WORD Studio Policy on AI

Last Updated: July 2026; Next Review: January 2027

Defining Generative AI

"GenAI" here indicates those large language models (LLMs) or generative AI programs like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude, and similar text-generation tools.

Important Clarification: Writing assistance tools exist on a spectrum. The WORD Studio has long worked with students using grammar and spell-checking tools like Grammarly, MS Word Editor, and similar programs. We recognize that the line between "writing assistance" and "generative AI" continues to evolve — and that some tools once treated as simple assistance now generate text. Grammarly, for example, offers full-sentence rewrites that cross into drafting. A student accepting a full-sentence rewrite is not simply fixing a comma.

Faculty Responsibility: Clear Assignment Guidelines

Essential Elements for Assignment Sheets

To ensure effective tutoring support, every assignment sheet should include a clear GenAI statement that addresses:

Permission Level: Is GenAI use prohibited, allowed with restrictions, or fully permitted?
Specific Use Cases: If allowed, which stages of the writing process permit GenAI use (brainstorming, outlining, drafting, editing)?
Citation Requirements: How should students document GenAI use if required?
Boundaries: What constitutes acceptable vs. unacceptable use?

Detection and Assessment Concerns

Position on AI Detection Tools

The WORD Studio does not recommend relying on AI detection tools. The evidence against their reliability is now well-documented, including:

High rates of false positives, with disproportionate harm to non-native English speakers
Inconsistent accuracy across tools and an inability to keep pace with evolving AI
Inability to detect sophisticated or edited AI use

Recommendation to Faculty: Rather than relying on detection software, consider:

Comparing student work to previous submissions for style and complexity changes
Using process-based assignments that require documentation of development
Incorporating in-person discussions about student work
Focusing on learning outcomes rather than detection methods

WORD Studio Response Protocols

When Assignment Guidelines Are Missing or Unclear

If a student arrives without clear GenAI guidance in their assignment materials, WORD Studio tutors will:

Default to caution: Assume GenAI is not permitted
Document the gap: Note in session records that assignment lacked GenAI guidance
Redirect student: Advise student to clarify policy with professor before next session
Focus on process: Work on communication skills and writing strategies that don't require GenAI

When Students Bring AI-Generated Work

For Assignments Prohibiting GenAI:

Tutors will work with the student's ideas and thinking, not the AI-generated text
Sessions will focus on developing the student's original approach to the assignment
Tutors will explain potential academic integrity implications
Students will be encouraged to start fresh with original work

For Assignments Allowing GenAI

Tutors will help students critically evaluate AI-generated content
Sessions will focus on improving, personalizing, and strengthening AI-assisted work
Emphasis on maintaining student voice and original thinking
Guidance on proper citation and documentation of AI use

WORD Studio GenAI Use Guidelines

Permitted Uses (When Assignment Allows)

WORD Studio tutors may collaborate with students using GenAI for:

Information Gathering: "What's a historiography?" or "Explain the concept of market efficiency"
Brainstorming: "What are different perspectives on climate change policy?"
Structure and Organization: "Help create an outline for a paper about X"
Citation Formatting: "Format this source in APA style"
Language Enhancement: "Suggest ways to make this paragraph more concise"
Clarification: "What's another way to express this idea?"

Prohibited Uses

WORD Studio tutors will NOT:

Generate substantial text: Create paragraphs, sections, or complete assignments
Replace student thinking: Use AI to develop arguments or analysis the student should create
Circumvent assignment restrictions: Use GenAI when assignments prohibit it
Enable over-dependence: Allow students to rely on AI instead of developing their own skills

Tutor Choice and Comfort

Individual tutors may choose not to use GenAI in sessions, regardless of assignment permissions, based on their professional judgment and ethical comfort level. Alternative approaches will always be available.

Supporting Student Development

Educational Focus
When working with students who use GenAI, tutors will emphasize:

Critical evaluation of AI-generated content for accuracy, bias, and relevance
Maintaining authorial voice and personal perspective
Developing original thinking rather than accepting AI suggestions uncritically
Understanding AI limitations including potential for errors and bias
Proper documentation and citation practices

Addressing AI Dependency
Tutors will watch for signs that students are becoming overly dependent on AI tools and will:

Encourage students to draft ideas independently before using AI
Practice sessions that focus on student's own thinking and expression
Develop strategies for writing and communication that don't require AI support
Help students understand when and why to use their own judgment over AI suggestions

Continuous Policy Evolution

This policy will be reviewed and updated regularly as:

AI technology continues to evolve
Institutional policies develop
Best practices in AI-assisted learning emerge
Student needs and faculty expectations change

Questions and Support

Students and faculty with questions about this policy should contact the WORD Studio Director (Melody Denny, mdenny@stlawu.edu). We encourage ongoing dialogue about effective and ethical integration of AI tools in the learning process.

See the GAI Syllabus Statement Guide for resources on crafting your statements and deciding the level of AI integration you're comfortable with.