can be called upon in the event that your submission is flagged as AI-generated and protect your grade and reputation.

Assignments should not be drafted in Google Docs since its Help Me Write platform is AI linked. The stand-alone Grammarly program is also AI-linked and is therefore unacceptable for use in drafting your assignment. Microsoft Word is the only format in which an assignment should be drafted and it is free for all students.

If your assignment has a high AI score, your professor will request your original draft. Failure to submit an original draft will likely result in a failing grade for the assignment.

Again, Grammarly and similar tools can be used to improve the writing quality of your work, but not to draft it. Accessing new information through those platforms is considered plagiarism. For instructions on how to turn off Grammarly, click here.

To access your free Microsoft Office account, you must have your college login information. Please visit our portal for instructions to download.

For MSV, click here.

For SPU, click here.

Academic Integrity/Plagiarism

Sara Schenirer has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism and artificial intelligence (AI).

A general plagiarism overview can be found here.

Self-plagiarism involves revising work that you have already submitted for a previous assignment. Even though this is your own work, it still constitutes plagiarism.

Utilizing AI is another form of plagiarism since you are presenting an idea or text as your own when AI technology created it for you.

Please note: tools such as Grammarly and Quillbot utilize AI technology and therefore may not be used. Our partner colleges offer tutoring services that can be found on your student portal.

Students who are found to have plagiarized will be deemed in violation of the college’s academic integrity policy. Consequences can include a failing grade and/or dismissal from the program.