Faculty FAQs: Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence has rapidly reshaped teaching, learning, and academic integrity across higher education. In just the last few years, the landscape of student work, assessment, and classroom expectations has changed dramatically. As campuses everywhere grapple with questions of generative AI, academic honesty, and evolving pedagogies, UNC Charlotte has been actively preparing faculty to navigate these challenges.

AI is not new work for us. UNC Charlotte began its focused efforts early, hosting the first AI Summit in Spring 2023, and has continued to bring faculty and academic leaders together to build shared understanding and consistent guidance. Because academic integrity now looks very different than it did even two or three years ago, we are committed to fostering a culture grounded in honesty, trust, responsibility, and transparent expectations.

Below are some of the most common questions faculty have about artificial intelligence:

What has UNC Charlotte done to prepare faculty?

UNC Charlotte has taken a proactive, collaborative, and faculty‑driven approach to supporting teaching and learning in the age of AI. Key initiatives include:

  • A faculty‑led Task Force on AI in Teaching and Learning developed a comprehensive institutional roadmap for AI use and growth.
  • A faculty‑led AI Accelerator group, in partnership with AAC&U, is advancing national‑level work on responsible and effective AI integration.
  • An annual AI Summit that provides a large campus convening focused specifically on faculty learning, practice‑sharing, and professional development.
  • Expanded educational offerings to meet emerging AI‑related needs by providing regular workshops on practical and pedagogical uses of AI, along with enhanced consultation services from Student Accountability & Conflict Resolution to support faculty with evolving classroom and academic integrity challenges.

As new issues continue to emerge, we remain committed to adapting our guidance, resources, and support to meet the evolving needs of our campus community.

How does the Code of Student Academic Integrity define academic misconduct related to AI?

The Code of Student Academic Integrity defines academic misconduct as behaviors or actions by a student that interferes with the education or fair evaluation of a student’s performance or work. Faculty have the discretion to set expectations for AI use in their courses. Using AI tools without permission may constitute a policy violation, while using them within the faculty member’s stated guidelines does not.

It is important to note that there is no University-wide ban on AI tools. Faculty are encouraged to determine whether AI use is appropriate for their course, assignments, or assessments based on their learning objectives, subject‑area considerations, and professional context.

What guidance exists to help faculty set AI expectations with students?

In addition to the Code of Student Academic Integrity, resources include:

  • Suggested syllabus language, including policies on the use of generative AI, as well as notification about the use of plagiarism or AI detection tools and the required consent form.
  • Guidance on how faculty members can set expectations with students, such as setting tool permissions, assignment/exam statements, and sample AI Use/Disclosure statements.
  • AI Task Force report, which provides AI guiding philosophies, University-wide recommendations, and college-level recommendations.
  • The Office of OneIT provides guidance on using campus-wide, specialized, and popular AI software with university data.

Faculty can also reach out to Student Accountability & Conflict Resolution with individual questions or for resource referrals.

Is there a detection tool faculty can use to determine if AI was used?

At this time, we do not recommend faculty rely on detection tools. There are significant concerns with the tools that are currently available including:

  • Privacy concerns and risks when student work is uploaded into third-party systems
  • Unreliable results, including false positives (human work flagged as AI) and false negatives (AI-generated work going undetected)
  • Rapid changes in the marketplace that require tools to be continuously vetted

We continue to monitor the marketplace and talk with other institutions about these tools to determine whether they are viable and will work for our campus community. The Office of OneIT provides guidance on using campus-wide, specialized, and popular AI software with university data.

Without reliable AI detection tools, what can faculty do to address AI misuse?

If something feels inconsistent with a student’s known ability or writing style, or you have concerns the student worked outside your communicated expectations:

  • Invite the student to meet with you to discuss your concerns
  • Ask about their process and drafts
  • If applicable, ask how the student found their resources or generated their reference list

Student Accountability & Conflict Resolution offers additional guidance on how to approach a conversation about suspected academic misconduct, and are available for further consultation regarding the academic integrity process.

How are other faculty approaching AI use in their courses?

We have many innovative faculty who are approaching AI by:

  • Redesigning assignments and assessments to require deeper, personalized evidence of student learning
  • Assessing the process of learning, not just the product produced by the student.
  • Providing clear expectations about acceptable AI use, promoting transparancy of use, and explaining why AI is appropriate or prohibited based on their learning objectives.
  • Teaching students what AI can do, its limitations, and how their profession defines ethical and acceptable use.
  • Sharing strategies and insights with colleagues about what works in their courses.
  • Participating in professional development opportunities like the AI Summit and reviewing Task Force and Accelerator reports.
Are there any professional development opportunities available to help faculty understand and use AI responsibly?

UNC Charlotte offers several development opportunities, including but not limited to:

Faculty are encouraged to pursue training, stay in conversation with peers, and share their experiences so we can learn and grow together.

Where can I find more resources?