SHSU Generative AI Guidance

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a broad field of computer science focused on creating systems that can perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence. These tasks include learning, problem-solving, decision-making, and understanding language. AI systems work by analyzing vast amounts of data to find patterns and relationships, then using those insights to act or make predictions.

  • Traditional AI

    Traditional AI, also known as "narrow" or "rule-based" AI, operates on predefined rules and algorithms. It's designed to perform specific, repetitive tasks within a limited scope. Traditional AI systems are excellent at things like data analysis, making predictions based on historical data, and solving well-defined problems where the rules are clear.

    Examples of traditional AI include:

    • Spam filters: An email program that follows a set of rules to identify and block spam emails.
    • Recommendation engines: Systems that analyze your past behavior to suggest products or shows on e-commerce sites or streaming platforms.
    • Medical diagnostic software: AI that analyzes medical images to identify diseases based on a vast database of labeled images.

  • Generative AI

    Generative AI is a type of AI that can create new, original content like text, images, audio, or video. Unlike traditional AI, which relies on a set of rules to produce an output, generative AI learns patterns and structures from massive datasets and uses that knowledge to generate novel content in response to a prompt. It doesn't just analyze and classify data; it synthesizes and creates.

    Examples of generative AI include:

    • Large Language Models (LLMs): Like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, which can write essays, answer complex questions, or create code.
    • Image generators: Systems like DALL-E or Midjourney that create unique images from a text description.
    • Music composition tools: AI tools like SunoAI, Loudly, MusicGen can generate new musical pieces in a specific style.

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Find out how SHSU students can responsibly use generative AI to assist with classwork.
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Learn how instructors can work with AI in their teaching and research.
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Learn about the various applications of AI for work vital to the university.

Generative AI Guidance for SHSU Students

This guide is designed to help SHSU students understand and responsibly use generative AI tools in academic contexts. Below, you’ll find key information, resources, and SHSU-specific guidelines.

  • AI Resources

    Discover tools and tips to use AI effectively and responsibly in your studies.

    Overview:

    • AI Tools for Students: Generative AI can help brainstorm ideas, summarize readings, and draft outlines. Use it as a tool to enhance—not replace—your learning.
    • Use Responsibly: Always verify AI-generated content for accuracy and originality. And make sure to check with your instructor before using AI in relation to any classwork or assignments.
    • How to Get Started: Look into free tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E, or Grammarly’s AI writing assistant. SHSU has access to Microsoft’s Copilot through Microsoft 365.

    Helpful Links:

  • AI at SHSU

    Learn how AI fits into your education and what guidelines to follow at SHSU.

    Overview:

    • Ask Your Instructor or supervisor: Some classes and offices may have concerns about the use of AI. It is up to each instructor to specify an AI policy for that particular class.
    • SHSU Academic Honesty Policy: Using AI to complete work without permission may violate the university’s Academic Honesty Policy. Always check with your instructor or supervisor before you use it.
    • Citing AI: When using AI tools, treat them like any other source and give proper credit.

    Helpful Links:

  • AI Integrity

    Like any tool, AI may be used for good or ill, so the simple use of generative AI is not necessarily an academic integrity problem. However, a student’s undisclosed use of generative AI in assignments outside the boundaries that an instructor has set for a specific course may constitute a violation of SHSU’s Academic Honesty policy. Instructors should make sure that students are informed of course expectations regarding how AI may or may not be used and whether its use should be cited/documented in assignments.

    Although many tools claim to “detect” the use of generative AI, these detection tools are recognized as deeply flawed, as they report both false positives and false negatives a significant amount of the time. Instructors should be cautious in relying on an AI detection tool to take any negative actions regarding student work, especially since a student would have difficulty providing conclusive evidence that they did not use AI. The references below provide more insight into the problems with AI detectors.

  • AI Ethics

    Understand the ethical considerations of using AI in your studies and beyond.

    Overview:

    • Environmental Impact: Training AI tools uses significant energy, raising concerns about sustainability.
    • Hallucinations: AI tools can produce incorrect or misleading information. Always fact-check the outputs.
    • Bias in AI: AI models may reflect biases in their training data, so use critical thinking when analyzing their results.
    • Privacy Concerns: Avoid sharing sensitive or personal information with AI tools, as their data privacy policies may not fully protect your input.

    Helpful Links:

Generative AI Guidance for SHSU Faculty & Instructors

The SHSU Generative AI Guidance page is designed to become a living document for the support of SHSU faculty, staff, and students. As such, we hope to see it become a lively, crowdsourced collection, inviting the contributions of stakeholders in a growing body of shared knowledge and best practices for AI in higher education settings. There will be no defining university policy on AI. Rather, we will work together to integrate AI practice into existing and proposed policies such as Academic Honesty and Course Structure and Management. The university has an emergent mandate from the state: integrate AI into classroom learning and student research projects to help prepare students for workforce readiness. At the same time, we remain true to our foundational commitment to guiding students through their intellectual development and acquisition of personal academic skills. The purpose of this page is to provide resources for SHSU faculty, staff, and students seeking to create that balance.

Generative AI Guidance for SHSU Staff

This guide is designed to help SHSU staff understand and responsibly use generative AI tools in academic and professional contexts. AI tools can make us more productive and streamline a variety of personal and professional tasks. Below, you’ll find key information, resources, and SHSU-specific guidelines.