WORD Studio Policy on GenAI

Note: “GenAI” here indicates those large language models (LLMs) or generative AI programs like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude, Quillbot, and many others. The WORD Studio has long worked with students with other forms of AI such as Grammarly and Spell Check on MS Word.  

 

What can faculty do to ensure that their students are receiving the appropriate assistance in the WORD Studio regarding the use of GenAI?

When students visit the WORD Studio, one of the first questions tutors ask is, “Do you have an assignment sheet?” Oftentimes, we find that students can’t summarize the requirements of an assignment. Looking at the assignment sheet allows tutors to see exactly what the assignment asks for, in the professor’s words. As such, the assignment sheet is vitally important to tutors working with students toward successful completion of the task.

Both students and WORD Studio tutors need guidance on assignment sheets regarding the level of use allowed (if any) with GenAI. In addition to a larger statement on your syllabus, it would be helpful to also provide students with an AI statement on each assignment sheet that guides their work. This statement, too, will guide how WORD Studio tutors work with students in our tutorials.

If a student comes to the WORD Studio with an assignment that does not indicate if GenAI is allowed, WORD Studio tutors will err on the side of caution and not use GenAI in sessions, suggest the student avoid the use of GenAI, and advise the student to speak with their professor regarding the use of GenAI with this assignment and in the class.   

 

What if a student brings in AI-generated work for an assignment that does not allow the use of GenAI?

If a student admits to using GenAI to generate work for an assignment that does not allow the use of those tools, the WORD Studio will work with the student, not the AI-generated text. WORD Studio tutors will not help the student revise the work of an AI tool into work for an assignment that doesn’t allow for the use of those tools. Instead, tutors will work with the student to brainstorm new ideas and strategies for completing the assignment without GenAI. The tutor will also inform the student that the use of GenAI in this instance could be a violation of the academic honesty policy.

This response assumes that the assignment sheet and/or syllabus clearly indicate that GenAI is not allowed for use with this assignment. 

 

What if a student brings in AI-generated work for an assignment that does allow the use of GenAI?

If a student brings in professor-approved AI-generated work for assistance in the next stage of the communication process, the WORD Studio will work with the student and the AI-generated text. For example, if a professor allows the use of GenAI to create an outline for a project, a WORD Studio tutor will work with the student to brainstorm ideas and add details to the AI-generated outline.

Again, this response assumes that the assignment sheet and/or syllabus clearly indicate that Gen AI is allowed for this assignment and allowed in specific ways. 

 

How will WORD Studio tutors use GenAI in their sessions?

First, WORD Studio tutors will always honor the professor’s assignment sheet and/or syllabus guidelines when working with students. If a professor prohibits all use of GenAI, tutors will not use GenAI in a tutoring session. Tutors will ask students about their professor’s policy regarding GenAI at the beginning of a session. We have also added a question about GenAI to the in-take form that students complete before a tutorial to help facilitate these conversations. 

Second, WORD Studio tutors will have the choice of whether to use GenAI in their sessions if the assignment allows. Not all tutors are ethically comfortable using the technology and may approach a session without the use of GenAI. 

Third, if an assignment allows, and both the student and tutor are comfortable using GenAI, the WORD Studio may employ GenAI in these specific ways during tutorials: 

  • Gathering general information on an assignment. Ex: What’s a historiography?
  • Brainstorming ideas for a topic. Ex: What are some arguments surrounding immigration?
  • Formatting citations. Ex: Format this source into APA style.
  • Outlining ideas. Ex: Using this thesis statement, create an outline for a 5-page paper.
  • Revising outlines. Ex: Any recommendations for revising this outline?
  • Rewording of ideas. Ex: What’s another way of saying…?
  • Specific language issues. Ex: What are some suggestions for making this paragraph more concise?

Lastly, WORD Studio tutors will inform students of additional responsibilities regarding the accuracy and potential bias of AI-generated material and citation of AI-generated material and/or use of GenAI (if required). If the assignment sheet and/or syllabus do not provide information on citing GenAI but do allow the use of them, tutors will err on the side of caution and suggest the student both cite the material and ask the professor for more guidance.

Overall, the WORD Studio’s goal is to help students who are using GenAI use it in a way that allows them to develop communication skills and not become dependent on the tools. 

 

How will the WORD Studio tutors NOT use GenAI in sessions?

Again, WORD Studio tutors will always honor the professor’s assignment sheet and/or syllabus guidelines when working with students. If a professor prohibits all use of GenAI, tutors will not use those tools in a tutoring session.

The WORD Studio will not promote the use of GenAI to create whole works or even paragraphs of text (unless the assignment specifically allows it). Tutors will inform students that the use of GenAI in these instances could be a violation of the academic honesty policy. 

 
What if an assignment allows the use of GenAI, and students don’t know how to use the tool?

WORD Studio tutors have received some training on the use of GenAI, mostly ChatGPT, and can guide students through the process of creating an account and generating prompts.

WORD Studio tutors are still learning the best ways to work with GenAI and can offer some assistance to students regarding prompt generation and analyzing the output. However, if a professor’s assignment asks for this type of interaction with GenAI, professors should provide instruction on how best to use these tools and not assume that students and WORD Studio tutors are well-versed in this.