Artificial Intelligence

Academic integrity is a fundamental part of education that focuses on honesty, responsibility, and ethical conduct. All members of the academic community are responsible for upholding the University's values and demonstrating honest and ethical behaviour. 

Below are some suggestions for using AI responsibly and ethically as a student:

Treat AI as a tool, not a source. 

While AI can be a useful starting point for brainstorming and clarifying concepts, you must also consult reliable sources such as scholarly journals, reference resources, and reputable websites to develop your own understanding. Remember to always check with your instructor before using AI in your work. 

Do your own research. 

Generative AI tools respond to prompts based on probability, not research. This can result in responses that are inaccurate. Therefore, AI-generated content is not a reliable source for information. Large language models like ChatGPT also "hallucinate", which means they generate answers that contain false or made-up information. You'll need to verify all information generated by AI to ensure its accuracy.

Cite it. 

Permitted use of AI in your coursework must be acknowledged. Failure to appropriately reference the use of AI tools is an academic offence. Consult the citation style guide for guidance on citing AI. Again, always check with your instructor before using and citing AI in your work.

Remember that you cannot use AI without the permission of your instructor. 

To do so would be violating the University's Academic Integrity Regulation:

• Plagiarism: Submitting AI-generated content and presenting it as your own work is an academic offence. 

• Cheating: Using AI in your work without the permission of your instructor is considered an unauthorized or improper use of technology.

• Falsification: AI has been shown to generate false or made-up information and cite sources that don't exist. Submitting work that includes made-up information and citations to sources that don't exist is an academic offence.

Reach out for help.

Using AI can be challenging! The Patrick Power Library encourages you to reach out for assistance. You are welcome to visit our Research Help desk on the first floor of the Library, book a research help appointment, or contact us by phone, email, or text. For more information about how to get in touch with us, visit our Research Help webpage. 

Academic Integrity Foundations (AIF) is a free, non-credit, interdisciplinary online library assignment available to Saint Mary's University students. It is designed to help students:

• Understand academic integrity and the importance of an academic community of integrity at Saint Mary's University.
• Understand principles of citation and methods of integrating others' ideas effectively in your assignments.
• Develop strategies to maintain academic integrity and avoid accidental plagiarism.

If you would like more information about AIF, or would like to assign it in your course, please contact Heather Sanderson (902-420-5541) or Cindy Harrigan (902-496-8789).

These AI research tools are not subscribed to by Saint Mary's University. They are listed here for anyone interested in learning more about using AI tools in academic research.